ents. General Grant says: "I
occupied a position from which I thought I could see as well as he
what took place in his front; and I did not see the success he
reported. But his request for reinforcements being repeated, I could
not ignore it, and sent him Quinby's division. Sherman and McPherson
were both ordered to renew their assaults in favor of McClernand. This
last attack only served to increase our casualties, without giving any
benefit whatever." In these attacks large numbers of the Federal
soldiers had got into the low ground intervening, under the enemy's
fire, and had to remain in that position until darkness enabled them
to retire. The Union losses were very heavy, and General Grant, years
afterward, in composing his _Memoirs_, referred to this assault and to
that at Cold Harbor as the two conspicuous mistakes of his military
career.

Now it was that the regular siege of Vicksburg was undertaken. Toward
the latter part of June, the Confederates, both soldiers and citizens,
began to suffer. Houses became untenable. The people sought what
refuge they might find. Some actually burrowed in the earth. The
garrison was placed on short rations, and then a condition of
starvation ensued. Pemberton held out with a resolution worthy of a
better fate. But at length human endurance could go no further. On
the fourth of July the white flag was hoisted from the Confederate
works, announcing the end. Generals Grant and Pemberton, with three or
four attendants each, met between the lines, and the terms of
capitulation were quickly named and accepted. Vicksburg was
surrendered. General Pemberton and all his forces, 30,000 strong,
became prisoners of war.

This was the greatest force ever surrendered in America, though it was
only about one-sixth of that of Marshal Bazaine and his army at Metz
seven years afterward. Thousands of small arms, hundreds of cannon,
and all the remaining ammunition and stores of the Confederates were
the other fruits of this great Union victory, by which the prospect of
ultimate success to the Confederacy was either destroyed or long
postponed, and by which in particular the great central river of the
United States was permitted once more to flow unvexed from the
confluence of the Missouri to the Gulf.

GETTYSBURG.

The battle of Gettysburg is properly included among the great battles
of the world. It was the greatest conflict that has thus far occurred
in America. The losses relative to th