The Emporia News

Surrender of Vicksburg.

Vicksburg was surrendered to Gen. Grant on the 4th day of July. Twenty-four thousand prisoners and a vast amount of cannon, small arms, munitions of war, etc., were taken. The prisoners were paroled.

The following dispatches tell the story:

CHICKASAW BAYOU, 8 P. M. - July 3.

At 8 o'clock this morning a flag of truce appeared before Gen. Smith's front, when the rebel Major General Bowen and Col. Montgomery were led blindfolded into our lines. They bore a communication from Gen. Pemberton to Gen. Grant. The following is its purport: Although I feel confident in my ability to resist your arms indefinitely, but in order to stop the effusion of blood, I propose that you appoint three commissioners to meet three I shall select, to arrange such terms as may best accomplish the result. Grant replied substantially as follows: The appointment of commissioners is unnecessary. While I should be glad to stop the effusion of blood, the only terms which I can entertain are those of an unconditional surrender. At the same time, myself, officers and men are ready to testify to the distinguished gallantry with which the defense of Vicksburg has been conducted. At 11 o'clock the messengers returned, and this afternoon, in accordance with a request from Pemberton, Grant met him outside the lines, and after an hour's consultation, settled on terms of surrender. Pemberton urged that the soldiers might be paroled and allowed rations from their own stores to carry them to the Confederate lines. In view of the bravery of their troops, the advantages of the place, and considerations of economy, Grant finally consented to Pemberton's request. The officers were allowed one horse and servant. The number of prisoners are said to be eighteen thousand, two-thirds of whom are in fighting condition. The immediate cause of the surrender is the exhaustion of supplies and ammunition, and the failure of Johnston to come to their aid. A general interchange of civilities extended along the whole line. The surrender was just in time to save both armies the loss of life which would have attended an attempt to carry it by assault. Such an attempt had been determined on for tomorrow.

The Vicksburg Citizen, of the 2d, admits the eating of mule meat and the pilfering of private houses by the soldiers. There seems to have been much suffering from sickness and our missiles. At daylight tomorrow our army is to march in.

VICKSBURG, July 5.

Yesterday and to-day everything passed off quietly. The weather is fearfully warm. Nineteen general officers have been paroled. Two or three days will be occupied before the prisoners can be sent out. Their destination is reported to be Talladega. Many of them are anxious not to be paroled, but wish to take the oath of allegiance, quit the rebel service, and proceed north. Several women and children were killed during the siege. Hundreds of houses occupied by sick and wounded were exposed to shells, and about twenty-five hundred persons were killed inside the works since the siege began.

The work performed on fortifications by both sides is prodigious. The weight of artillery has knocked most of the rebel works to indistinguishable pieces.

There were about thirteen hundred women and children in the city during the bombardment, who were, for the most part of the time, obliged to live in caves, of which there were several. Citizens were not allowed to draw from the army supplies except in cases of destitution. Prices of food have been enormously high; five dollars per pound has been charged for flour, and one dollar per pound for mule meat.

Johnston is retreating rapidly, and Sherman is in hot pursuit. Reinforcements are moving to Sherman. Offers of assistance have been dispatched to Gen. Banks. It is conjectured that the condition of Port Hudson is similar to that of Vicksburg, a week since. Its fall may be announced any hour. The general opinion here, both in the rebel army and ours, is that the rebellion, in the west at least, is reduced to insignificant proportions.