Fortification and Siege of Port Hudson. 343
In the same way our men went into the Federal lines and gazed with curiosity upon the work which had been giving them so much trouble, escorted by Federal soldiers who vied with each other in courtesy and a display of magnanimous spirit.
Not a single case occurred in which the enemy, either officers or privates, exhibited a disposition to exult over their victory, but, on the contrary, whenever the subject came up in conversation, it elicited from them only compliments upon the skill and bravery of the defence.
One of their surgeons came in during a heavy rain storm and brought medicines for our sick, repeating his visit the next morning, and bringing a large quantity of quinine, which he dosed out to the fever patients.
During the afternoon and evening of the 8th a large number of Federals were within our lines visiting at our camps, whither most of our men had repaired to pack up their little stock of clothing pre- paratory to an expected departure on the morrow.
The following order was published :
Headquarters Port Hudson, Louisiana,
filly 8, i86j. General Orders, No. 6i :
I. Nobly have the troops performed their duty in the defence of this position, continued from the 2ist of May to the present date. The cheerfulness, bravery, and zeal displayed by the troops during the hardships and suffering of this long siege have never been sur- passed, and every man can feel the proud satisfaction that he has done his part in this heroic defence of Port Hudson. The place is surrendered at the last moment it is proper to hold it, and after a most gallant defence in several severe attacks, in all of which the enemy have been signally repulsed. Let all continue, during the duties that still remain to be performed, to show that cheerful obedi- ence which has distinguished them as soldiers up to this time.
n. The' troops will be paraded at 6 o'clock A. M. to morrow for surrender, in line of battle in the same order as they are now at the breastworks, with the heavy artillery on the right in the edge of the prairie, in the rear of the railroad depot, the left extending towards the town of Port Hudson. All officers and men will be in their places under arms.
By command of Major General Frank Gardner,
[Signed] C. M. Jackson,
Acting Assistant Adjutant General,
