FINDING that Grand Gulf could not be taken by assault, the troops were again landed at Hard Times, and then marched across the upper end of Coffee's Point and De Shroon's plantation, to the Louisiana shore of the Mississippi, below Grand Gulf, and opposite Bruinsburg, while the navy and transports ran the batteries and joined them. A reconnoitring party having been sent to examine the best point for crossing the river, General McClernand reported on the 17th of June, that Bruinsburg was such a point; so that on the 30th of June, his corps was carried across the stream, and started, with three days' rations, to reach, as soon as possible, the high land, and succeeded in forming a line without meeting any resistance.

The advance was now upon the Vicksburg side of the river, and everything depended upon promptness, since success could be guaranteed only in this way. This plan of action was so daring, that its feasibility was doubted by the authorities at Washington, and it did not meet the views of many of Grant's own officers. Sherman went even so far as to present a written protest against it, though expressed in the friendliest

terms. This fact appears from Sherman's own magnanimous declaration, after the capture of Vicksburg, and when the credit of this successful plan was attributed to himself. It is certain, however, that the conception of this plan belongs entirely to Grant, and his persistence and self-confidence, based upon a consciousness of genius, the highest quality of a military commander, and the touchstone of which is success, is shown in his determination to carry it out, even against the opinion of all those about him. This determination is equalled only by Grant's modesty and want of ambition, since, but for Sherman's declaration, the credit of the plan could not have been with certainty given to him; for, if on no other grounds, his kind consideration for Sherman, his dearest friend, would have prevented him from ever claiming his own. The tender and exalted friendship, the mutual respect, recognition, and admiration, which exist between these two great men, are as fine an evidence of the nobility human nature is capable of, as can be culled from the pages of Plutarch, or any other record of the world's history. But if this plan of action was against the judgment of Grant's 'subordinates, most nobly and heartily did they aid him in its execution: there was no small jealousy among this body of men; their hearts and souls were in the work, and each did all he could to help the common cause. Herein also Grant has shown that he possesses the rare quality of judiciously selecting those upon whose aid he must rely, and then, by the generous magnanimity with which he treats them, infusing his own spirit into them. As the tyrant always produces a brood of sycophants and hypocrites, as slavery

fosters only all the petty vices in the slave, so only freedom produces the manly virtues of freemen, and a nobly great man, whose life is justice, fosters only the best qualities in those he has about him.

The Seventeenth Corps followed as soon as possible, and Grant himself arrived also the same day. The enemy were first met eight miles from Bruinsburg, on the night of the 30th, and were driven back a considerable distance. The next morning they were met in force, about four miles from Port Gibson, and thirteen from Bruinsburg, strongly posted, under Major General Bowen, where two roads met, both leading, by detours to the right and left, to Port Gibson. The position was one where a small force could resist the advance of a large one. The roads were upon ridges, and the country upon each side was broken with ravines. The battle was immediately joined, and lasted about all day, but at evening our forces were successful. The Confederates fled, thoroughly defeated, across Bayou Pierre, towards Grand Gulf, destroying, in their flight, the bridges over this stream. On the next day, however, a new floating bridge was built by McPherson, and the army passed over in pursuit, to the banks of the Big Black River. The Confederates, in crossing this stream, attempted to destroy the pontoon bridge over which they had passed, but were prevented from so doing by our sharp-shooters.

This part of the army was now seven miles beyond Grand Gulf, and within eighteen miles of Vicksburg. From an examination of some prisoners captured, it was learned that Grand Gulf had been evacuated, and the magazine blown up. Proceeding with a few men

to Grand Gulf, Grant found this to be the case, and made the necessary arrangements for changing his base of supplies from Bruinsburg to this place. The following modest report of the results thus gained was sent by General Grant to the department at Washington:

Grand Gulf, Miss., May 3, 1863.

MAJOR GENERAL HALLECK, General-in-Chief.

We landed at Bruinsburg April 30, moved immediately on Port Gibson, met the enemy, eleven thousand strong, four miles south of Port Gibson, at two o'clock, A. M., on the 1st instant, and engaged him all day, entirely routing him, with the loss of many killed, and about five hundred prisoners, besides the wounded. Our loss is about one hundred killed and five hundred wounded.

The enemy retreated towards Vicksburg, destroying the bridges over the two forks of the Bayou Pierre. These were rebuilt, and the pursuit has continued until the present time.

Besides the heavy artillery at the place, four field-pieces were captured, and some stores, and the enemy were driven to destroy many more.

The country is the most broken and difficult to operate in I ever

saw.

Our victory has been most complete, and the enemy is thoroughly demoralized.

Very respectfully,

U. S. GRANT, Major General commanding.

On the 4th of May Governor Yates, of Illinois, who was with the army, and who, it will be remembered, was the first to perceive and employ Grant's military ability, wrote from Grand Gulf as follows: "Our arms are gloriously triumphant. We have succeeded in winning a victory which, in its results, must be the most important of the war. On my way to Grand Gulf I saw guns scattered all along the road, which the

enemy had left in their retreat. I consider Vicksburg as ours in a short time, and the Mississippi River as destined to be open from its source to its mouth."

The same night that Grand Gulf was occupied, several barges were sent past the batteries of Vicksburg; but the fire upon them was so heavy that they were set on fire by shells bursting in the midst of the cotton and hay, and those on board were compelled to surrender..

In order to divert the enemy's attention, and occupy a portion of his force elsewhere, General Grant ordered Sherman to make a feint upon Haine's Bluff, at the same time that he made his landing at Bruinsburg. Sherman's orders were received on the 28th of April, and proceeding up the Yazoo, he was at the mouth of the Chickasaw on the evening of the 29th; and the next day, the fleet, proceeding to within an easy range of the works, kept up an active fire for four hours. That evening Sherman disembarked his troops, in full view of the enemy, and made preparations as though to assault the works. Keeping up this show, the object of which was successfully gained, as was evident from the activity the Confederates displayed in moving their guns, bringing up their forces, and in various ways preparing for a desperate resistance, the troops were reëmbarked that night, and the next day was spent in making similar movements on both sides of the Yazoo. Then, quietly dropping back to Young's Point, the whole corps, with the exception of a garrison left at this place, marched to Hard Times, on the Louisiana shore, four miles above Grand Gulf, arriving there on the morning of the 6th of May, having marched sixty