commence the campaign on the opposite side of the river. At the same time that the occupation of New Carthage was ordered, preparations were made for running transports and a gunboat fleet below the batteries of Vicksburg. The gunboats selected were the Benton, Capt. Greer; Lafayette, Capt. Henry Walke; Price, Capt. Woodworth; Louisville, Capt. Owens; Carondelet, Capt. McLeod Murphy; Pittsburg, Capt. Wm. Hoel; Tuscumbia, Capt. Shirk, and Mound City. All of these boats except the Price were ironclad. Each had taken, for additional protection, baled cotton, hay, railroad iron, timber, chains, or whatever else might be suitable. The transports which were selected were the Forest Queen, Capt. Dan. Conway; Henry Clay; and Silver Wave, Capt. McMillan. These boats took a quantity of supplies for the army, and bales of cotton and hay were placed around the most important parts of their machinery. The night of the 16th of April was fixed for the expedition to start. Everything was in readiness before dark. The plan decided upon was that the ironclads should pass down in single file, with intervals between the boats of a few hundred yards, and that when in front of the batteries they should engage them with their broadside guns, and, under cover of the smoke, the transports should endeavor to pass unseen. A spectator of the exciting scene has thus described it: "Lights twinkled busily from the Vicksburg hillsides until about 10 o'clock, when they disappeared, and about the same moment song and laughter on our side were hushed, as a shapeless mass of what looked like a great fragment of darkness was discerned floating noiselessly down the river. It was the Benton. It passed and disappeared in the night, and was succeeded by another bank of darkness, the Lafayette, with the Price lashed to her starboard side. And thus they continued, as if huge shadows detached themselves from the darkness above, floated across the vision, and disappeared in the darkness below. Ten of these noiseless shapes revealed themselves and disappeared. "Three quarters of an hour passed. People heard nothing save their own suppressed breathings; saw nothing save a long low bank of darkness, which, like a black fog, walled the view below, and joined the sky and river in the direction of Vicksburg. And all watched this gathering of darkness, for in it were thunders and lightnings and volcanoes, which at any instant might light up the night with fierce irruptions. "So long a time passed without anything occurring that people began to believe the enemy had determined, for some malevolent purpose, to allow the fleet to pass below without obstruction. However, this supposition was hardly broached ere it was contradicted most emphatically. At just a quarter before eleven, VOL. III.-4 A two bright sharp lines of flame flashed through the darkness, at the extreme right of the Vicksburg batteries; and, in an instant, the whole length of the bluffs was ablaze with fire. The fleet, which had rounded the Point, and now lay squarely before the city, at once responded by opening their ports, and pouring their full broadside of twenty-five heavy guns, charged with grape and shrapnel, directly against the city. "A great cloud of smoke rolled heavily over the gunboats, and in this the three transports entered and made their 'best time' down the river. The Forest Queen, which was in the advance, received a shot in the hull and another through the steam drum, which disabled her instantly. The Henry Clay, that came next, was stopped, to prevent her running into the other, and at the same moment was struck by a shell that set her cotton on fire. The crew, demoralized by the stoppage and terrified by the fire, ran aimlessly around for a few moments, then launched the yawl, sprang into it, and pulled for the shore. The pilot, finding that no engineers obeyed the bells, stayed a short time until the fire began to seethe around him, when he seized a plank, jumped overboard, and was picked up by a gunboat. The Clay, in the mean time, became a great blazing mass, that floated down the river until it disappeared below Warrenton. Had she been manned by men of nerve, the fire would have.been extinguished and the boat carried through safely. The fact of her floating so far shows that her hull was uninjured. "The Forest Queen was taken in tow by a gunboat, and towed below without further damage. The Silver Wave did not receive a scratch. "The Vicksburg batteries were passed in about an hour and a quarter. Upon reaching Warrenton batteries, the gunboats took the initiative by pouring in their broadsides on the instant they reached position; and so continuous and terrific was their fire that the enemy scarcely attempted a response.' No one on board either of the transports was injured, and Gen. Grant immediately ordered six more to be prepared in like manner for running the batteries. Accordingly the Tigress, Anglo-Saxon, Cheeseman, Empire City, Horizona, and Moderator left Milliken's Bend on the night of the 22d of April, and five of them got by, but in a somewhat damaged condition. The Tigress received a shot in her hull below the water line, and sunk on the Louisiana shore, after passing the last of the batteries. In tow of these transports, twelve barges loaded with forage were sent, one half of which got through in a condition to be used. The transports injured in running the blockade were repaired by order of Admiral Porter, and in a very short time five of them were in running order, and the remainder in a condition to be used as barges in the movement of troops. As the number of transports below Vicks burg was limited, Gen. Grant found it necessary to extend his line of movement by land to Hard Times in Louisiana. By the circuitous route it was necessary to take, the distance was increased to seventy miles from Milliken's Bend. there was a good road from that place to Port Gibson. Gen. Graut determined to make the landing on the east side of the Mississippi, at Bruinsburg. Accordingly the troops were immediately ordered to land at Hard Times, and march across to the point below Grand Gulf, On the 29th of April, the thirteenth corps of and at dark the gunboats again engaged the the army had reached the Mississippi, and the batteries, and all the transports were run by. seventeenth was well on the way. Gen. Grant They received but two or three shots during then embarked so much of the thirteenth as the passage, and these caused no injury. could be got on board the transports and barges, and moved to the front of Grand Gulf. This was a strong position on the east bank of the Mississippi, below the mouth of the Big Black river. The plan was that the gunboats under Admiral Porter's command should silence the fortifications, and under cover of the gunboats the troops should land and carry the place by storm. At eight o'clock in the morning the attack was commenced by the gunboats, and continued fiercely for more than five hours. The following is the despatch of Admiral Porter respecting the attack: FLAG SHIP BENTON, BELOW GRAND GULF, MISS., April 29th, 1862. Hon. Gideon Welles, Secretary of the Navy: I have the honor to inform you that, by an arrangement with General Grant, I attacked the batteries at Grand Gulf this morning, which were very formidable. After a fight of five hours and thirty minutes, we silenced the lower batteries, but failed to silence the upper one, which was high, strongly built, had guns of very heavy caliber, and the vessels were unmanageable in the heavy current. It fired but feebly toward the last, and the vessels all laid by and enfiladed it, while I went up a short distance to communicate with General Grant, who concluded to land the troops and march over to a point two miles below Grand Gulf. I sent the Lafayette back to engage the upper battery, which she did, and drove the persons out of it, as it did not respond after a few fires. At 6 P. M. we attacked the batteries again, and, under cover of the fire, all the transports passed by in good condition. The Benton, Tuscumbia, and Pittsburg were much cut up, having twenty-four killed and fifty-six wounded; but they are all ready for service. We land the army in the morning on the other side, and march on Vicksburg. DAVID D. PORTER, 66 Acting Rear-Admiral. Gen. Grant, who was a spectator of the scene, says: Many times it seemed to me that the gunboats were within pistol shot of the enemy's batteries. It soon became evident that the guns of the enemy were too elevated and their fortifications too strong to be taken from the water side. The whole range of hills on that side were known to be lined with rifle pits. Besides, the field artillery could be moved to any position where it might be useful in case of an attempt at landing." He therefore determined to run the enemy's batteries again, and to turn his position by effecting a landing at Rodney, or at Bruinsburg, between Grand Gulf and Rodney. Rodney is a small village on the east bank of the Mississippi, some miles below Grand Gulf. Bruinsburg is a small place between the two others. A reconnoissance was made to a point opposite Bruinsburg, and information was obtained from a negro that At daylight on the morning of the 30th, the work of ferrying the troops across the Mississippi was commenced both by the gunboats and the transports. The thirteenth corps, as soon as landed and supplied with three days' rations, was started on the road to Port Gibson. The seventeenth corps followed as rapidly as it could be taken across the river. Port Gibson was a flourishing village on Bayou Pierre, 28 miles from its mouth, and about 65 miles southwest from Jackson, the capital of Mississippi. It was connected with Grand Gulf by a railroad. son. About two o'clock on the next morning, May 1st, the advance of the enemy was met eight miles from Bruinsburgh, on the road to Port Gibson. They were forced to fall back, but as it was dark, were not pursued far until daylight. Then Gen. McClernand with his corps pressed forward within four miles of Port GibHere the road divided in opposite directions. Both branches, however, led to Port Gibson. The enemy took a position on each branch, and thus divided the pursuing force. The nature of the ground was such that a very small force could easily retard the progress of a much larger one for several hours. The roads run on narrow, elevated ridges, with deep and impenetrable ravines on each side. The corps of Gen. McClernand was so divided that on the right were the divisions of Gens. Hovey, Carr, and Smith, and on the left the division of Gen. Osterhaus. The three former succeeded in driving the enemy from position to position steadily back toward Port Gibson. On the left, Gen. Osterhaus was unable to move the enemy until he was reënforced by a brigade of Gen. Logan's division, which was the advance of Gen. McPherson's corps. Another brigade of the same division was sent to Gen. McClernand on the right, and the enemy were so badly repulsed there as to be able to make no further stand south of Bayou Pierre. Late in the afternoon, Gen. Osterhaus was successful in repulsing the enemy, whom he pursued toward Port Gibson, but night closing in and the enemy making the appearance of another stand, the troops slept upon their arms until daylight. On the morning of the 2d, it was found that the enemy had retreated across Bayou Pierre, on the Grand Gulf road, and a brigade of Gen. Logan's division was sent to divert his attention whilst a floating bridge was thrown across the Bayou at Port Gibson. This bridge was completed, and Gen. McPher son's corps passed over and marched eight miles to the north bank of Bayou Pierre, built a bridge over that stream, and the advance commenced passing over it at five o'clock on the following morning. On the 3d, the enemy were pursued to Hawkinson's Ferry, with slight skirmishing all day, during which quite a number of prisoners, mostly stragglers, were taken. The following despatch from Gen. Grant was sent to Washington: GRAND GULF, May 7th. To Major-General Halleck, General-in-Chief: We landed at Bruinsburg, April 30, moved immediately on Port Gibson, met the enemy, 11,000 strong, four miles south of Port Gibson, at 2 o'clock A. M., on the 1st instant, and engaged him all day, entirely routing him, with the loss of many killed and about 500 prisoners, besides the wounded. The enemy retreated toward Vicksburg, destroying the bridges over the two forks of the Bayou Pierre. These were rebuilt, and the pursuit was continued until the present time. Besides the heavy artillery at this place, four field pieces were captured, and some stores, and the enemy was 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. These movements of Gen. Grant had caused the evacuation of Grand Gulf, and Admiral Porter, upon making a movement to attack that position on the 3d, found that it had been abandoned. He then sent the following despatch to the Navy Department: FLAG SHIP BENTON, GRAND GULF, MISS., May 3d, 1863. To the Hon. Gideon Welles, Sec'y of the Navy: SIR: I have the honor to report that I got under way this morning with the Lafayette, Carondelet, Mound City, and Pittsburg, and proceeded up to the forts at Grand Gulf, for the purpose of attacking them again if they had not been abandoned. The enemy had left before we got up, blowing up their ammunition, spiking their large guns and bury ing or taking away their lighter ones. The armament consisted of thirteen guns in all. The works are of the most extensive kind, and would seem to defy the efforts of a much heavier fleet than the one which silenced them. The forts were literally torn to pieces by the accuracy of our fire. Col. Wade, the commandant of the batteries, was killed; also his chief of staff. Eleven men were killed that we know of, and our informant says many were wounded, and that no one was permitted to go inside the forts after the action, except those belonging there. We had a hard fight for these forts, and it is with great pleasure that I report that the navy holds the door to Vicksburg. Grand Gulf is the strongest place on the Mississippi. Had the enemy succeeded in finishing the fortifications, no fleet could have taken I have been all over the works, and find them as follows: One fort, on a point of rocks 75 feet high, calcalated for six or seven guns, mounting two 7-inch rifled and one 8-inch, and one Parrott gun on wheels, which was carried off. On the left of this work is a triangular work, calculated to mount one heavy gun. them. These works are connected with another fort by a covered way and double rifle pits extending a quarter of a mile, constructed with much labor, and showing great skill on the part of the constructor. The third fort commands the river in all directions. It mounted one splendid Blakely 100-pounder, one 8-inch and two 80-pounders. The latter were lying burst or broken on the ground. The gunboats had so covered up everything that it was impossible at first to see what was there, with the exception of the guns that were dismounted or broken. Every gun that fell into our hands is in good condition, and we found a large quantity of ammunition. These are by far the most extensively built works, with the exception of those at Vicksburg, that I have seen yet, and I am happy to say that we hold them. I am dismounting the guns, and getting on board the ammunition. Since making the above examination, new forts have been passed nearly finished. They had no guns mounted, but were complete of the kind as regards position, and had heavy field pieces in them. (Signed) DAVID D. PORTER, Acting Rear-Admiral, Com'g Mississippi Squadron. Gen. Grant now made the necessary arrangements for changing his base of supplies from Bruinsburg to Grand Gulf. From Milliken's Bend to New Carthage a water communication had been opened by the Roundaway bayou, and troops occupied positions along the route from Milliken's Bend to Dallas and thence to New Carthage. A strong body also occupied Richmond, situated in the angle formed by the junction of the Brashy with Roundaway bayou. When the army moved from Milliken's Bend, the fifteenth corps, under Maj.-Gen. W. T. Sherman, remained to be the last to follow. Gen. Sherman had also been ordered to make a demonstration on Haines's Bluff, in order to prevent heavy reënforcements leaving Vicksburg to assist the Confederate forces at Grand Gulf. Gen. Sherman moved upon Haines's Bluff, landing his forces on the south bank of the Yazoo, and the attack was made chiefly by the gunboats, on the 6th of May. The ironclads De Kalb and Choctaw, with other gunboats, engaged the batteries for six hours, during which the Choctaw was struck fifty-four times. The enemy displayed a strong force, and anticipated a battle. On the 7th the expedition returned, and the military part prepared to join Gen. Grant. It was entirely successful in preventing reenforcements to the enemy at Port Gibson. It had been the purpose of Gen. Grant, up to the time of crossing the Mississippi, to collect all his forces at Grand Gulf, and to get on hand a good supply of provisions and ordnance stores, before moving against Vicksburg from the south. He had also determined, in the mean while, to detach an army corps to cooperate with Gen. Banks on Port Hudson, and effect a junction of forces. But this plan was given up by him in consequence of learning that Gen. Banks could not return to Baton Rouge from his position west of the Mississippi before the 10th of May; and that by the reduction of Port Hudson he could not join Gen. Grant with more than 12,000 men. The delay also for the arrival of Gen. Banks at Baton Rouge, and then for the reduction of Port Hudson, would be so great that the addition of 12,000 men to his forces would not make him relatively so strong for the attack upon Vicksburg, as if it was at that time promptly made. Another reason for a change of his first plan, and in favor of a prompt movement on Vicksburg, was the information that troops were expected at Jackson from the Southern cities under command of Gen. Beauregard. Meanwhile the army was lying at Hawkinson's Ferry, waiting for wagons, supplies, and the arrival of Gen. Sherman's corps. Hawkinson's was the lowest of three ferries over the Big Black below the railroad. Hall's and Baldwin's were the names of the others. It was on a new military road from Grand Gulf to Vicksburg. In order to facilitate Gen. Grant's operations by destroying the enemy's lines of communication and preventing the early concentration of reënforcements, a cavalry raid of unusual boldness was made in the rear of Vicksburg. Col. Benj. H. Grierson, commanding the first cavalry brigade, had proposed a descent into the State of Mississippi, without meeting the approval of the commanding general until the 1st of April, when he was instructed to prepare for an expedition. The force was stationed at Lagrange about fifty miles east of Memphis, and four miles west of the junction of the Mississippi and Charleston railroad. On the 17th, Col. Grierson was ordered to move his force, consisting of the 6th Illinois cavalry, Col. Loomis, 7th Illinois, Col. Edward Prince, and 2d Iowa, Col. Edward Hatch, out on the road to Ripley. Feints had previously been made from Lagrange, Memphis, and Corinth, in orto divert the attention of the enemy from the real movement. Early on the next day, the 18th, the force proceeded to Ripley: from that village, the 2d Iowa, advancing on the left flank of the column, took a southeasterly direction, and crossed the Tallahatchie about five miles northeast of New Albany. Meanwhile the main body proceeded directly south and crossed the river two miles east of New Albany. At the same time a battalion of the 7th Illinois marched on the right flank and crossed the river at New Albany. Skirmishing was kept up throughout the day by all the forces with detached bodies of the enemy, who were on both sides of the river, but unable to impede the progress of Col. Grierson. At night the 6th and 7th encamped about four miles south of New Albany, and the 2d Iowa about four miles east of that place. About midnight an attack was made upon this regiment, which was promptly repulsed. On the morning of the 19th a detachment was ordered by Col. Grierson to proceed eastward, another to move back to New Albany, and a third to march northwest toward King's Bridge, where a Confederate force under Maj. Chalmers was reported to be encamped. These movements were designed to lead the enemy to believe that the object of the expedition was to break up the different military organizations in that part of the country. This was successful. About nine o'clock the main body resumed its march in a southerly direction, with the 2d Iowa on its left flank. The various detachments which had been sent out soon joined the main column, and the whole force proceeded to Pontotoc. A small Confederate force was here encountered, and pursued through the town by the advance, and their entire camp equipage was captured, and also four hundred bushels of salt, which were destroyed at night. Col. Grierson encamped six miles south of Pontotoc, on the road leading to Houston. Early the next morning, Major Lall, of the 2d Iowa, with about one hundred and seventyfive of the least effective portion of the command, one piece of artillery, and all the prisoners, moved northward, on the return to Lagrange. The object of Col. Grierson, in ordering this movement, was to relieve his command of incumbrances, and to lead the enemy to believe that the expedition had retraced its steps. The march southward was then resumed, and the force encamped that night about ten miles beyond the town of Houston. On the next day, the 21st, Col. Hatch, of the 2d Iowa, was ordered to move his command toward Columbus, and destroy as much of the Mobile and Ohio railroad as possible, to attack Columbus if the opposing force was not too strong, and march thence to Lagrange, taking such route as he might consider to be the most suitable. In this movement, Col. Hatch was quite successful. It entirely misled Gen. Chalmers, who was in pursuit of Col. Grierson, and gave the latter a start of two or three days. The main body now continued its march to Starkville, and captured a mail, which was destroyed. At Dismal Swamp, four miles from Starkville, a halt was ordered, and a part of the command continued on five miles farther to one of the principal tanneries in the State, which was destroyed, with a large stock of boots, shoes, saddles, and leather. On the 22d, the command again united and marched twenty-seven miles, nearly to Louisville, Mississippi. The deep streams and marshes made the route very difficult and perilous. On the next morning the command reached Philadelphia; here a mail was captured and destroyed. About daylight, on the next morning, Newton was reached, where two trains of cars, loaded with all kinds of quartermaster and commissary stores, ammunition, and shells, were captured, and their contents destroyed. One bridge was destroyed about half a mile east of the place, and three heavy trestlework bridges ten miles farther up the railroad. On the 25th, Col. Grierson reached Nichols's Plantation, seven miles west of Montrose. A more southerly route was now pursued. At Raleigh a halt was ordered for the night, and a scout sent to cut the telegraph wires on the railroad between Lake Station and Jackson. On arriving within seven miles of the railroad, a regiment of Confederate cavalry was met, which had left Brandon in search of Col. Grierson. They were on the direct road to his camp, and only fourteen miles distant. The scout succeeded in misleading the enemy, and returned safely to camp. Col. Grierson immediately moved his command over Leaf river, and destroyed the bridge, thereby preventing the possibility of a surprise in the rear. The command then moved on to Westville, and crossed the Pearl river at a point ten miles distant from the latter place. Two battalions, which had been sent out in advance, under Col. Prince, moved rapidly to the railroad station at Hazelhurst, and captured forty cars, loaded with shell ammunition, quartermaster's and commissary stores. When south of Starkville, Capt. Forbes, of Co. B, 7th Illinois, was ordered to march to Macon. As he approached within a short distance of that place, he found it occupied by a considerable force of the enemy. He then moved to Newton, and thence to Enterprise, one hundred miles east of the main body of Col. Grierson's force. Here he sent a flag of truce to Col. Goodwin, commanding the Confederate force in the place, and demanded his surrender. Col. Goodwin requested one hour in which to determine his reply. But Capt. Forbes, finding the enemy to be stronger than he had supposed, and having accomplished his object in diverting their attention, before the expiration of the hour commenced a rapid movement to join Col. Grierson, then more than a day's march distant. Taking a westward course, he soon struck the route of the main body at Pearl river, and effected a junction. Near Gallatin a 32-pound Parrott gun, destined for Port Gibson, was captured and spiked. Five miles east of Gallatin, a detachment was sent to the railroad at Bahala, which destroyed the track, several cars, water tanks, and a considerable amount of other property, and cut the telegraph wires. On the morning of the 28th, Brookhaven was entered by the advance so suddenly that two hundred of the enemy were surprised and made prisoners. A large number of muskets and five hundred tents, at a camp of instruction, were destroyed. The main body, after leaving Gallatin, encountered a cavalry force under Col. Garland, when a skirmish ensued, in which several of the enemy were killed and others taken prisoners. A feint, for the purpose of deceiving the enemy, was made toward Port Gibson, and another toward Natchez, when the main body marched to Brookhaven. On the 30th, Col. Grierson moved in a southerly direction, and destroyed all the bridges between Brookhaven and Bogue Chito Station. At the latter place fifteen cars, partly loaded with army stores, were destroyed, together with the depot and other railroad buildings. The force then marched to Summit, where twenty-five freight cars were destroyed. Thence Col. Grierson moved from the railroad to a point between Magnolia and Liberty, for the purpose of reaching the Clinton road. Finding a regiment of the enemy's cavalry at Wall's bridge, on the Tickfaw, a dash was made upon them, in which eight or ten were killed, several wounded, and the rest put to flight. The loss of Col. Grierson was one killed and five wounded. Moving then east of the Tickfaw a short distance, the march was continued directly southward. At Edwards's bridge another regiment of the enemy's cavalry was posted, purposely to dispute the passage. A battalion was sent to engage them, while the main body moved on in the direction of Greensburg. Only a few brief skirmishes took place with this regiment. The march thus far had proved a constant surprise to the inhabitants, and as it was supposed that Col. Grierson would return to Lagrange, |