“HEADQUARTERS, U. S. FORCES, BEFORE } PORT HUDSON, JULY 8th, 1863. } “To Major-General FRANK GARDNER, commanding Confederate States forces, Port Hudson: “GENERAL: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of this date, stating that you are willing to surrender the garrison under your command to the forces under my command, and that you will appoint a commission of three officers to meet a similar commission appointed by me, at nine o’clock this morning, for the purpose of agreeing upon and drawing up the terms of the surrender. “In reply, I have the honor to state that I have designated Brigadier-General Charles P. Stone, Colonel Henry W. Birge, and Lieutenant-Colonel Richard B. Irwin, as the officers to meet the commission appointed by you. “They will meet your officers at the hour designated, at a point where the flag of truce was received this morning. I will direct that active hostilities shall entirely cease on my part until further notice, for the purpose stated. “Very respectfully, your most obedient servant, “N. P. BANKS, Major-General Commanding.” CAMP SCENES. [Illustration: ASSORTING THE MAIL.] [Illustration: THE NEWS DEPOT.] The following are the articles of capitulation mutually agreed upon and adopted: ART. 1. Major-General Frank Gardner surrenders to the United States forces under Major-General Banks, the place of Port Hudson and its dependencies, with its garrison, armaments, munitions, public funds, and materials of war, in the condition, as nearly as may be, in which they were at the hour of cessation of hostilities, namely, 6 o’clock A. M., July 8, 1863. ART. 2. The surrender stipulated in article one is qualified by no condition, save that the officers and enlisted men comprising the garrison shall receive the treatment due to prisoners of war, according to the usages of civilized warfare. ART. 3. All private property of officers and enlisted men shall be respected, and left to their respective owners. ART. 4. The position of Port Hudson shall be occupied to-morrow, at 7 o’clock A. M., by the forces of the United States, and its garrison received as prisoners of war by such general officers of the United States service as may be designated by Major-General Banks, with the ordinary formalities of rendition. The Confederate troops will be drawn up in line, officers in their positions, the right of the line resting on the edge of the prairie south of the railroad depot; the left extending in the direction of the village of Port Hudson. The arms and colors will be piled conveniently, and will be received by the officers of the United States.