GENERAL:YouwillproceedwithaslittledelayaspracticabletoMemphis，Tennessee，takingwithyouonedivisionofyourpresentcommand。OnyourarrivalatMemphisyouwillassumecommandofallthetroopsthere，andthatportionofGeneralCurtis’sforcesatpresenteastoftheMississippiRiver，andorganizethemintobrigadesanddivisionsinyourownway。
AssoonaspossiblemovewiththemdowntherivertothevicinityofVicksburg，and，withthecooperationofthegunboatfleetundercommandofFlag—OfficerPorter，proceedtothereductionofthatplaceinsuchmannerascircumstancesandyourownjudgmentmaydictate。
Theamountofrations，forage，landtransportation，etc。，necessarytotake，willbeleftentirelytoyourself。
ThequartermasterinSt。Louiswillbeinstructedtosendyoutransportationforthirtythousandmen。Shouldyoustillfindyourselfdeficient，yourquartermasterwillbeauthorizedtomakeupthedeficiencyfromsuchtransportsasmaycomeintotheportofMemphis。
OnarrivinginMemphisputyourselfincommunicationwithAdmiralPorter，andarrangewithhimforhiscooperation。
Informmeattheearliestpracticabledayofthetimewhenyouwillembark，andsuchplansasmaythenbematured。Iwillholdtheforceshereinreadinesstocobperatewithyouinsuchmannerasthemovementsoftheenemymaymakenecessary。
LeavetheDistrictofMemphisinthecommandofanefficientofficerandwithagarrisonoffourregimentsofinfantry，thesiege—guns，andwhatevercavalryforcemaybethere。
OneregimentofinfantryandatleastasectionofartillerywillalsobeleftatFriar’sPointorDelta，toprotectthestoresofthecavalrypostthatwillbeleftthere。Yourstruly，U。S。GRANT，Major—General。
Ialsoinserthereanotherletter，datedthe14thinstant，sentafterwardtomeatMemphis，whichcompletesallinstructionsreceivedbymegoverningthefirstmovementagainstVicksburg:
HEADQUARTERSDEPARTMENTOFTHETENNESSEE
OXFORD，MISSISSIPPI，December14，1862
Major—GeneralSHERMAN，commanding，etc。，Memphis，TennesseeIhavenothadonewordfromGriersonsinceheleft，andamgettinguneasyabouthim。IhopeGeneralGormanwillgiveyounodifficultyaboutretainingthetroopsonthissidetheriver，andSteeletocommandthem。Thetwenty—onethousandmenyouhave，withthetwelvethousandfromHelena，willmakeagoodforce。TheenemyareasyetontheYalabusha。Iampushingdownonthemslowly，butsoastokeepuptheimpressionofacontinuousmove。IfeelparticularlyanxioustohavetheHelenacavalryonthissideoftheriver;ifnotnow，atleastafteryoustart。IfGormanwillsendthem，instructthemwheretogoandhowtocommunicatewithme。MyheadquarterswillprobablybeinCoffeevilleoneweekhence……InthemeantimeIwillordertransportation，etc……ItwouldbewellifyoucouldhavetwoorthreesmallboatssuitablefornavigatingtheYazoo。Itmaybecomenecessaryformetolooktothatbaseforsuppliesbeforewegetthrough……
U。S。GRANT，Major—General。
WhenwerodetoOxfordfromCollegeHill，therehappenedalittlecircumstancewhichseemsworthyofrecord。WhileGeneralVanDornhadhisheadquartersinHollySprings，viz。，inOctober，1862，hewasveryshortofthecomfortsandluxuriesoflife，andresortedtoeverypossibledevicetodrawfromtheabundantsuppliesinMemphis。Hehadnodifficultywhateveringettingspiesintothetownforinformation，buthehadtroubleingettingbulkysuppliesoutthroughourguards，thoughsometimesIconnivedathissuppliesofcigars，liquors，boots，gloves，etc。，forhisindividualuse;
butmedicinesandlargesuppliesofallkindswereconfiscated，ifattemptedtobepassedout。AswerodethatmorningtowardOxford，Iobservedinafarmer’sbarn—yardawagonthatlookedlikeacityfurniture—wagonwithsprings。Wewerealwaysshortofwagons，soI
calledtheattentionofthequartermaster，ColonelJ。ConditSmith，saying，\"Thereisagoodwagon;goforit。\"Hedroppedoutoftheretinuewithanorderly，andafterwehadriddenamileorsoheovertookus，andIaskedhim，\"Whatluck？\"Heanswered，\"Allright;Ihavesecuredthatwagon，andIalsogotanother，\"andexplainedthathehadgonetothefarmer’shousetoinquireaboutthefurniture—wagon，whenthefarmersaiditdidnotbelongtohim，buttosomepartyinMemphis，addingthatinhisbarnwasanotherbelongingtothesameparty。Theywenttothebarn，andtherefoundahandsomecityhearse，withpallandplumes。ThefarmersaidtheyhadhadabigfuneraloutofMemphis，butwhenitreachedhishouse，thecoffinwasfoundtocontainafineassortmentofmedicinesfortheuseofVanDorn’sarmy。Thusunderthepretenseofafirst—classfuneral，theyhadcarriedthroughourguardstheverythingswehadtriedtoprevent。Itwasagoodtrick，butdiminishedourrespectforsuchpageantsafterward。
AssoonasIwasinpossessionofGeneralGrant’sinstructionsofDecember8th，withafurtherrequestthatIshoulddispatchColonelGrierson，withhiscavalry，acrossbylandtoHelena，tonotifyGeneralSteeleofthegeneralplan，IreturnedtoCollegeHill，selectedthedivisionofBrigadier—GeneralMorganL。SmithtoreturnwithmetoMemphis;startedGriersononhiserrandtoHelena，andorderedGeneralsDenverandLaumantoreporttoGeneralGrantforfurtherorders。Westartedbackbythemostdirectroute，reachedMemphisbynoonofDecember12th，andbeganimmediatelythepreparationsfortheVicksburgmovement。ThereI
foundtwoirregulardivisionswhichhadarrivedatMemphisinmyabsence，commandedrespectivelybyBrigadier—GeneralA。J。SmithandBrigadier—GeneralGeorgeW。Morgan。TheseweredesignatedtheFirstandThirdDivisions，leavingtheSecondDivisionofMorganZ。
Smithtoretainitsoriginalnameandnumber。
Ialsosentorders，inthenameofGeneralGrant，toGeneralGorman，whomeantimehadreplacedGeneralSteeleincommandofHelena，inlieuofthetroopswhichhadbeeneastoftheMississippiandhadreturned，tomakeupastrongdivisiontoreporttomeonmywaydown。Thisdivisionwasaccordinglyorganized，andwascommandedbyBrigadier—GeneralFrederickSteele，constitutingmyFourthDivision。
MeantimealargefleetofsteamboatswasassemblingfromSt。LouisandCairo，andAdmiralPorterdroppeddowntoMemphiswithhiswholegunboatfleet，readytocooperateinthemovement。Thepreparationswerenecessarilyhastyintheextreme，butthiswastheessenceofthewholeplan，viz。，toreachVicksburgasitwerebysurprise，whileGeneralGrantheldincheckPemberton’sarmyaboutGrenada，leavingmetocontendonlywiththesmallergarrisonofVicksburganditswell—knownstrongbatteriesanddefenses。Onthe19ththeMemphistroopswereembarked，andsteameddowntoHelena，whereonthe21stGeneralSteele’sdivisionwasalsoembarked;andonthe22dwewereallrendezvousedatFriar’sPoint，inthefollowingorder，viz。:
SteamerForestQueen，generalheadquarters，andbattalionThirteenthUnitedStatesInfantry。
FirstDivision，Brigadier—GeneralA。J。SMITH。—SteamersDesArc，divisionheadquartersandescort;Metropolitan，SixthIndiana;J。
H。Dickey，Twenty—thirdWisconsin;J。C。Snow，SixteenthIndiana;
Hiawatha，Ninety—sixthOhio;J。S。Pringle，Sixty—seventhIndiana;
J。W。Cheeseman，NinthKentucky;R。Campbell，Ninety—seventhIndiana;DukeofArgyle，Seventy—seventhIllinois;CityofAlton，OneHundredandEighthandForty—eighthOhio;CityofLouisiana，MercantileBattery;OhioBelle，SeventeenthOhioBattery;Citizen，Eighty—thirdOhio;Champion，commissary—boat;GeneralAnderson，Ordnance。
SecondDivision，，Brigadier—GeneralM。L。SMITH。—SteamersChancellor，headquarters，andThielman’scavalry;Planet，OneHundredandSixteenthIllinois;CityofMemphis，BatteriesAandB
（MissouriArtillery），EighthMissouri，andsectionofParrottguns;
Omaha，Fifty—seventhOhio;SiouxCity，Eighty—thirdIndiana;SpreadEagle，OneHundredandTwenty—seventhIllinois;Ed。Walsh，OneHundredandThirteenthIllinois;Westmoreland，Fifty—fifthIllinois，headquartersFourthBrigade;SunnySouth，Fifty—fourthOhio;Universe，SixthMissouri;RobertAllen，commissary—boat。
ThirdDivision，Brigadier—GeneralG。W。MORGAN。—SteamersEmpress，divisionheadquarters;KeyWest，OneHundredandEighteenthIllinois;SamGaty，Sixty—ninthIndiana;Northerner，OneHundredandTwentiethOhio;BellePeoria，headquartersSecondBrigade，twocompaniesForty—ninthOhio，andpontoons;DieVernon，ThirdKentucky;WarEagle，Forty—ninthIndiana（eightcompanies），andFoster’sbattery;HenryvonPhul，headquartersThirdBrigade，andeightcompaniesSixteenthOhio;FannyBullitt，OneHundredandFourteenthOhio，andLamphere’sbattery;CrescentCity，Twenty—secondKentuckyandFifty—fourthIndiana;DesMoines，Forty—secondOhio;Pembina，Lamphere’sandStone’sbatteries;LadyJackson，commissary—boat。
FourthDivision，Brigadier—GeneralFREDERICKSTEELE—SteamersContinental，headquarters，escortandbattery;JohnJ。Roe，FourthandNinthIowa;Nebraska，Thirty—firstIowa;KeyWest，FirstIowaArtillery;JohnWarner，ThirteenthIllinois;Tecumseh，Twenty—sixthIowa;Decatur，Twenty—eighthIowa;Quitman，Thirty—fourthIowa;
Kennett，TwentyninthMissouri;Gladiator，ThirtiethMissouri;
Isabella，Thirty—firstMissouri;D。G。Taylor，quartermaster’sstoresandhorses;SuckerState，Thirty—secondMissouri;Dakota，ThirdMissouri;Tntt，TwelfthMissouriEmma，SeventeenthMissouri;
Adriatic，FirstMissouri;Meteor，Seventy—sixthOhio;PolarStar，Fifty—eighthOhio。
Atthesametimewerecommunicatedthefollowinginstructions:
HEADQUARTERSRIGHTWING，THIRTEENTHARMYCorpsFORESTQUEEN，December23，1882。
ToCommandersofDivisions，GeneralsF。STEELE，GEORGEW。MORGAN，A。J。SMITH，andM。L。SMITH
WiththisIhandtoeachofyoUacopyofamap，compiledfromthebestsources，andwhichinthemainiscorrect。ItisthesameusedbyAdmiralPorterandmyself。Completemilitarysuccesscanonlybeaccomplishedbyunitedactiononsomegeneralplan，embracingusuallyalargedistrictofcountry。Inthepresentinstance，ourobjectistosecurethenavigationoftheMississippiRiveranditsmainbranches，andtoholdthemasmilitarychannelsofcommunicationandforcommercialpurposes。Theriver，aboveVicksburg，hasbeengainedbyconqueringthecountrytoitsrear，renderingitspossessionbyourenemyuselessandunsafetohim，andofgreatvaluetous。ButtheenemystillholdstheriverfromVicksburgtoBatonRouge，navigatingitwithhisboats，andthepossessionofitenableshimtoconnecthiscommunicationsandroutesofsupply，eastandwest。Todeprivehimofthiswillbeasevereblow，and，ifdoneeffectually，willbeofgreatadvantagetous，andprobably，themostdecisiveactofthewar。Toaccomplishthisimportantresultwearetoactourpart——animportantoneofthegreatwhole。GeneralBanks，withalargeforce，hasreinforcedGeneralButlerinLouisiana，andfromthatquarteranexpedition，bywaterandland，iscomingnorthward。
GeneralGrant，withtheThirteenthArmyCorps，ofwhichwecomposetherightwing，ismovingsouthward。Thenavalsquadron（AdmiralPorter）isoperatingwithhisgunboatfleetbywater，eachinperfectharmonywiththeother。
GeneralGrant’sleftandcentrewereatlastaccountsapproachingtheYalabusha，nearGrenada，andtherailroadtohisrear，bywhichhedrewhissupplies，wasreportedtobeseriouslydamaged。Thismaydisconcerthimsomewhat，butonlymakesmoreimportantourlineofoperations。AttheYalabushaGeneralGrantmayencounterthearmyofGeneralPemberton，thesamewhichrefusedhimbattleonthelineoftheTallahatchie，whichwasstronglyfortified;but，ashewillnothavetimetofortifyit，hewillhardlystandthere;and，inthatevent，GeneralGrantwillimmediatelyadvancedownthehighridgebetweentheBigBlackandYazoo，andwillexpecttomeetusontheYazooandreceivefromusthesupplieswhichheneeds，andwhichheknowswecarryalong。PartsofthisgeneralplanaretocooperatewiththenavalsquadroninthereductionofVicksburg;tosecurepossessionofthelandlyingbetweentheYazooandBigBlack;andtoactinconcertwithGeneralGrantagainstPemberton’sforces，supposedtohaveJackson，Mississippi，asapointofconcentration。Vicksburgisdoubtlessverystronglyfortified，bothagainsttheriverandlandapproaches。AlreadythegunboatshavesecuredtheYazooupfortwenty—threemiles，toafortontheYazooatHaines’sBluff，givingusachoiceforalanding—placeatsomepointuptheYazoobelowthisfort，orontheislandwhichliesbetweenVicksburgandthepresentmouthoftheYazoo。（Seemap[b，c，d]，Johnson’splantation。）
But，beforeanyactualcollisionwiththeenemy，Ipurpose，afterourwholelandforceisrendezvousedatGaines’sLanding，Arkansas，toproceedinordertoMilliken’sBend（a），andtheredispatchabrigade，withoutwagonsoranyincumbranceswhatever，totheVicksburg&ShreveportRailroad（athandk），todestroythateffectually，andtocutoffthatfruitfulavenueofsupply;thentoproceedtothemouthoftheYazoo，and，afterpossessingourselvesofthelatestandmostauthenticinformationfromnavalofficersnowthere，tolandourwholeforceontheMississippiside，andthentoreachthepointwheretheVicksburg&JacksonRailroadcrossestheBigBlack（f）;afterwhichtoattackVicksburgbyland，whilethegun—boatsassailitbywater。Itmaybenecessary（lookingtoGrant’sapproach），beforeattackingVicksburg，toreducethebatteryatHaine’sBlufffirst，soastoenablesomeofthelightergunboatsandtransportstoascendtheYazooandcommunicatewithGeneralGrant。Thedetailedmannerofaccomplishingalltheseresultswillbecommunicatedindueseason，andthesegeneralpointsareonlymadeknownatthistime，thatcommandersmaystudythemaps，andalsothatintheeventofnon—receiptofordersallmayactinperfectconcertbyfollowingthegeneralmovement，unlessspeciallydetached。
Youallnowhavethesamemap，sothatnomistakesorconfusionneedresultfromdifferentnamesoflocalities。Allpossiblepreparationsastowagons，provisions，axes，andintrenehing—tools，shouldbemadeinadvance，sothatwhenwedolandtherewillbenowantofthem。Whenwebegintoactonshore，wemustdotheworkquicklyandeffectually。ThegunboatsunderAdmiralPorterwilldotheirfullshare，andIfeeleveryassurancethatthearmywillnotfallshortinitswork。
Divisioncommandersmayreadthistoregimentalcommanders，andfurnishbrigadecommandersacopy。Theyshouldalsocauseasmanycopiesofthemaptobemadeonthesamescaleaspossible，beingverycarefulincopyingthenames。
Thepointsmarkedeandg（Allan’sandMountAlbans）areevidentlystrategicalpointsthatwillfigureinourfutureoperations，andthesepositionsshouldbewellstudied。
Iam，withgreatrespect，yourobedientservant，W。T。SHERMAN，Major—General。
TheMississippiboatswereadmirablycalculatedforhandlingtroops，horses，guns，stores，etc。，easyofembarkationanddisembarkation，andsuppliesofallkindswereabundant，exceptfuel。Forthiswehadtorelyonwood，butmostofthewood—yards，socommonontheriverbeforethewar，hadbeenexhausted，sothatwehadtousefence—rails，olddeadtimber，thelogsofhouses，etc。Havingabundanceofmenandplentyofaxes，eachboatcoulddailyprocureasupply。
Inproceedingdowntheriver，oneormoreofAdmiralPorter’sgunboatstookthelead;othersweredistributedthroughoutthecolumn，andsomebroughtuptherear。Wemanoeuvredbydivisionsandbrigadeswheninmotion，anditwasamagnificentsightaswethussteameddowntheriver。Whatfewinhabitantsremainedattheplantationsontheriver—bankwereunfriendly，excepttheslaves;
somefewguerrilla—partiesinfestedthebanks，butdidnotdaretomolestso，strongaforceasIthencommanded。
WereachedMilliken’sBendonChristmas—day，whenIdetachedonebrigade（Burbridge’s），ofA。J。Smith’sdivision，tothesouthwest，tobreakuptherailroadleadingfromVicksburgtowardShreveport，Louisiana。LeavingA。J。Smith’sdivisiontheretoawaitthereturnofBurbridge，theremainingthreedivisionsproceeded，onthe26th，tothemouthoftheYazoo，。andupthatrivertoJohnson’splantation，thirteenmiles，andtheredisembarkedSteele’sdivisionabovethemouthofChickasawBayou，MorgansdivisionnearthehouseofJohnson（whichhadbeenburnedbythegunboatsonaformeroccasion），andM。L。Smith’sjustbelow。A。
J。Smith’sdivisionarrivedthenextnight，anddisembarkedbelowthatofM。L。Smith。Theplaceofourdisembarkationwasinfactanisland，separatedfromthehighbluffknownasWalnutHills，onwhichthetownofVicksburgstands，byabroadandshallowbayou—evidentlyanoldchanneloftheYazoo。Onourrightwasanotherwidebayou，knownasOldRiver;andontheleftstillanother，muchnarrower，buttoodeeptobeforded，knownasChickasawBayou。Alltheislandwasdenselywooded，exceptJohnson’splantation，immediatelyonthebankoftheYazoo，andaseriesofoldcotton—fieldsalongChickasawBayou。TherewasaroadfromJohnson’splantationdirectlytoVicksburg，butitcrossednumerousbayousanddeepswampsbybridges，whichhadbeendestroyed;andthisroaddebouchedonlevelgroundatthefootoftheVicksburgbluff，oppositestrongforts，wellpreparedanddefendedbyheavyartillery。OnthisroadIdirectedGeneralA。J。
Smith’sdivision，notsomuchbywayofadirectattackasadiversionandthreat。
Morganwastomovetohisleft，toreachChickasawBayou，andtofollowittowardthebluff，aboutfourmilesaboveA。J。Smith。
SteelewasonMorgan’sleft，acrossChickasawBayou，andM。L。
SmithonMorgan’sright。Wemetlightresistanceatallpoints，butskirmished，onthe27th，uptothemainbayou，thatseparatedourpositionfromthebluffsofVicksburg，whichwerefoundtobestrongbynatureandbyart，andseeminglywelldefended。Onreconnoitringthefrontinperson，duringthe27thand28th，I
becamesatisfiedthatGeneralA。J。Smithcouldnotcrosstheinterveningobstaclesundertheheavyfireofthefortsimmediatelyinhisfront，andthatthemainbayouwasimpassable，exceptattwopoints——oneneartheheadofChickasawBayou，infrontofMorgan，andtheotheraboutamilelowerdown，infrontofM。L。Smith’sdivision。
Duringthegeneralreconnoissanceofthe28thGeneralMorganL。
Smithreceivedasevereanddangerouswoundinhiship，whichcompletelydisabledhimandcompelledhimtogotohissteamboat，leavingthecommandofhisdivisiontoBrigadier。GeneralD。
Stuart;butIdrewapartofGeneralA。J。Smith’sdivision，andthatgeneralhimself，tothepointselectedforpassingthebayou，andcommittedthatspecialtasktohismanagement。
GeneralSteelereportedthatitwasphysicallyimpossibletoreachthebluffsfromhisposition，soIorderedhimtoleavebutashowofforcethere，andtoreturntothewestsideofChickasawBayouinsupportofGeneralMorgan’sleft。HehadtocountermarchandusethesteamboatsintheYazootogetonthefirmgroundonoursideoftheChickasaw。
OnthemorningofDecember29thallthetroopswerereadyandinposition。Thefirststepwastomakealodgmentonthefoot—hillsandbluffsabreastofourposition，whilediversionsweremadebythenavytowardHaines’sBluff，andbythefirstdivisiondirectlytowardVicksburg。Iestimatedtheenemy’sforces，thenstrungfromVicksburgtoHaines’sBluff，atfifteenthousandmen，commandedbytherebelGeneralsMartinLutherSmithandStephenD。Lee。Aimingtoreachfirmgroundbeyondthisbayou，andtoleaveaslittletimeforourenemytoreenforceaspossible，Ideterminedtomakeashowofattackalongthewholefront，buttobreakacrossthebayouatthetwopointsnamed，andgavegeneralordersaccordingly。I
pointedouttoGeneralMorgantheplacewherehecouldpassthebayou，andheanswered，\"General，intenminutesafteryougivethesignalI’llbeonthosehills。\"Hewastoleadhisdivisioninperson，andwastobesupportedbySteele’sdivision。Thefrontwasverynarrow，andimmediatelyopposite，atthebaseofthehillsaboutthreehundredyardsfromthebayou，wasarebelbattery，supportedbyaninfantryforcepostedonthespursofthehillbehind。Todrawattentionfromthis，therealpointofattack，I
gaveinstructionstocommencetheattackattheflanks。
IwentinpersonaboutamiletotherightrearofMorgan’sposition，ataplaceconvenienttoreceivereportsfromallotherpartsoftheline;andaboutnoonofDecember29thgavetheordersandsignalforthemainattack。Aheavyartillery—fireopenedalongourwholeline，andwasrepliedtobytherebelbatteries，andsoontheinfantry—fireopenedheavily，especiallyonA。J。
Smith’sfront，andinfrontofGeneralGeorgeW。Morgan。Onebrigade（DeCourcey’s）ofMorgan’stroopscrossedthebayousafely，buttooktocoverbehindthebank，andcouldnotbemovedforward。
FrankBlairsbrigade，ofSteele’sdivision，insupport，alsocrossedthebayou，passedoverthespaceoflevelgroundtothefootofthehills;but，beingunsupportedbyMorgan，andmeetingaveryseverecross—fireofartillery，wasstaggeredandgraduallyfellback，leavingaboutfivehundredmenbehind，woundedandprisoners;amongthemColonelThomasFletcher，afterwardGovernorofMissouri。PartofThayer’sbrigadetookawrongdirection，anddidnotcrossthebayouatall;nordidGeneralMorgancrossinperson。Thisattackfailed;andIhavealwaysfeltthatitwasduetothefailureofGeneralG。W。Morgantoobeyhisorders，ortofulfillhispromisemadeinperson。Hadheusedwithskillandboldnessoneofhisbrigades，inadditiontothatofBlair’s，hecouldhavemadealodgmentonthebluff，whichwouldhaveopenedthedoorforourwholeforcetofollow。MeantimetheSixthMissouriInfantry，atheavyloss，hadalsocrossedthebayouatthenarrowpassagelowerdown，butcouldnotascendthesteepbank;
rightovertheirheadswasarebelbattery，whosefirewasinameasurekeptdownbyoursharp—shooters（ThirteenthUnitedStatesInfantry）postedbehindlogs，stumps，andtrees，onoursideofthebayou。
ThemenoftheSixthMissouriactuallyscoopedoutwiththeirhandscavesinthebank，whichshelteredthemagainstthefireoftheenemy，who，rightovertheirheads，heldtheirmusketsoutsidetheparapetvertically，andfireddownSocriticalwastheposition，thatwecouldnotrecallthementillafterdark，andthenoneatatime。Ourlosshadbeenprettyheavy，andwehadaccomplishednothing，andhadinflictedlittlelossonourenemy。AtfirstI
intendedtorenewtheassault，butsoonbecamesatisfiedthat，theenemy’sattentionhavingbeendrawntotheonlytwopracticablepoints，itwouldprovetoocostly，andaccordinglyresolvedtolookelsewhereforapointbelowHaines’sBluff，orBlake’splantation。
ThatnightIconferredwithAdmiralPorter，whoundertooktocoverthelanding;andthenextday（December30th）theboatswereallselected，butsoalarmedwerethecaptainsandpilots，thatwehadtoplacesentinelswithloadedmusketstoinsuretheirremainingattheirposts。Undercoverofnight，Steele’sdivision，andonebrigadeofStuart’s，weredrawnoutofline，andquietlyembarkedonsteamboatsintheYazooRiver。ThenightofDecember30thwasappointedforthisforce，underthecommandofGeneralFredSteele，toproceeduptheYazoojustbelowHaines’sBluff，theretodisembarkaboutdaylight，andmakeadashforthehills。MeantimewehadstrengthenedourpositionsnearChickasawBayou，hadallourgunsingoodpositionwithparapets，andhadeverythingreadytorenewourattackassoonasweheardthesoundofbattleabove。
AtmidnightIleftAdmiralPorteronhisgunboat;hehadhisfleetreadyandthenightwaspropitious。Irodebacktocampandgaveordersforalltobereadybydaybreak;butwhendaylightcameI
receivedanotefromGeneralSteelereportingthat，beforehisboatshadgotupsteam，thefoghadsettleddownontheriversothickandimpenetrable，thatitwassimplyimpossibletomove;sotheattempthadtobeabandoned。Therain，too，begantofall，andthetreesborewater—markstenfeetaboveourheads，sothatI
becameconvincedthatthepartofwisdomwastowithdraw。I
orderedthestoreswhichhadbeenlandedtobereembarkedontheboats，andpreparationsmadeforallthetroopstoregaintheirproperboatsduringthenightofthe1stofJanuary，1863。FromourcampsatChickasawwecouldhear，thewhistlesofthetrainsarrivinginVicksburg，couldseebattalionsofmenmarchinguptowardHaines’sBluff，andtakingpostatallpointsinourfront。
IwasmorethanconvincedthatheavyreenforcementswerecomingtoVicksburg;whetherfromPembertonatGrenada，BragginTennessee，orfromothersources，Icouldnottell;butatnopointdidtheenemyassumetheoffensive;andwhenwedrewoffourrear—guard，onthemorningofthe2d，theysimplyfollowedupthemovement，timidly。UptothatmomentIhadnotheardawordfromGeneralGrantsinceleavingMemphis;andmostassuredlyIhadlistenedfordaysforthesoundofhisgunsinthedirectionofYazooCity。OnthemorningofJanuary2d，allmycommandwereagainafloatintheirpropersteamboats，whenAdmiralPortertoldmethatGeneralMcClernandhadarrivedatthemouthoftheYazoointhesteamboatTigress，andthatitwasrumoredhehadcomedowntosupersedeme。
Leavingmywholeforcewhereitwas，IrandowntothemonthoftheYazooinasmalltugboat，andtherefoundGeneralMcClernand，withordersfromtheWarDepartmenttocommandtheexpeditionaryforceontheMississippiRiver。Iexplainedwhathadbeendone，andwhatwastheactualstateoffacts;thattheheavyreenforcementspouringintoVicksburgmustbePemberton’sarmy，andthatGeneralGrantmustbenearathand。HeinformedmethatGeneralGrantwasnotcomingatall;thathisdepotatHollySpringshadbeencapturedbyVanDorn，andthathehaddrawnbackfromCoffeevilleandOxfordtoHollySpringsandLagrange;and，further，thatQuinby’sdivisionofGrant’sarmywasactuallyatMemphisforstoreswhenhepasseddown。This，then，fullyexplainedhowVicksburgwasbeingreenforced。IsawthatanyattemptontheplacefromtheYazoowashopeless;and，withGeneralMcClernand’sfullapproval，weallcameoutoftheYazoo，andonthe3dofJanuaryrendezvousedatMilliken’s。Bend，abouttenmilesabove。
Onthe4thGeneralMcClernandissuedhisGeneralOrderNo。1，assumingcommandoftheArmyoftheMississippi，dividedintotwocorps;thefirsttobecommandedbyGeneralMorgan，composedofhisownandA。J。Smith’sdivisions;andthesecond，composedofSteele’sandStuart’sdivisions，tobecommandedbyme。Uptothattimethearmyhadbeenstyledtherightwingof（GeneralGrant’s）
ThirteenthArmyCorps，andnumberedaboutthirtythousandmen。Theaggregatelossduringthetimeofanycommand，mostlyonthe29thofDecember，wasonehundredandseventy—fivekilled，ninehundredandthirtywounded，andsevenhundredandforty—threeprisoners。
AccordingtoBadeau，therebelslostsixty—threekilled，onehundredandthirty—fourwounded，andtenprisoners。ItafterwardtranspiredthatVanDornhadcapturedHollySpringsonthe20thofDecember，andthatGeneralGrantfellbackverysoonafter。
GeneralPemberton，whohadtelegraphicandrailroadcommunicationwithVicksburg，wasthereforeatperfectlibertytoreenforcetheplacewithagarrisonequal，ifnotsuperior，tomycommand。Therebelsheldhigh，commandingground，andcouldseeeverymovementofourmenandboats，sothattheonlypossiblehopeofsuccessconsistedincelerityandsurprise，andinGeneralGrant’sholdingallofPemberton’sarmyhardpressedmeantime。GeneralGrantwasperfectlyawareofthis，andhadsentmewordofthechange，butitdidnotreachmeintime;indeed，IwasnotawareofituntilaftermyassaultofDecember29th，anduntilthenewswasbroughtmebyGeneralMeClernandasrelated。GeneralMcClernandwasappointedtothiscommandbyPresidentLincolninperson，whohadnoknowledgeofwhatwasthengoingondowntheriver。Still，myrelief，ontheheelsofafailure，raisedtheusualcry，attheNorth，of\"repulse，failure，andbungling。\"Therewasnobunglingonmypart，forIneverworkedharderorwithmoreintensityofpurposeinmylife;andGeneral。Grant，longafter，inhisreportoftheoperationsofthesiegeofVicksburg，gaveusallfullcreditfortheskillofthemovement，anddescribedthealmostimpregnablenatureoftheground;and，althoughinallofficialreportsI
assumedthewholeresponsibility，IhaveeverfeltthathadGeneralMorganpromptlyandskillfullysustainedtheleadofFrankBlair’sbrigadeonthatday，weshouldhavebrokentherebelline，andeffectedalodgmentonthehillsbehindVicksburg。GeneralFrankBlairwasoutspokenandindignantagainstGeneralsMorganandDeCourceyatthetime，andalwaysabusedmeforassumingthewholeblame。But，hadwesucceeded，wemighthavefoundourselvesinaworsetrap，whenGeneralPembertonwasatfulllibertytoturnhiswholeforceagainstus。WhileIwasengagedatChickasawBayou，AdmiralPorterwasequallybusyintheYazooRiver，threateningtheenemy’sbatteriesatHaines’sandSnyder’sBluffsabove。Inasharpengagementhelostoneofhisbestofficers，inthepersonofCaptainGwin，UnitedStatesNavy，who，thoughonboardanironclad，insistedonkeepinghispostondeck，wherehewasstruckinthebreastbyaroundshot，whichcarriedawaythemuscle，andcontusedthelungwithin，fromwhichhediedafewdaysafter。Weofthearmydeploredhislossquiteasmuchashisfellowsofthenavy，forhehadbeenintimatelyassociatedwithusinourpreviousoperationsontheTennesseeRiver，atShilohandabove，andwehadcometoregardhimasoneofus。
Onthe4thofJanuary，1863，ourfleetoftransportswascollectedatMilliken’sBend，abouttenmilesabovethemouthoftheYazoo，AdmiralPorterremainingwithhisgunboatsattheYazoo。GeneralJohnA。McClernandwasinchiefcommand，GeneralGeorgeW。MorgancommandedtheFirstCorpsandItheSecondCorpsoftheArmyoftheMississippi。
Ihadlearnedthatasmallsteamboat，theBlueWing，withamail，towingcoal—bargesandloadedwithammunition，hadleftMemphisfortheYazoo，aboutthe20thofDecember，hadbeencapturedbyarebelboatwhichhadcomeoutoftheArkansasRiver，andhadbeencarriedupthatrivertoFortHindWehadreportsfromthisfort，usuallycalledthe\"PostofArkansas，\"aboutfortymilesabovethemouth，thatitwasheldbyaboutfivethousandrebels，wasaninclosedwork，commandingthepassageoftheriver，butsupposedtobeeasyofcapturefromtherear。AtthattimeIdon’tthinkGeneralMcClernandhadanydefiniteviewsorplaysofaction。Ifso，hedidnotimpartthemtome。Hespoke，ingeneraltermsofopeningthenavigationoftheMississippi，\"cuttinghiswaytothesea，\"etc。，etc。，butthemodusoperandiwasnotsoclear。KnowingfullwellthatwecouldnotcarryonoperationsagainstVicksburgaslongastherebelsheldthePostofArkansas，whencetoattackourboatscomingandgoingwithoutconvoy，Ivisitedhimonhisboat，theTigress，tookwithmeaboywhohadbeenontheBlueWing，andhadescaped，andaskedleavetogouptheArkansas，toclearoutthePost。Hemadevariousobjections，butconsentedtogowithmetoseeAdmiralPorteraboutit。WegotupsteamintheForestQueen，duringthenightofJanuary4th，stoppedattheTigress，tookGeneralMcClernandonboard，andproceededdowntheriverbynighttotheadmiral’sboat，theBlackHawk，lyinginthemouthoftheYazoo。
Itmusthavebeennearmidnight，andAdmiralPorterwasindeshabille。WewereseatedinhiscabinandIexplainedmyviewsaboutArkansasPost，andaskedhiscooperation。Hesaidthathewasshortofcoal，andcouldnotusewoodinhisiron—cladboats。
OftheseIaskedfortwo，tobecommandedbyCaptainShirkorPhelps，orsomeofficerofmyacquaintance。Atthatmoment，poorGwinlayonhisbed，inastate—roomcloseby，dyingfromtheeffectofthecannonshotreceivedatHaines’sBluff，asbeforedescribed。Porter’smannertoMcClernandwassocurtthatI
invitedhimoutintoaforward—cabinwherehehadhischarts，andaskedhimwhathemeantbyit。Hesaidthat\"hedidnotlikehim;\"