the common fare of all alike, and even dogs became in request for the table. Bean meal was made into bread, and corn meal into coffee, and in these straits the garrison patiently dragged on the weary length of one day after another, under a scorching sun, the stench from the unburied corpses all around alone causing the strongest-minded, firmest-nerved, to grow impatient for the day of deliverance. The enemy pushed their works; they blew up several forts, and with them the garrison, and attempted to charge; but the meagre and famished yet steadfast garrison still defiantly held the key to the Mississippi. But every thing must have an end. General Pemberton learned from General Johnston that he could not afford him relief, and as the garrison was too famished and reduced to cut its way out, he determined to capitulate.
During the siege Johnston made great efforts to gather an army to relieve Vicksburg, but he was unable to do so until too late. On the 29th June he left Jackson with about 24,000 men, and marched in the direction of the Big Black, in the hope of creating a diversion sufficient to enable Pemberton's army to cut its way out. On the 3d July he sent word to Pemberton to hold out until the 7th, when such a diversion would be made, but already Pemberton had begun negotiations for surrender.
On the morning of the 3d July, after 45 days of isolation, General Pemberton ordered a white flag displayed on the bastion of one of the earthworks. The flag was shown in front of General A. J. Smith's division, and firing ceased at that point. An officer went to ascertain the reason for the display of the flag, and found that General Bowen, who commanded one of the Confederate divisions, and Colonel Montgomery of General Pemberton's staff had a communication for General Grant. They were blindfolded and taken to the tent of General Burbridge, whence the letter was forwarded to the commander-in-chief. It proved to be an application for an armistice with a view to arranging terms for capitulation. General Grant replied
