Grant first demanded unconditional surrender from the south. However upon further consideration he changed his mind. It would take a long time to ship that many prisoners to a camp and food and supplies would be used on them. Grant decided it was not worth it, so instead he gave the confederate soldiers parole. He hoped they would gain a defeatist attitude and not fight again. Along with the surrender of the soldiers grant gained almost two hundred cannons and fifty thousand rifles.
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"The surrender of Vicksburg forthwith settles its fate." - The New york times July 8th 1863
Vicksburg was left destroyed from the siege that had gone on there. Even during the battles its residents would live in caves afraid to walk the streets. Much of the infrastructure was devastated. Buildings were blown to pieces and the town was in rubble. Vicksburg would not celebrate the 4th of July for a long time. The day to them meant more than just Independence Day but also marked the surrender and devastation of their city.
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