miles connects by a short canal with Deer Creek. After following this stream eighteen miles, there is a connection by the Rolling Fork with the Sunflower River, ten miles distant. This last stream, after a flow of over forty miles, empties into the Yazoo, not far from Haine's Bluff, and about sixty miles from its mouth. This route was recommended by Admiral Porter, after a reconnoissance. One of its advantages was, that it would flank Greenwood, threaten the rear of those who held our boats checked there, and turn the flank of the defences at Haine's Bluff. General Grant accompanied this expedition to Black Bayou, and was a witness of the difficulties in its way. He then returned to Young's Point in order to send up a pioneer troop which should clear the way for the expedition. Here he received a message from Admiral Porter, asking for the coöperation of a military force: in answer Grant forwarded a division of the Fifteenth Army Corps, with Sherman in command. The number of steam transports being too small for the accommodation of the entire force, the larger part of them were sent up the Mississippi to Eagle Bend, a point where the river runs within a mile of Steele's Bayou. The Confederates having, however, obtained a knowledge of this operation, made ready to receive us, and it was thought best to abandon the plan when we were within a few hundred yards of the point which, had we reached it, would have assured our success.

CHAPTER XVII.

'THE FINAL MOVE. THE FIRST STEP IN THE RIGHT

DIRECTION SUCCESSFUL.

ALL of these plans having been tried with unvarying fortune, Grant resolved to occupy New Carthage, the plan now being to move his forces below Vicksburg on the Louisiana shore, so as to attack the Confederate works in the rear. The movement began on the 29th of March, 1863, the Thirteenth Corps taking the lead, followed by the Seventeenth and Fifteenth, while the Sixteenth was left in charge of the communications and supplies.

Before giving an account of this new move, it will be well to glance for a moment at the sanitary condition of Grant's army at this time, since attention to this point is one of the most important qualities of a good general, and since about this time the unfounded public rumors to the contrary, having culminated into official inquiry, were officially answered.

During the time passed in the movements described above, public attention was very strongly directed to Grant's army, and every rumor relating to it excited public interest. As also during the time these various expeditions were preparing, it was of absolute necessity that the strictest secrecy concerning them should be

preserved, all private correspondence of the army with friends left at home had been prohibited, for fear that such letters might fall into the hands of the enemy through the agency of the prowling bands of guerrillas which swarmed all round the outside of the lines. This absence of regular communication had the effect of redoubling the anxiety of those at home, who had friends in the army, and rendering them doubly sensitive to all rumors of every kind. Where, of course, such a desire for news exists, the supply to satisfy it will not be wanting, since the unscrupulous speculators in sensational news increase equally with, if they do not surpass, the growth of the legitimate diffusers of infor mation the public press. Inquiry into the facts of the sanitary condition of the army was made by the Surgeon General, and Grant, under date of March 6, responded informally as follows:

No army ever went into the field better provided with medical stores and attendance than is furnished to the army before Vicksburg. There was a deficiency in volunteer surgeons, but that is now supplied. The hospital boats are supplied with their own surgeons, nurses, and everything for the comfort of the sick. The purveyor's department not only has everything furnished the sick, but more than it ever dreamed of was furnished to the army, and more than the great majority of men could have at home. Then, too, there is not that amount of sickness that persons would be led to believe from the statements in the public prints. I question whether the health of the St. Louis force is better than that of this command. On my arrival here, the men having to put up with straw for so long a time, and then with camping on low ground and in the most terrible weather ever experienced, there was for a time, of necessity, a great number of sick.

U. S. GRANT, Major General.

The foregoing letter was informal; but on the 12th

General Grant sent, in answer to the official inquiry, the following document for registry in the departmental offices at Washington:

HEADQUARTERS

BEFORE VICKSBURG, March 12, 1863.

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. 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.

The

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.

On the 27th of the same month the following order was issued for the purpose of giving every facility to the Sanitary Commission in their self-imposed task :—

Special Orders, No. 86.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT of the Tennessee,

YOUNG'S POINT, LA., March 27, 1863.

1. 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 U. S. 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.

2. 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 employees 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.

3. The contents of all packages to be shipped on said U. S. 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 person 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 headquarters.

4. 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.

5. All orders authorizing the free transportation of sanitary stores from Cairo south, on boats other than the one herein provided for, are hereby rescinded.

By order of

JOHN A. RAWLINS, A. A. G.

Major General U. S. GRANT.

Shortly before the movement of the forces below the works of Vicksburg, Admiral Farragut had run by the batteries at Port Hudson, with his flag-ship, the Hartford, and her tender the Albatross, and on March 17 was lying off Natchez. On March 21 the Hartford arrived off Vicksburg, and anchoring below the batteries, her commander communicated with General Grant and Admiral Porter. On the 25th of March, two rams, which had been made by altering river steamboats, the Lancaster and the Switzerland, attempted to run by the batteries of Vicksburg, but were found not strong enough to stand their heavy fire; the Lancaster