Adam Badeau, Military history of Ulysses S. Grant from April 1861 to April 1865. Volume 1

[389] prisoners. Pemberton protested against this, and wanted Grant to compel these men to return to the Southern army, but Grant thought his soldiers could be better employed than in forcing men back into the ranks of the rebellion. Pemberton also wanted Grant to allow him arms for a few of his troops, so that they might guard the others on their march to the interior, as, otherwise, many might desert. This, however, was exactly what Grant desired, and he declined assisting Pemberton to guard the paroled prisoners on their way home.

In a week, the paroles were completed, and on Saturday morning, July 11th, about half an hour before noon, the rebel garrison took up its line of march. As they reached the fortifications, each man's name was called and checked off on the rolls. National troops were placed as guards on both sides of the road, for some distance beyond the intrenchments; and, in all the bitterness of defeat, the prisoners marched by. All that had passed was as nothing to this. Amid the thickest storm of battle, there had always been the expectation of succor or success; while they lay on the weary picket, or in the hot trenches, they had still hoped on, though hope was long deferred. But now all hope was gone; the rebel yell of defiance,¹ so often raised in battle, opposed to the national cheer, might not be heard;