(3-96) Pemberton Avenue south of the Third Louisiana Redan. By mid-June the situation confronting Gen. Pemberton was desperate. All hope of relief by Gen. Johnston's army based in Jackson was gone. Pemberton reported that 10,000 of his men were no longer available for duty because of illness, wounds and malnutrition. Moreover, his supplies and munitions were dwindling to a critically low level. To complicate matters further he learned that Grant was planning another massive assault on the Confederate works early in July. After a council of war with his generals Pemberton concluded that surrender was inevitable and on July 3 sent emissaries to the Union lines under a flag of truce to deliver a letter to Gen. Grant proposing a meeting to discuss surrender terms. Grant agreed and at 3:00 p.m. that day Grant and Pemberton met at this site midway between the lines. No agreement was reached at this conference but after an exchange of notes terms of surrender were finally agreed upon and the next morning, July 4, the Confederate defenders marched out of their forts and trenches; stacked arms and were paroled

(3-96) Flag of Truce Site. Surrender Interview site in background. Old Vicksburg National Military Park headquarters in background

(2-00) Northeast view from Confederate Ave., east of the Great Redoubt. 3rd Louisiana Redan is the high ground at left center