thatinWashington，beforecomingWest，hehadbeenintroducedtohimbyPresidentLincoln，andhehadtakenastrongprejudiceagainsthim。Ibeggedhim，forthesakeofharmony，towaivethat，whichhepromisedtodo。Returningtothecabin，theconversationwasresumed，and，onourofferingtotowhisgunboatsuptherivertosavecoal，andonrenewingtherequestforShirktocommandthedetachment，Portersaid，\"SupposeIgoalongmyself？\"Ianswered，ifhewoulddoso，itwouldinsurethesuccessoftheenterprise。
AtthattimeIsupposedGeneralMeClernandwouldsendmeonthisbusiness，butheconcludedtogohimself，andtotakehiswholeforce。OrderswereatonceissuedforthetroopsnottodisembarkatMilliken’sBend，buttoremainastheywereonboardthetransports。Mytwodivisionswerecommanded——theFirst，byBrigadier—GeneralFrederickSteele，withthreebrigades，commandedbyBrigadierGeneralaF。P。Blair，C。E。Hooey，andJ。M。Thayer;
theSecond，byBrigadier—GeneralD。Stuart，withtwobrigades，commandedbyColonelsG。A。SmithandT。KilbySmith。
Thewholearmy，embarkedonsteamboatsconvoyedbythegunboats，ofwhichthreewereiron—clads，proceededuptheMississippiRivertothemouthofWhiteRiver，whichwereachedJanuary8th。OnthenextdaywecontinuedupWhiteRivertothe\"Cut—off;\"throughthistotheArkansas，anduptheArkansastoNotrib’sfarm，justbelowFortHindman。Earlythenextmorningwedisembarked。Stuart’sdivision，movinguptheriveralongthebank，soonencounteredaforceoftheenemyintrenchedbehindalineofearthworks，extendingfromtheriveracrosstotheswamp。ItookSteele’sdivision，marchingbytheflankbyaroadthroughtheswamptothefirmgroundbehind，andwasmovinguptogettotherearofFortHindman，whenGeneralMeClernandovertookme，withthereportthattherebelshadabandonedtheirfirstposition，andhadfallenbackintothefort。Byhisorders，wecounter—marched，recrossedtheswamp，andhurriedforwardtoovertakeStuart，marchingforFortHindman。ThefirstlineoftherebelswasaboutfourmilesbelowFortHindman，andtheinterveningspacewasdensely，woodedandobscure，withtheexceptionofsomeoldfieldsbackofandclosetothefort。Duringthenight，whichwasabrightmoonlightone，wereconnoitredcloseup，andfoundalargenumberofhutswhichhadbeenabandoned，andthewholerebelforcehadfallenbackintoandaboutthefort。PersonallyIcreptuptoastumpsoclosethatI
couldheartheenemyhardatwork，pullingdownhouses，cuttingwithaxes，andbuildingintrenchments。Icouldalmostheartheirwords，andIwasthuslisteningwhen，about4A。M。thebuglerintherebelcampsoundedasprettyareveilleasIeverlistenedto。
Whendaylightbrokeitrevealedtousanewlineofparapetstraightacrossthepeninsula，connectingFortHindman，ontheArkansasRiverbank，withtheimpassableswampaboutamiletoitsleftorrear。Thispeninsulawasdividedintotwonearlyequalpartsbyaroad。Mycommandhadthegroundtotherightoftheroad，andMorgan’scorpsthattotheleft。McClernandhadhisquartersstillontheTigress，backatNotrib’sfarm，butmovedforwardthatmorning（January11th）toaplaceinthewoodstoourrear，wherehehadamanupatree，toobserveandreportthemovements。
TherewasageneralunderstandingwithAdmiralPorterthathewastoattackthefortwithhisthreeironcladgunboatsdirectlybyitswater—front，whileweassaultedbylandintherear。About10a。m。
IgotamessagefromGeneralMcClernand，tellingmewherehecouldbefound，andaskingmewhatwewerewaitingfor。Iansweredthatweweretheninclosecontactwiththeenemy，viz。，aboutfiveorsixhundredyardsoff;thatthenextmovementmustbeadirectassault;thatthisshouldbesimultaneousalongthewholeline;andthatIwaswaitingtohearfromthegunboats;askinghimtonotifyAdmiralPorterthatwewereallready。InabouthalfanhourI
heardtheclearringofthenavy—guns;thefiregraduallyincreasinginrapidityandadvancingtowardthefort。Ihaddistributedourfield—guns，and，whenIjudgedthetimehadcome，I
gavetheorderstobegin。Theinterveninggroundbetweenusandtheenemywasadeadlevel，withtheexceptionofoneortwosmallgullies，andourmenhadnocoverbutthefewstandingtreesandsomelogsontheground。Thetroopsadvancedwellunderaheavyfire，onceortwicefallingtothegroundforasortofrestorpause。Everytreehaditsgroupofmen，andbehindeachlogwasacrowdofsharp—shooters，whokeptupsohotafirethattherebeltroopsfiredwild。ThefireofthefortproperwaskeptbusybythegunboatsandMorgan’scorps，sothatallmycorpshadtoencounterwasthedirectfirefromthenewly—builtparapetacrossthepeninsula。Thislinehadthreesectionsoffield—guns，thatkeptthingsprettylively，andseveralround—shotcamesonearmethatIrealizedthattheywereaimedatmystaff;soIdismounted，andmadethemscatter。
AsthegunboatsgotcloserupIsawtheirflagsactuallyovertheparapetofFortHindman，andtherebelgunnersscamperoutoftheembrasuresandrundownintotheditchbehind。Aboutthesametimeamanjumpedupontherebelparapetjustwheretheroadentered，wavingalargewhiteflag，andnumeroussmallerwhiteragsappearedabovetheparapetalongthewholeline。Iimmediatelyordered，\"Ceasefiring！\"andsentthesameworddownthelinetoGeneralSteele，whohadmadesimilarprogressontheright，followingtheborderofheswamp。Iorderedmyaide，ColonelDayton，tojumponhishorseandridestraightuptothelargewhiteflag，andwhenhishorsewasontheparapetIfollowedwiththerestofmystaff。
Allfiringhadceased，exceptanoccasionalshotawaytotheright，andoneofthecaptains（Smith）oftheThirteenthRegularswaswoundedafterthedisplayofthewhiteflag。Onenteringtheline，Isawthatourmusketsandgunshaddonegoodexecution;fortherewasahorse—battery，andeveryhorselaydeadinthetraces。Thefresh—madeparapethadbeenknockeddowninmanyplaces，anddeadmenlayaroundverythick。Iinquiredwhocommandedatthatpoint，andaColonelGarlandsteppedupandsaidthathecommandedthatbrigade。Iorderedhimtoformhisbrigade，stackarms，hangthebeltsonthemuskets，andstandwaitingfororders。Stuart’sdivisionhadbeenhaltedoutsidetheparapet。IthensentMajorHammonddowntherebellinetotheright，withorderstostopSteele’sdivisionoutside，andtohavetheotherrebelbrigadestackitsarmsinlikemanner，andtoawaitfurtherorders。I
inquiredofColonelGarlandwhocommandedinchief，andhesaidthatGeneralChurchilldid，andthathewasinsidethefort。I
thenrodeintothefort，whichwaswellbuilt，withgoodparapets，drawbridge，andditch，andwasaninclosedworkoffourbastions。
Ifounditfullofsoldiersandsailors，itsparapetstowardtheriverwellbatteredin，andPorter’sgunboatsintheriver，closeagainstthefort，withtheirbowsonshore。IsoonfoundGeneralChurchill，inconversationwithAdmiralPorterandGeneralA。J。
Smith，andaboutthistimemyadjutant—general，MajorJ。H。
Hammond，cameandreportedthatGeneralDeshler，whocommandedtherebelbrigadefacingandopposedtoSteele，hadrefusedtostackarmsandsurrender，onthegroundthathehadreceivednoordersfromhiscommandinggeneral;thatnothingseparatedthisbrigadefromSteele’smenexceptthelightparapet，andthattheremightbetroublethereatanymoment。IadvisedGeneralChurchilltosendordersatonce，becauseasingleshotmightbringthewholeofSteele’sdivisiononDeshler’sbrigade，andIwouldnotberesponsiblefortheconsequences;soonafterward，webothconcludedtogoinperson。GeneralChurchillhadthehorsesofhimselfandstaffintheditch;theywerebroughtin，andwerodetogethertowhereGarlandwasstanding，andChurchillspoketohiminanangrytone，\"Whydidyoudisplaythewhiteflag！\"Garlandreplied，\"I
receivedorderstodosofromoneofyourstaff。\"Churchilldeniedgivingsuchanorder，andangrywordspassedbetweenthem。I
stoppedthem，sayingthatitmadelittledifferencethen，astheywereinourpower。Wecontinuedtoridedownthelinetoitsextremepoint，wherewefoundDeshlerinperson，andhistroopswerestillstandingtotheparapetwiththeirmusketsinhand。
Steele’emenwereontheoutside。IaskedDeshler:\"Whatdoesthismean？Youarearegularofficer，andoughttoknowbetter。\"Heanswered，snappishly，that\"hehadreceivednoorderstosurrender;\"whenGeneralChurchillsaid:\"Yousee，sir，thatweareintheirpower，andyoumaysurrender。\"Deshlerturnedtohisstaff—officersandorderedthemtorepeatthecommandto\"stackarms，\"etc。，tothecolonelsofhisbrigade。Iwasonmyhorse，andhewasonfoot。Wishingtosoftentheblowofdefeat，Ispoketohimkindly，sayingthatIknewafamilyofDeshlersinColumbus，Ohio，andinquirediftheywererelationsofhis。HedisclaimedanyrelationwithpeoplelivingnorthoftheOhio，inanoffensivetone，andIthinkIgavehimapieceofmymindthathedidnotrelish。HewasaWestPointgraduate，smallbutveryhandsome，andwasafterwardkilledinbattle。Inevermethimagain。
ReturningtothepositionwhereIhadfirstenteredtherebelline，IreceivedordersfromGeneralMcClernand，byoneofhisstaff，toleaveGeneralA。J。Smithinchargeofthefortandprisoners，andwithmytroopstoremainoutside。TheofficerexplainedthatthegeneralwasthenontheTigress，whichhadmovedupfrombelow，toapointintheriverjustabovethefort;andnotunderstandinghisorders，Iconcludedtogoandseehiminperson。Mytroopsweretheninpossessionoftwoofthethreebrigadeswhichcomposedthearmyopposedtous;andmytroopswerealsoinpossessionofallthegroundofthepeninsulaoutsidethe\"fort—proper\"（Hindman）。I
foundGeneralMeClernandontheTigress，inhighspirits。Hesaidrepeatedly:\"Glorious！glorious！mystariseverintheascendant！\"
Hespokecomplimentarilyofthetroops，butwasextremelyjealousofthenavy。Hesaid:\"I’llmakeasplendidreport;\"\"Ihadamanupatree;\"etc。Iwasveryhungryandtired，andfearIdidnotappreciatethehonorsinreserveforus，andaskedforsomethingtoeatanddrink。Heverykindlyorderedsomethingtobebrought，andexplainedtomethatbyhis\"orders\"hedidnotwishtointerferewiththeactualstateoffacts;thatGeneralA。J。Smithwouldoccupy\"FortHindman，\"whichhistroopshadfirstentered，andI
couldholdthelinesoutside，andgoonsecuringtheprisonersandstoresasIhadbegun。IreturnedtothepositionofGarland’sbrigadeandgavethenecessaryordersformarchingalltheprisoners，disarmed，toapocketformedbytheriverandtwodeepgulliesjustabovethefort，bywhichtimeithadbecomequitedark。AfterdarkanotherrebelregimentarrivedfromPineBluff，marchedrightin，andwasalsomadeprisoners。ThereseemedtobeagooddealoffeelingamongtherebelofficersagainstGarland，whoaskedleavetostaywithmethatnight，towhichIofcourseconsented。Justoutsidetherebelparapetwasahousewhichhadbeenusedforahospital。Ihadaroomcleanedout，andoccupieditthatnight。Acavalry—soldierlentmehisbatteredcoffee—potwithsomecoffeeandscrapsofhardbreadoutofhisnose—bag;
GarlandandImadesomecoffee，ateourbreadtogether，andtalkedpoliticsbythefiretillquitelateatnight，whenwelaydownonstrawthatwassaturatedwiththebloodofdeadorwoundedmen。
Thenextdaytheprisonerswereallcollectedontheirboats，listsweremadeout，andordersgivenfortheirtransportationtoSt。
Louis，inchargeofmyaide，MajorSanger。Wethenproceededtodismantleandleveltheforts，destroyorremovethestores，andwefoundinthemagazinetheveryammunitionwhichhadbeensentforusintheBlueWing，whichwassecuredandafterwardusedinourtwenty—poundParrottguns。
Onthe13thwereembarked;thewholeexpeditionreturnedoutoftheriverbythedirectroutedowntheArkansasduringaheavysnow—storm，andrendezvousedintheMississippi，atNapoleon，atthemouthoftheArkansas。HereGeneralMcClernandtoldmehehadreceivedaletterfromGeneralGrantatMemphis，whodisapprovedofourmovementuptheArkansas;butthatcommunicationwasmadebeforehehadlearnedofourcompletesuccess。Wheninformedofthis，andofthepromptnesswithwhichithadbeenexecuted，hecouldnotbutapprove。WewerethenorderedbacktoMilliken’sBend，toawaitGeneralGrant’sarrivalinperson。WereachedMilliken’sBendJanuary21st。
McClernand’sreportofthecaptureofFortHindmanalmostignoredtheactionofPorter’sfleetaltogether。Thiswasunfair，forI
knowthattheadmiralledhisfleetinpersonintheriver—attack，andthathisgunssilencedthoseofFortHindman，anddrovethegunnersintotheditch。
TheaggregatelossinmycorpsatArkansasPostwasfivehundredandnineteen，viz。，fourofficersandseventy—fivemenkilled，thirty—fourofficersandfourhundredandsixmenwounded。Ineverknewthelossesinthegunboatfleet，orinMorgan’scorps;buttheymusthavebeenlessthaninmine，whichwasmoreexposed。Thenumberofrebeldeadmusthavebeennearlyonehundredandfifty;
ofprisoners，byactualcount，wesecuredfourthousandsevenhundredandninety—one，andsentthemnorthtoSt。Louis。
CHAPTERXIII。
VICKSBURG。
JANUARYTOJULY，1888。
Thecampaignof1863，resulting，inthecaptureofVicksburg，wassoimportant，thatitshistoryhasbeenwellstudiedandwelldescribedinallthebookstreatingofthecivilwar，moreespeciallybyDr。Draper，inhis\"HistoryoftheCivilWarinAmerica，\"andinBadeau’s\"MilitaryHistoryofGeneralGrant。\"Inthelatteritismorefullyandaccuratelygiventhaninanyother，andiswellillustratedbymapsandoriginaldocuments。InowneedonlyattempttofurtherillustrateBadeau’saccountbysomeadditionaldetails。WhenourexpeditioncameoutoftheArkansasRiver，January，18，1863，andrendezvousedattheriver—bank，infrontofthetownofNapoleon，Arkansas，wewerevisitedbyGeneralGrantinperson，whohadcomedownfromMemphisinasteamboat。
AlthoughatthistimeMajor—GeneralJ。A。McClernandwasincommandoftheArmyoftheMississippi，byvirtueofaconfidentialorderoftheWarDepartment，datedOctober21，1862，whichorderboretheindorsementofPresidentLincoln，GeneralGrantstillexercisedacommandoverhim，byreasonofhisgeneralcommandoftheDepartmentoftheTennessee。Byanorder（No。210）ofDecember18，1862，fromtheWarDepartment，receivedatArkansasPost，theWesternarmieshadbeengroupedintofivecorpsd’armee，viz。:theThirteenth，Major—GeneralMeClernand;theFourteenth，Major—GeneralGeorgeH。Thomas，inMiddleTennessee;theFifteenth，Major—GeneralW。T。Sherman;theSixteenth，Major—GeneralHurlbut，thenatornearMemphis;andtheSeventeenth，Major—GeneralMcPherson，alsoatandbackofMemphis。GeneralGrantwhenatNapoleon，onthe18thofJanuary，orderedMeClernandwithhisownandmycorpstoreturntoVicksburg，todisembarkonthewestbank，andtoresumeworkonacanalacrossthepeninsula，whichhadbeenbegunbyGeneralThomasWilliamsthesummerbefore，theobjectbeingtoturntheMississippiRiveratthatpoint，oratleasttomakeapassageforourfleetofgunboatsandtransportsacrossthepeninsula，oppositeVicksburg。GeneralGrantthenreturnedtoMemphis，orderedtoLakeProvidence，aboutsixtymilesaboveus，McPherson’scorps，theSeventeenth，andthencamedownagaintogivehispersonalsupervisontothewholemovement。
TheMississippiRiverwasveryhighandrising，andwebeganthatsystemofcanalsonwhichweexpendedsomuchhardworkfruitlessly:first，thecanalatYoung’splantation，oppositeVicksburg;second，thatatLakeProvidence;andthird，attheYazooPass，leadingintothehead—watersoftheYazooRiver。EarlyinFebruarythegunboatsIndianolaandQueenofthePestranthebatteriesofVicksburg。ThelatterwasafterwardcrippledinRedRiver，andwascapturedbytherebels;andtheIndianolawasbuttedandsunkaboutfortymilesbelowVicksburg。Weheardtheboomingoftheguns，butdidnotknowofherlosstillsomedaysafter。
DuringthemonthsofJanuaryandFebruary，wewerediggingthecanalandfightingoffthewateroftheMississippi，whichcontinuedtoriseandthreatenedtodrownus。Wehadnosureplaceofrefugeexceptthenarrowlevee，andsuchsteamboatsasremainedabreastofourcamps。Mytwodivisionsfurnishedalternatelyadetailoffivehundredmenaday，toworkonthecanal。SohighwasthewaterinthebeginningofMarch，thatMeClernand’scorpswasmovedtohigherground，atMilliken’sBend，butIremainedatYoung’splantation，laidoffadueproportionoftheleveeforeachsubdivisionofmycommand，andassignedotherpartstosuchsteamboatsaslayatthelevee。MyownheadquarterswereinMrs。
Grove’shouse，whichhadthewaterallaroundit，andcouldonlybereachedbyaplank—walkfromthelevee，builtonposts。GeneralFrederickSteelecommandedthefirstdivision，andGeneralD。Smartthesecond;thislatterdivisionhadbeenreenforcedbyGeneralHughEwing’sbrigade，whichhadarrivedfromWestVirginia。
AtthetimeofitsdateIreceivedthefollowingnotefromGeneralGrant:
MILLIKEN’SBEND，March16，1863
GeneralSHERMAN。
DEARSIR:IhavejustreturnedfromareconnoissanceupSteele’sBayou，withtheadmiral（Porter），andfiveofhisgunboats。Withsomelaborincuttingtree—topsoutoftheway，itwillbenavigableforanyclassofsteamers。
Iwantyoutohaveyourpioneercorps，oroneregimentofgoodmenforsuchwork，detailed，andatthelandingassoonaspossible。
Thepartywillwanttotakewiththemtheirrations，arms，andsufficientcampandgarrisonequipageforafewdays。Iwillhaveaboatatanyplaceyoumaydesignate，asearlyasthemencanbethere。TheEighthMissouri（beingmanyofthemboatmen）wouldbeexcellentmenforthispurpose。
Assoonasyougivedirectionsforthesementobeinreadiness，comeupandseeme，andIwillexplainfully。Thetugthattakesthisisinstructedtowaitforyou。Afullsupplyofaxeswillberequired。
Veryrespectfully，U。S。GRANT，Major—General。
Thisletterwasinstantly（8a。m。）senttoColonelGilesA。Smith，commandingtheEighthMissouri，withorderstoprepareimmediately。
Hereturneditat9。15，withananswerthattheregimentwasallready。IwentuptoMilliken’sBendinthetug，andhadaconferencewiththegeneral，resultingintheseorders:
HEADQUARTERSDEPARTMENTOFTHETENNESSEE
BEFOREVICKSBURG，March16，1863
Major—GeneralW。T。SHERMAN，commandingFifteenthArmyCorps。
GENERAL:YouwillproceedasearlyaspracticableupSteele’sBayou，andthroughBlackBayoutoDeerCreek，andthencewiththegunboatsnowtherebyanyroutetheymaytaketogetintotheYazooRiver，forthepurposeofdeterminingthefeasibilityofgettinganarmythroughthatroutetotheeastbankofthatriver，andatapointfromwhichtheycanactadvantageouslyagainstVicksburg。
Makesuchdetailsfromyourarmycorpsasmayberequiredtoclearoutthechannelofthevariousbayousthroughwhichtransportswouldhavetoran，andtoholdsuchpointsasinyourjudgmentshouldbeoccupied。
Iplaceatyourdisposalto—daythesteamersDiligentandSilverWave，theonlytwosuitableforthepresentnavigationofthisroute。Otherswillbesuppliedyouasfastasrequired，andtheycanbegot。
Ihavegivendirections（andyoumayrepeatthem）thatthepartygoingonboardthesteamerDiligentpushonuntiltheyreachBlackBayou，onlystoppingsufficientlylongatanypointbeforereachingtheretoremovesuchobstructionsaspreventtheirownprogress。
CaptainKossak，oftheEngineers，willgowiththisparty。Theotherboat—loadwillcommencetheirworkinSteele’sBayou，andmakethenavigationasfreeaspossibleallthewaythrough。
ThereisbutlittleworktobedoneinSteele’sBayou，exceptforaboutfivemilesabortmidwayofthebayou。Inthisportionmanyoverhangingtreeswillhavetoberemoved，andshouldbedraggedoutofthechannel。
Veryrespectfully，U。S。GRANT，Major—General。
OnreturningtomycampatYoung’sPoint，IstartedthesetwoboatsuptheYazooandSteele’sBayou，withtheEighthMissouriandsomepioneers，withaxes，saws，andallthetoolsnecessary。IgaveordersforapartofStuart’sdivisiontoproceedinthelargeboatsuptheMississippiRivertoapointatGwin’splantation，whereabendofSteele’sBayounearedthemainriver;andthenextday，withoneortwostag—officersandorderlies，gotanavy—tug，andhurrieduptoovertakeAdmiralPorter。AboutsixtymilesupSteele’sBayouwecametothegunboatPrice，LieutenantWoodworth，UnitedStatesNavy;commanding，andthenturnedintoBlackBayou，anarrow，crookedchannel，obstructedbyoverhangingoaks，andfilledwithcypressandcotton—woodtrees。Thegunboatshadforcedtheirwaythrough，pushingasidetreesafootindiameter。InaboutfourmilesweovertookthegunboatfleetjustasitwasemergingintoDeerCreek。AlongDeerCreekthealluviumwashigher，andtherewasalargecotton—plantationbelongingtoaMr。Hill，whowasabsent，andthenegroeswereinchargeoftheplace。HereI
overtookAdmiralPorter，andaccompaniedhimacoupleofmilesupDeerCreek，whichwasmuchwiderandmorefreeoftrees，withplantationsonbothsidesatintervals。AdmiralPorterthoughthehadpassedtheworst，andthathewouldbeabletoreachtheRollingForkandSunflower。HerequestedmetoreturnanduseallpossiblemeanstoclearoutBlackBayou。IreturnedtoHill’splantation，whichwassoonreachedbyMajorColeman，withapartoftheEighthMissouri;thebulkoftheregimentandthepioneershadbeendistributedalongthebayous，andsettoworkunderthegeneralsupervisionofCaptainKosaak。TheDiligentandSilverWavethenreturnedtotwin’splantationandbroughtupBrigadier—GeneralGilesA。Smith，withtheSixthMissouri，andpartoftheOneHundredandSixteenthIllinois。AdmiralPorterwasthenworkingupDeerCreekwithhisiron—dads，buthehadleftmeatug，whichenabledmetoreconnoitrethecountry，whichwasallunderwaterexceptthenarrowstripalongDeerCreek。Duringthe19thI
heardtheheavynavy—gunsboomingmorefrequentlythanseemedconsistentwithmereguerrillaoperations;andthatnightIgotamessagefromPorter，writtenontissue—paper，broughtmethroughtheswampbyanegro，whohaditconcealedinapieceoftobacco。
Theadmiralstatedthathehadmetaforceofinfantryandartillerywhichgavehimgreattroublebykillingthemenwhohadtoexposethemselvesoutsidetheironarmortoshoveoffthebowsoftheboats，whichhadsolittleheadwaythattheywouldnotsteer。Hebeggedmetocametohisrescueasquicklyaspossible。
GilesA。Smithhadonlyabouteighthundredmenwithhim，butI
orderedhimtostartupDeerCreekatonce，crossingtotheeastsidebyanoldbridgeatHill’splantation，whichwehadrepairedforthepurpose;toworkhiswayuptothegunboat，fleet，andtoreporttotheadmiralthatIwouldcome，upwitheverymanIcouldraiseassoonaspossible。IwasalmostaloneatHill’s，buttookacanoe，paddleddownBlackBayoutothegunboatPrice，andthere，luckily，foundtheSilverwavewithaloadofmenjustarrivedfromtwin’splantation。Takingsomeofthepartieswhowereatworkalongthebayouintoanemptycoal—barge，wetuggeditupbyanavy—tug，followedbytheSilverWave，crashingthroughthetrees，carryingawaypilot—house，smoke—stacks，andeverythingabove—deck;butthecaptain（McMillan，ofPittsburg）wasabravefellow，andrealizedthenecessity。Thenightwasabsolutelyblack，andwecouldonlymaketwoandahalfofthefourmiles。Wethendisembarked，andmarchedthroughthecanebrake，carryinglightedcandlesinourhands，tillwegotintotheopencotton—fieldsatHill’splantation，wherewelaydownforafewhours’rest。ThesemenwereapartofGilesA。Smith’sbrigade，andpartbelongedtothebrigadeofT。BilbySmith，theseniorofficerpresentbeingLieutenant—ColonelRice，Fifty—fourthOhio，anexcellentyoungofficer。Wehadnohorses。
OnSundaymorning，March21st，assoonasdaylightappeared，westarted，followingthesameroutewhichGilesA。Smithhadtakenthedaybefore;thebattalionoftheThirteenthUnitedStatesRegulars，MajorChase，inthelead。WecouldhearPorter’sguns，andknewthatmomentswereprecious。Beingonfootmyself，nomancouldcomplain，andwegenerallywentatthedouble—quick，withoccasionalrests。TheroadlayalongDeerCreek，passingseveralplantations;andoccasionally，atthebends，itcrossedtheswamp，wherethewatercameabovemyhips。Thesmallerdrummer—boyshadtocarrytheirdrumsontheirheads，andmostofthemenslangtheircartridge—boxesaroundtheirnecks。Thesoldiersgenerallyweregladtohavetheirgeneralandfieldofficersafoot，butwegavethemafairspecimenofmarching，accomplishingabouttwenty—onemilesbynoon。Ofcourse，ourspeedwasacceleratedbythesoundsofthenavy—guns，whichbecamemoreandmore。distinct，thoughwecouldseenothing。AtaplantationnearsomeIndianmoundswemetadetachmentoftheEighthMissouri，thathadbeenuptothefleet，andhadbeensentdownasapickettopreventanyobstructionsbelow。ThispicketreportedthatAdmiralPorterhadfoundDeerCreekbadlyobstructed，hadturnedback;thattherewasarebelforcebeyondthefleet，withsomesix—pounders，andnothingbetweenusandthefleet。SoIsatdownonthedoor—sillofacabintorest，buthadnotbeenseatedtenminuteswhen，inthewoodjustahead，notthreehundredyardsoff，Iheardquickandrapidfiringofmusketry。Jumpingup，Iranuptheroad，andfoundLieutenant—ColonelRice，whosaidtheheadofhiscolumnhadstruckasmallforceofrebelswithaworkinggangofnegroes，providedwithages，whoonthefirstfirehadbrokenandrunbackintotheswamp。IorderedRicetodeployhisbrigade，hisleftontheroad，andextendingasfarintotheswampasthegroundwouldpermit，andthentosweepforwarduntilheuncoveredthegunboats。Themovementwasrapidandwellexecuted，andwesooncametosomelargecotton—fieldsandcouldseeourgunboatsinDeerCreek，occasionallyfiringaheavyeight—inchgunacrossthecottonfieldintotheswampbehind。AboutthattimeMajorKirby，oftheEighthMissouri，gallopeddowntheroadonahorsehehadpickedupthenightbefore，andmetme。Heexplainedthesituationofaffairs，andofferedmehishorse。Igotonbareback，androdeupthelevee，thesailorscomingoutoftheiriron—cladsandcheeringmostvociferouslyasIrodeby，andasourmensweptforwardacrossthecotton—fieldinfullview。IsoonfoundAdmiralPorter，whowasonthedeckofoneofhisiron—clads，withashieldmadeofthesectionofasmoke—stack，andIdoubtifhewasevermoregladtomeetafriendthanhewastoseeme。HeexplainedthathehadalmostreachedtheRollingFork，whenthewoodsbecamefullofsharp—shooters，who，takingadvantageoftrees，stumps，andthelevee，wouldshootdowneverymanthatpokedhisnoseoutsidetheprotectionoftheirarmor;sothathecouldnothandlehisclumsyboatsinthenarrowchannel。TherebelshadevidentlydispatchedaforcefromHaines’sBluffuptheSunflowertotheRollingFork，hadanticipatedthemovementofAdmiralPorter’sfleet，andhadcompletelyobstructedthechanneloftheupperpartofDeerCreekbyfellingtreesintoit，sothatfurtherprogressinthatdirectionwassimplyimpossible。Italsohappenedthat，attheinstantofmyarrival，apartyofaboutfourhundredrebels，armedandsuppliedwithaxes，hadpassedaroundthefleetandhadgotbelowit，intendinginlikemannertoblockupthechannelbythefellingoftrees，soastocutoffretreat。Thiswastheforcewehadstrucksoopportunelyatthetimebeforedescribed。IinquiredofAdmiralPorterwhatheproposedtodo，andhesaidhewantedtogetoutofthatscrapeasquicklyaspossible。HewasactuallyworkingbackwhenImethim，and，aswethenhadasufficientforcetocoverhismovementcompletely，hecontinuedtobackdownDeerCreek。Heinformedmeatonetimethingslookedsocriticalthathehadmadeuphismindtoblowupthegunboats，andtoescapewithhismenthroughtheswamptotheMississippiRiver。Therebeingnolongeranysharp—shooterstobotherthesailors，theymadegoodprogress;still，ittookthreefulldaysforthefleettobackoutofDeerCreekintoBlackBayou，atHill’splantation，whenceAdmiralPorterproceededtohispostatthemonthoftheYazoo，leavingCaptainOwenincommandofthefleet。IreportedthefactstoGeneralGrant，whowassadlydisappointedatthefailureofthefleettogetthroughtotheYazooaboveHaines’sBluff，andorderedusalltoresumeourcampsatYoung’sPoint。Weaccordinglysteameddown，andregainedourcampsonthe27th。AsthisexpeditionupDeerCreekwasbutoneofmanyeffortstosecureafootingfromwhichtooperateagainstVicksburg，IaddthereportofBrigadier—GeneralGilesA。Smith，whowasthefirsttoreachthefleet:
HEADQUARTERSFIRSTBRIGADE，SECONDDIVISION
FIFTEENTHARMYCORPS，YOUNGSPOINT，LOUISIANA，March28，1863
CaptainL。M。DAYTON，AssistantAdjutant—General。
CAPTAIN:IhavethehonortoreportthemovementsoftheFirstBrigadeintheexpeditionupSteele’sBayou，BlackBayou，andDeerCreek。TheSixthMissouriandOneHundredandSixteenthIllinoisregimentsembarkedatthemonthofMuddyBayouontheeveningofThursday，the18thofMarch，andproceededupSteele’sBayoutothemonthofBlack;thenceupBlackBayoutoHill’splantation，atitsjunctionwithDeerCreek，wherewearrivedonFridayatfouro’clockp。m。，andjoinedtheEighthMissouri，Lieutenant—ColonelColemancommanding，whichhadarrivedatthatpointtwodaysbefore。GeneralShermanhadalsoestablishedhisheadquartersthere，havingprecededtheEighthMissouriinatug，withnootherescortthantwoorthreeofhisstaff，reconnoitringallthedifferentbayousandbranches，therebygreatlyfacilitatingthemovementsofthetroops，butatthesametimeexposinghimselfbeyondprecedentinacommandinggeneral。Atthreeo’clockofSaturdaymorning，the20thinstant，GeneralShermanhavingreceivedacommunicationfromAdmiralPorteratthemonthofRollingFork，askingforaspeedycooperationofthelandforceswithhisfleet，IwasorderedbyGeneralShermantobeready，withalltheavailableforceatthatpoint，toaccompanyhimtohisrelief;butbeforestartingitwasarrangedthatIshouldproceedwiththeforceathand（eighthundredmen），whileheremained，againentirelyunprotected，tohurryupthetroopsexpectedtoarrivethatnight，consistingoftheThirteenthInfantryandOneHundredandThirteenthIllinoisVolunteers，completingmybrigade，andtheSecondBrigade，ColonelT。KilbySmithcommanding。
This，asthesequelshowed;provedaverywisemeasure，andresultedinthesafetyofthewholefleet。Atdaybreakwewereinmotion，witharegularguide。Wehadproceededbutaboutsixmiles，whenwefoundtheenemyhadbeenverybusyfellingtreestoobstructthecreek。
Allthenegroesalongtheroutehadbeennotifiedtobereadyatnightfalltocontinuethework。Topreventthisasmuchaspossible，Iorderedallable—bodiednegroestobetakenalong，andwarnedsomeoftheprincipalinhabitantsthattheywouldbeheldresponsibleforanymoreobstructionsbeingplacedacrossthecreek。Wereachedtheadmiralaboutfouro’clockp。m。，withnooppositionsavemyadvance—guard（CompanyA，SixthMissouri）beingfiredintofromtheoppositesideofthecreek，killingoneman，andslightlywoundinganother;havingnowayofcrossing，wehadtocontentourselveswithdrivingthembeyondmusket—range。
Proceedingwithaslittlelossoftimeaspossible，Ifoundthefleetobstructedinfrontbyfallentrees，inrearbyasunkencoal—barge，andsurrounded，byalargeforceofrebelswithanabundantsupplyofartillery，butwiselykeepingtheirmainforceoutofrangeoftheadmiral’sguns。Everytreeandstumpcoveredasharp—shooter，readytopickoffanylucklessmarinewhoshowedhisheadabove—decks，andentirelypreventingtheworking—partiesfromremovingobstructions。
InpursuanceofordersfromGeneralSherman，IreportedtoAdmiralPorterfororders，whoturnedovertomealltheland—forcesinhisfleet（aboutonehundredandfiftymen），togetherwithtwohowitzers，andIwasinstructedbyhimtoretainasufficientforcetoclearoutthesharp—shooters，andtodistributetheremainderalongthecreekforsixorsevenmilesbelow，topreventanymoreobstructionsbeingplacedinitduringthenight。Thiswasspeedilyarranged，ourskirmisherscapturingthreeprisoners。