rumors of sickness among his troops, which is a dis passionate, decided refutation of the slanderous reports. HEAD-QUARTErs DepartmenT OF THE TENNESSEE, } Brigadier-General W. A. HAMMOND, Surgeon-General, United States Army: SIR: Surgeon J. R. Smith's letter of the 20th of February is just received, inquiring into the sanitary condition of this command, and asking for suggestions for its improvement. I know a great deal has been said to impress the public generally, and officials particularly, with the idea that this army was in a suffering condition, and mostly from neglect. This is most erroneous. The health of this command will, I venture to say, compare favorably with that of any army in the field, and every preparation is made for the sick that could be desired. I will refer Surgeon Smith's letter to my medical director for a fuller report of the condition of the medical department here. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, U. S. GRANT, Major-General. The directions given to his quartermasters by the humane and vigilant chief, who, with Sherman, won the confidence and love of his troops by caring for their wants, are a farther vindication of his military rule against the cowardly attacks then made upon his rising fame. HEAD-QUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE, } I. The Quartermaster's Department will provide and furnish a suitable steamboat, to be called the "United States Sanitary Store-Boat," and put the same in charge of the United States Sanitary Commission, to be used by it exclusively for the conveyance of goods calculated to prevent disease, and supplement the Government supply of stores for the relief of the sick and wounded. II. No person will be permitted to travel on said boat, except sick officers of the army and navy (and they only on permits from their proper commanding officers), discharged soldiers, and employes of said Sanitary Commission; and no goods whatever, for trading or commercial purposes, will be carried on said boat; and no goods will be taken for individuals, or with any conditions which will prevent their being delivered to those most needing them in the army or navy. III. The contents of all packages to be shipped on said United States Sanitary Store-Boat will be inspected before shipment by an agent of said Sanitary Commission, at the point of shipment, unless an invoice of their contents has been received, the correctness of which is assured by the signature of some persons of known loyalty and integrity. A statement, showing what goods have been placed on board at each trip, will be sent to the Medical Director of the Department at these head-quarters. GENERAL GRANT AND THE SANITARY COMMISSION. 235 IV. A weekly statement will also be made by said Sanitary Commission to the Department Medical Director, showing what sanitary supplies have been issued by said commission, and to whom issued. V. All orders authorizing the free transportation of sanitary stores from Cairo south, on boats other than the one herein provided for, are hereby rescinded. Major-General U. S. GRANT. It became evident to the unwearied and undaunted commander, that his favorite flanking movement must be abandoned. His battalions could not get through the passes, bayous, and canals into the rear of Vicksburg, and seize the railways to Jackson, the capital of the State. CHAPTER XII. NAVAL MOVEMENTS TOWARD VICKSBURG. A new Plan for Seizing the Prize.-Admiral Farragut passes Port Hudson.Description of the Terrific Scene.-The Rams Lancaster and Switzerland make a fruitless Attempt to run the Batteries.-The Army Advance.—The Exhausting Marches. Admiral Porter's Ships confront Vicksburg in a night-passage of the Works.-The Peril.-The Success and Exultation. GENERAL GRANT now determined to move his forces below Vicksburg, on the Louisiana shore, and take the rebel works in the rear. March 20, 1863, the great movement began: the Thirteenth Corps taking the lead, followed by the Seventeenth and Fifteenth, while to the Sixteenth Corps was left the charge of the communications and supplies. General Grant wanted Admiral Farragut to sail above Port Hudson, while Admiral Foote went below Vicksburg, uniting in the reduction of batteries there, to clear the way for Grant, whose troops were to advance down the west side of the river; and otherwise to aid the bold enterprise as he might have opportunity. Admiral Farragut at once led with his flag-ship, the Hartford, followed by the Richmond, the Mississippi, the Monongahela, with the gunboats Kineo, Albatross, and Genesee, and six mortarboats; the latter were to assist in the bombardment, but remain below the batteries. The fleet moved toward Port Hudson near the middle of March. On the 14th, just after noon, the mortars opened their fire on the fortifications, second to none in strength but those at Vicksburg, on the Mississippi. A detachment of troops was also sent in the rear, to confuse the garrison, while the admiral got ready for his nightwork. Then occurred one of those grand and unusual exhibitions of naval warfare, of which the passage of THE SPLENDID PASSAGE BY PORT HUDSON. 237 Forts Jackson and St. Philip was unrivaled in terrible sublimity. The evening was dark, but Confederate scouts had watched the Union fleet, and given notice of preparation for some movement to the garrison. Immediately a tremendous bonfire was kindled on the heights, and poured its flood of lurid light down the cannon-bordered bluffs upon the waters just where the ships would pass the most formidable works. In the reflected flames, each vessel and its motions would be distinctly visible as in the light of day. It was a crisis to try not only the metal of ordnance, but that of the admiral's character. He had never quailed in the moment of peril, and now was calmer than ever. Right onwand toward the flashing surface, over which frowned the heaviest rebel cannon, his squadron advanced. A description of what followed is finely given in a letter penned on board the Richmond-a most graphic, vivid picture of the naval action. "We had left the mortar-boats well astern, when a sulphurous light was seen gleaming on the shore, on our port side. Flashing up for a moment, a dull explosion followed. It was evidently an imperfect rocket. Another was essayed; but, instead of ascending, it ran along the surface of the river close to the bank. A little further up a third was tried, and with complete success. It ascended high in the air, where it burst in the usual manner. Instantaneously it was answered by a field-piece from the opposite shore, aimed at the Hartford. The admiral was not slow in returning the compliment. Three or four guns fired from the flag-ship in rapid succession testified to the alacrity with which the wager of battle was accepted. "The return of the rebel fire by the Hartford was promptly followed up by a hot fire from the artillery pieces of the rebels, and quite a brisk action ensued between them. The scene, as viewed from the Richmond, was both brilliant and spirited. The flashes of the guns, both on shore and afloat, were incessant, while the roar of cannon kept up a deafening and almost incessant sound. Great judgment was here necessary to prevent the Rich mond from running into the Hartford, and, in fact, to keep the war-vessels generally from running into each other. "And now was heard a thundering roar, equal in volume to a whole park of artillery. This was followed by a rushing sound, accompanied by a howling noise that beggars description. Again and again was the sound repeated, till the vast expanse of heaven rang with the awful minstrelsy. It was apparent that the mortar-boats had opened fire. Of this I was soon convinced on casting my eyes aloft. Never shall I forget the sight that then met my astonished vision. Shooting upward at an angle of forty-five degrees, with the rapidity of lightning, small globes of golden flame were seen sailing through the pure ether-not a steady, unfading flame, but corruscating like the fitful gleam of a fire-fly-now visible and anon invisible. Like a flying star of the sixth magnitude, the terrible missile-a thirteen-inch shell-near its zenith, up and still up-higher and higher. Its flight now becomes much slower, till, on reaching its utmost altitude, its centri. fugal force becomes counteracted by the earth's attraction, it describes a parabolic curve, and down, down it comes, bursting, it may be, ere it reaches terra firma, but probably alighting in the rebel works ere it explodes, where it scatters death and destruction around. But while the mortar-boats were at work, the Essex was not idle. Unmanageable as she is, especially in so strong a current, she did not follow the rest of the fleet, but remained at the head of the 'bummers,' doing admirable service with her heavy guns. "All this time the Richmond had to hang back, as Admiral Farragut seemed to be so enamored with the sport in which he was engaged as to be in no hurry to pass by. Once or twice, in consequence of the dense column of smoke that now rolled over the river, our bowsprit was almost over the taffrail of the Hartford, and there was an incessant call on the part of Second-Lieutenant Terry, who commanded the forward part of the ship, to stop the engines. And here I may as well say that this gallant young officer behaved in the most chivalrous man |