deserve the highest honors their country
can award.

I have the honor to be, Colonel, very respectfully your obedient
servant,
U. S. GRANT,
_Major-General United States Army_, _commanding_.

_____

_General Pemberton to General Grant._

To Headquarters, Vicksburg,
MAJOR-GENERAL U. S. GRANT, July 3, 1863.
Commanding United States Forces before Vicksburg.

General: I have the honor to propose to you an armistice
for--hours, with a view of arranging terms for the capitulation
of Vicksburg. To this end, if agreeable to you, I will (p. 392)
appoint three commissioners to meet a like number to be named
by yourself at such place and hour to-day as you may find
convenient.

I make this proposition to save the further effusion of blood,
which must otherwise be shed to a frightful extent, feeling
myself fully able to maintain my position for a yet indefinite
period.

This communication will be handed you under flag of truce by
Major-General J. S. Bowen.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. C. PEMBERTON,
_Lieutenant-General_.

_____

_General Grant to General Pemberton._

Headquarters, Department of the Tennessee,
To In the Field, near Vicksburg, Mississippi, July 3, 1863.
LIEUTENANT-GENERAL J. C. PEMBERTON,
Commanding Confederate Forces, Vicksburg, Mississippi.

General: Your note of this date is just received, proposing an
armistice for several hours for the purpose of arranging terms of
capitulation through commissioners to be appointed, etc.

The useless effusion of blood you propose stopping by this course
can be ended at any time you may choose by an unconditional
surrender of the city and garrison. Men who have shown so much
endurance and courage as those now in Vicksburg will always
challenge the respect of all adversaries, and I can assure you
will be treated with all respect due to prisoners of war.

I do not favor the proposition of appointing commissioners to
arrange terms of capitulation, because I have no terms other than
tho