Thomas W. Knox

“ Never were a people moved by a stronger and more united impulse than were the dwellers in the great valley that the Father of Waters, should be restored to peaceful navigation. No more stirring prophecy was ever made than that of General Logan when he declared that "the men of the West will hew their way to the Gulf of Mexico with their swords." ”

“ Grand Gulf was abandoned on the 2d, the gun-boats finding it deserted on the morning of the 3d. Considerable quantity of ammunition and several heavy guns were captured here; the fortifications were very strong. If they had been completed and properly garrisoned it would have been impossible for any fleet to take them.
General Grant's plan of campaign was now evident to every one, and the army moved forward with the animation that is developed by hope of success. The plan was to advance along the valley of the Big Black River, and the road to Jackson, until fairly in the rear of Vicksburg. ”

“ Gun-boats were hastily improvised and added to the efficiency of the blockade, and in the autumn of 1861 General Grant, who had been placed in command at Cairo, led an expedition for the capture of Belmont, a small town opposite Columbus. The Confederate camp at that point was captured and destroyed, but the Union forces were compelled to retreat owing to the fire of the heavy guns from the heights of Columbus, and the overwhelming number of troops that were sent across the river to reinforce the feeble garrison of Belmont. ”

“ The Union forces were flushed with victory, while the Confederates were disheartened by defeat; the Union forces were well fed and clothed, having opened communications with their heavily laden transports in the Yazoo, while the Confederates were poorly supplied and had starvation staring them in the face. Grant had an abundance of ammunition, while Pemberton was but poorly supplied, and of his 30,000 men there were 6,000 in hospital, so that he could hardly muster more than 15,000 effectives. ”

“ Communication was opened with the gun-boat fleet, which had been guarding the front of Vicksburg and preventing the receipt of supplies by river. The gun-boats then ascended to attack Haines' Bluff, which the Confederates immediately evacuated, as their position was no longer tenable with the Union forces in their rear. The fortifications at Haines' Bluff were found to be strongly constructed, and abundantly supplied with material of war, the ammunition being sufficient for a long siege. ”

“ Early in the afternoon the Union fleet of gun-boats and transports was tied along the levee of Vicksburg, and the citizens, who had been hiding in caves and living in constant terror of shot and shell for six long weeks, were able to walk about without danger. ”

“ The Confederate position at Columbus was on a high bluff commanding the river, and the batteries were so powerful and so well planted that their reduction by the gun-boats of the river was not a possibility. In the early part of 1862 the army and fleet were ready to move, but instead of making a direct attack as the Confederates had expected. General Grant proceeded to a flank movement up the Cumberland and Tennessee rivers. ”

“ Pemberton was in constant communication with General Joe Johnston, who had chief command over the armies of Bragg and Pemberton, with head-quarters at Tullohoma, and steadily advised his superior that Vicksburg was in no danger; but when the gun-boats and transports passed the batteries, and the Union army assembled in front of Grand Gulf, Pemberton saw that there was a sudden and disagreeable change in the situation. ”

“ Twenty-seven thousand prisoners were paroled in Vicksburg, of whom only 15,000 were effective for duty. The loss of the enemy in the whole campaign, from Bruinsburg to the surrender, was 37,000 prisoners, among them 15 general officers, and at least 10,000 killed and wounded, including 3 generals. Arms and munitions for an army of 60,000 men were taken, besides a large amount of other public property, such as railway cars, locomotives, steamboats, cotton, etc. ”

“ The failure of the movement was due partly to the delay in making the assault, and partly to the fact that on the very day the expedition left Memphis General Grant's line of communication was cut by the Confederate cavalry under General Van Dorn. That energetic ofificer had been sent by Pemberton to attack Holly Springs, which was insufficiently defended, having a garrison of only 1,200 men under a commander who was soon afterwards dismissed for incompetence. ”

“ On the 29th he telegraphed to Johnston: "The enemy is at Hard Times in large force, with barges and transports, indicating a purpose to attack Grand Gulf with a view to Vicksburg." Before Johnston had time to reply and give instructions how to prevent Grant from crossing the river, the Union forces had reached the east bank, and were pushing on towards Vicksburg.
On May 1st Pemberton telegraphed: "A furious battle has been going on since daylight just below Port Gibson.... I should have large reinforcements. ”

“ Besides the railway bridge, Pemberton had a bridge which consisted mainly of three steam-boats, but he was not able to get all his impedimenta over the river. Carr's division and Lawler's brigade carried the Confederate defences after a fight of about two hours, and Pemberton fled in the direction of Vicksburg, leaving 18 guns, 1,500 prisoners, several thousand stand of arms, and large quantities of commissary stores, to fall into the Union hands. The loss of Grant's forces in the affair of the Black River was 29 killed and 242 wounded. ”

“ Grant was compelled to retire to Holly Springs, and his retirement gave opportunity for Pemberton to send reinforcements to Vicksburg and enable the commander there to cope successfully with the Union forces that attacked the forts at Haines' Bluff. ”