the track, so as to cut off the retreat of the Confederates from Vicksburg. The main body of the expedition, having safely disembarked, on the 27th of December, 1862, at Johnston's Landing, near the mouth of the Yazoo River, prepared for an assault upon the northern works defending Vicksburg. CHAPTER XV. THE FIRST ATTEMPT TO CAPTURE VICKSBURG, HOW AND WHY IT FAILED. LET us now return to Grant, whom we left advancing against the enemy, and examine the causes which prevented his supporting Sherman's expedition. The cause was very simple. As Grant advanced, we have told how he left the important posts in his rear garrisoned with what he considered an adequate force. As soon as Van Dorn was aware of the return of Hovey's expedition, he formed the idea of attacking some of the garrisons left in Grant's rear, and thus, by threatening his base, force him to postpone his advance. On the 12th a skirmish took place at Corinth, and other points were similarly threatened; but in them all the enemy were boldly repulsed. The weak point, however, was found. Holly Springs had been left in the command of Colonel R. C. Murphy, who on the 20th surrendered his post to an attack of cavalry, without attempting to make the slightest resistance. Grant was at this time at Oxford, thirty miles away. This base surrender, opening as it did his communications, forced him to fall back upon Holly Springs, and postpone advancing upon Vicksburg, and supporting Sherman's expedition. It also freed the troops in Grant's front, who had been kept in check by his advance, and enabled them to hasten back to Vicksburg to assist in repelling Sherman. This failure of so well combined a plan, caused as it was by the imbecility of one man, in whom circumstances had necessitated the placing of confidence, was the more unfortunate just at this juncture, since the season had been one of disaster in the East. Pope had been defeated at Centreville on the 28th of August. The battle of Antietam was not a complete victory. Buell at Perryville had gained anything but a victory over Bragg, while, on the 19th of December, the terrible slaughters had taken place at Fredericksburg. But though every one else might despair, Grant remained firm. His tenacity of purpose was perhaps never more severely tried, and never came stronger from the trial. He lost no time in regrets, but made preparations for putting a new plan in execution. Having returned to Holly Springs, and made his headquarters there, he investigated the conditions of the surrender, and issued the following order on the 24th of December: Special Field Orders, No. 23. HEADQUARTERS THIRTEENTH ARMY CORPS, HOLLY SPRINGS, MISS., December 24, 1862. [EXTRACT.] It is with pain and mortification that the General commanding reflects upon the disgraceful surrender of the place, with all the valuable stores it contained, on the 20th instant, and that without any resistance except by a few men, who form an honorable exception; and this, too, after warning had been given of the enemy northward the evening previous. With all the cotton, public stores, and substantial buildings about the depot, it would have been perfectly practicable to have made, in a few hours, a defence sufficient to resist, with a small garrison, all the cavalry force brought against them, until the reënforcements which the commanding officer was notified were marching to his relief could have reached him. The conduct of officers and men in accepting paroles, under the circumstances, is highly reprehensible, and, to say the least, thoughtless. By the terms of the Dix Hill cartel each party is bound to take care of their prisoners, and to send them to Vicksburg, or a point on the James River, for exchange or parole, unless some other point is mutually agreed upon by the Generals commanding the opposing armies. By a refusal to be paroled, the enemy, from his inability to take care of the prisoners, would have been compelled either to have refused them unconditionally, or to have abandoned further aggressive movements for the time being, which would have made their recapture, and the discomfiture of the enemy almost certain. The prisoners paroled at this place will be collected in camp at once by the post commander, and held under close guard until their case can be reported to Washington for further instructions. Commanders throughout the department are directed to arrest. and hold, as above, all men of their commands and all stragglers who may have accepted their paroles upon like terms. The General commanding is satisfied that the majority of the troops who accepted a parole did so thoughtlessly and from want of knowledge of the cartel referred to, and that in future they will not be caught in the same way. By order of JOHN A. RAWLINS, A. A. G. Major General U. S. GRANT. The following order of the 8th of January, 1863, shows that, after a careful investigation of all the circumstances, the blame was made to rest where it belonged, and fit punishment meted out to the offender. General Orders, No. 4. HEADQUARTERS HOLLY SPRINGS, Miss., January 8, 1863. 1. The Major General commanding the department takes just pride and satisfaction in congratulating the small garrisons of the posts of Coldwater, Davis's Mills, and Middleburg, for the heroic defence of their positions on the 20th, 21st, and 24th ultimo, and their successful repulse of an enemy many times their number. The Ninetieth Illinois, at Coldwater (its first engagement), the detachment of the veteran Twenty-fifth Indiana and two companies of the Fifth Ohio Cavalry at Davis's Mills, and the detachment of the gallant Twelfth Michigan at Middleburg, are deserving of the thanks of the army, which was in a measure dependent upon the road they so nobly defended for supplies, and they will receive the meed of praise ever awarded by a grateful public to those who bravely and successfully do their duty. These regiments are entitled to inscribe upon their banners, respectively, Coldwater, Davis's Mills, and Middleburg, with the names of other battle-fields made victorious by their valor and discipline. It is gratifying to know that at every point where our troops made a stand during the late raid of the enemy's cavalry, success followed, and the enemy was made to suffer a loss in killed and wounded greater than the entire garrisons of the places attacked. Especially was this the case of Davis's Mills and Middleburg. The only success gained by Van Dorn was at Holly Springs, where the whole garrison was left by their commander in ignorance of the approach of danger. 2. Colonel R. C. Murphy, of the Eighth Regiment Wisconsin Infantry Volunteers, having, while in command of the post of Holly Springs, Mississippi, neglected and failed to exercise the usual and ordinary precautions to guard and protect the same; having, after repeated and timely warning of the approach of the enemy, failed to make any preparations for resistance or defence, or shown any disposition to do so; and having, with a force amply sufficient to have repulsed the enemy and protect the public stores intrusted to his care, disgracefully permitted him to capture the post and destroy the stores, and the movement of troops in face of an enemy rendering it impracticable to convene a court martial for his trial,―is, therefore, dismissed the service of the United States -to take effect from the 20th day of December, 1862, the date of his cowardly and disgraceful conduct. By order of JOHN A. RAWLINS, A. A. G. Major General U. S. GRANT. |