past Grand Gulf and land at Rodney,

or,

it may be expedient for the boats to run past, but not the men. In this case, then, the transports would have to be brought back to where the men could land, and move by forced marches to below Grand Gulf, reëmbark rapidly, and proceed to the latter place." * With the exception of the march to Grand Gulf, this is what actually occurred, two days afterwards. On the same day, Grant instructed McClernand: "The amount of transportation being limited for the number of men it is desirable to take to Grand Gulf, I especially intended that no horses, except what was necessary for drawing the artillery, should be taken."

At eight o'clock on the morning of the 29th, Porter began the bombardment with all his iron-clads, seven in number, and one ordinary gunboat. For five hours and twenty minutes, he kept up a vigorous fire, without intermission, running his vessels at times almost within pistol-shot of the batteries. The current of the Mississippi at this place is quite swift, and the stream too deep for anchorage, so that the gunboats were compelled to keep continually in motion; they were turned round and round in the eddies, exposed of course at every turn. The vessels were handled with skill and boldness, but the rebel batteries were too elevated for Porter to accomplish any thing; he was not able to dismount a solitary piece, and it would have been madness to attempt a landing, under unsilenced guns like these. No serious injury was sustained by any of the fleet, but, at twenty minutes past one o'clock, the admiral with

* See Appendix for Grant's orders to McClernand for the attack in full, April 27th. Also Grant's orders of April 24th.

drew, the utter futility of his effort having been amply demonstrated; the enemy also suspended fire. Porter's loss was eighteen killed and fifty-six wounded. One of his vessels was struck as many as forty-seven times.

Grant had witnessed the bombardment from tug in the stream, and, immediately upon its close, he signalled the admiral, who took him aboard the flagship. There, he at once requested Porter to run by the batteries at Grand Gulf that night, with his entire fleet, as a cover to the transports, while the troops should be disembarked at Hard Times, and marched to De Shroon's, a point on the western shore, three miles below Grand Gulf. Porter promptly acquiesced, and that night the gunboats again engaged the batteries, while all the transports ran by, receiving no damage in the passage, only one or two being struck. They were thus ready, on the morning of the 30th, to take the troops aboard at De Shroon's. During the night, the Thirteenth corps marched around to that place, on the levee. The gunboats also passed below the batteries.

Grant had previously ordered the eastern shore below Grand Gulf explored, to find a landing-place, and hardly hoped to get a footing anywhere north of Rodney; but, that night, information was procured from a negro, that a good road led from Bruinsburg, six miles below Grand Gulf, to Port Gibson, twelve miles in the interior, and on high ground. When the embarkation began in the morning, it was with a view to steam down the river, until hard land should be found, but, this information being relied on, the first transports went direct to Bruinsburg, and found the negro's story correct; a good dry road leading to

the bluffs, which were at least two miles from the river.

At the same time that the attack on Grand Gulf was ordered, Grant wrote to Sherman, who had not yet started from Milliken's bend, to make a demonstration against Haine's bluff, which should serve as a diversion merely, in favor of the assault below. "The effect of a heavy demonstration in that direc tion," said Grant, "would be good, so far as the enemy are concerned; but I am loath to order it, because it would be so hard to make our own troops understand that only a demonstration was intended, and our people at home would characterize it as a repulse." Sherman had been so unfortunate, and the comments of the newspaper press on his career had been so unjustly harsh, that Grant felt an especial unwillingness to place him and his command in a position that would subject them to unpleasant criticism. Still, he preferred Sherman to any other commander, for this separate and important part of the enterprise. But Sherman replied: "I believe a diversion at Haine's bluff is proper and right, and will make it, let whatever reports of repulses be made." On the 29th of April, accordingly, he moved ten regiments up the Yazoo on transports, while the gunboats which had been left by Porter north of Vicksburg (eight in number), also appeared in sight of the bluff, and engaged the batteries. The troops were landed, and mock dispositions made for attack; reconnoissances were sent out, and the enemy opened heavy fire both upon the naval and the land forces. This lasted for two days, and Grant afterwards learned that the movement caused great anxiety and many changes of troops, in the command at Vicksburg. Not a man of

Sherman's force was hurt, nor were there any losses in the squadron. On the 1st of May, Sherman got orders from Grant to withdraw from before the bluff, and follow as rapidly as possible, on the heels of McPherson's corps. "Move up to Perkins's plantation, with two divisions of your corps, as rapidly as possible."

On the 29th, after passing Grand Gulf, Grant wrote to Halleck: "I feel now that the battle is more than half over." During this tedious month, his confidence had never failed. On the 2d of April, he said to Halleck: "In two weeks I expect to be able to collect all my forces and turn the enemy's left." When Sherman returned, unsuccessful, from Steele's bayou, Grant consoled himself by saying that "the expedition has at least pushed our troops into the heart of the granary from which the Vicksburg forces are now being fed." On the 11th, he announced: "My force in a few days will be all concentrated; I expect to take Grand Gulf." On the 17th: "I go to New Carthage to-night; if it is possible, I will occupy Grand Gulf in four days." On the 18th: "I hope very soon to be able to report my possession of Grand Gulf." On the 21st: "My force is abun dant, with a foothold once attained, to do the work." On the 24th, to Sherman: "I foresee great difficul ties in our present position, but it will not do to let these retard any movements." Again: "Once at Grand Gulf, I do not feel a doubt of success in the entire clearing out of the enemy from the banks of the river." "Every effort will be exerted to get speedy possession of Grand Gulf, and from that point to open the Mississippi."

CHAPTER VII.

Preliminary orders for the campaign-Passage of the Mississippi river-Movement to the high land-Battle-field of Port Gibson-McClernand meets the enemy-Battle of Port Gibson-Grant comes on the field in person-Arrival of McPherson's command-Success on the right-McPherson's chargeDefeat of the rebels-Pursuit until dark-Rebels retreat beyond Port Gibson -Pursuit to Big Black river-Bridges burnt by rebels and rebuilt by Grant -Evacuation of Grand Gulf-New plan of campaign-Reasons for the change-Dispatches from Banks-New plan not divulged to Halleck-Efforts to bring up troops and supplies-Demonstrations towards Vicksburg-Instructions to Hurlbut-McPherson advances-Sherman arrives-Correspondence with Sherman-Army moves-Position of troops-Grant's habit in planning campaigns-Grant's force at outset of campaign-Headquarters at Cayuga-More dispatches from Banks-Final dispatches to Halleck-McPherson ordered to Raymond-Battle of Raymond-Capture of RaymondEnemy retreat to Jackson-Pemberton deceived by Grant's manœuvresAdvance of Sherman and McPherson-Pursuit of the rebels towards Jackson-Johnston's arrival at Jackson-Pemberton ordered to attack Grant's rear-McPherson arrives at Clinton-Battle of Jackson-Position of McPherson and Sherman-Charge of Crocker's division-Capture of JacksonRetreat of Johnston towards Canton-Destruction of railroad and storesFrustration of Johnston's plans-Pemberton again ordered to join Johnston -Grant intercepts Johnston's dispatches-Moves at once towards BoltonGrant converges while rebels diverge-Pemberton moves to cut Grant's communications-Receives Johnston's orders and reverses his column-Battlefield of Champion's Hill-McClernand's advance-Grant's arrival-Hovey's attack-Battle of Champion's Hill-Hovey's success-Enemy masses on Hovey-Grant reënforces Hovey-McClernand repeatedly ordered up, but does not arrive-McPherson outflanks the enemy-Rebels finally driven from the field-McClernand arrives when the battle is over-Reasons for McClernand's delay insufficient-Pursuit of the rebels-Rout of the enemy complete-Loring cut off-Losses on both sides-Hill of Death-Grant gets in advance of column-Johnston loses a day-Sherman ordered to Bridgeport with pontoon train-McClernand comes up with enemy at Black river bridge Battle-field of Black river bridge-Gallant charge of Lawler-Demoralization of rebels-Firing of bridge-Capture of prisoners and cannon-Rapid