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107
“Finding that Grand Gulf had been evacuated, and that the
advance of my forces was already fifteen miles ont from there,
and on the road, too, they would have to take to reach either
Vicksbnrg, Jackson, or any intermediate point on the railroad
between the two places, I determined not to march them back,
but taking a small escort of cavalry, some fifteen or twenty
men, I went to the Gulf myself, and made the necessary arrange-
ments for changing my base of supplies from Bruinsburg to
Grand Gulf.
“In moving from Milliken’s Bend, the Fifteenth army corps,
Major-General W. T. Sherman commanding, was left to be the
last to start. To prevent heavy reinforcements going from
Vickshurg to the assistance of the Grand Gulf forces, I di-
rected Sherman to make a demonstration on Haines’s Bluff, and
to make all the show possible. From information since received
from prisoners captured, this ruse succeeded admirably.
“It had been my intention, up to the time of crossing the
Mississippi river, to collect all my forces at Grand Gulf, and
get on hand a good supply of provisions and ordnance stores
before moving, and, in the meantime, to detach an army corps
to co-operate with General Banks on Port Hudson, and effect a
junction of our forces.
“About this time, I received a letter from General Banks
giving his position west of the Mississippi river, and stating
that he could return to Baton Rouge by the tenth of May; that
by the reduction of Port Hudson he could join me with twelve
thousand men.
“I learned about the same time, that troops were expected at
Jackson from the Southern cities, with General Beauregard in
command. To delay until the tenth of May, and for the reduc-
tion of Port Hudson after that, the accession of twelve thousand
men would not leave me relatively so strong as to move promptly
with what I had. Information received from day to day of the
movements of the enemy also impelled me to the course pur-
sued. While lying at Hawkinson’s Ferry, waiting for wagons,
supplies, and Sherman’s corps, which had come forward in the
meantime, demonstrations were made, successfully, I believe, to
induce the enemy to think that route, and the one by Hall’s
Ferry shove, were objects of much solicitude to me. Recon-
noissances were made to the west side of the Big Black to
within six miles of Warrenton. On the 7th of May an ad-
vance was ordered, McPherson’s corps keeping the road nearest
Black river to Rocky Springs, McClernand’s corps keeping the
ridge read from Willow Springs, and Sherman following with
his corps divided on the two roads. All the ferries were closely
guarded until our troops were well advanced. It was my intention
here to hug the Black ‘river as closely as possible with McCler-
nand’s and Sherman’s corps, and get them to the railroad, at
some place between Edward’s Station and Bolton. McPherson
Object Description
| Title | Illustrated life,campaigns and public services of Lieut. General Grant |
| Creator | T. B. Peterson & Brothers |
| Subject [LCSH] | Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885 |
| Description | Contains a full history of the life, campaigns, battles and his orders, reports and correspondance with the War Department and the President. |
| Date Original | circa 1865 |
| Format | Book |
| Digital Format | JPEG |
| Language | eng |
| Contributing Institution | Illinois State Library |
| Rights | Materials in this collection are made available by the Illinois State Library. To request reproductions or inquire about permissions, contact: islimg@ilsos.net. Please cite the item title and collection name. |
| Identifier | 3898087 |
| Type | Text |
| Collection Name | Illinois and the Civil War - Documents |
| OCLC number | 830038423 |
Description
| Title | Page 107 |
| Transcript | 107 “Finding that Grand Gulf had been evacuated, and that the advance of my forces was already fifteen miles ont from there, and on the road, too, they would have to take to reach either Vicksbnrg, Jackson, or any intermediate point on the railroad between the two places, I determined not to march them back, but taking a small escort of cavalry, some fifteen or twenty men, I went to the Gulf myself, and made the necessary arrange- ments for changing my base of supplies from Bruinsburg to Grand Gulf. “In moving from Milliken’s Bend, the Fifteenth army corps, Major-General W. T. Sherman commanding, was left to be the last to start. To prevent heavy reinforcements going from Vickshurg to the assistance of the Grand Gulf forces, I di- rected Sherman to make a demonstration on Haines’s Bluff, and to make all the show possible. From information since received from prisoners captured, this ruse succeeded admirably. “It had been my intention, up to the time of crossing the Mississippi river, to collect all my forces at Grand Gulf, and get on hand a good supply of provisions and ordnance stores before moving, and, in the meantime, to detach an army corps to co-operate with General Banks on Port Hudson, and effect a junction of our forces. “About this time, I received a letter from General Banks giving his position west of the Mississippi river, and stating that he could return to Baton Rouge by the tenth of May; that by the reduction of Port Hudson he could join me with twelve thousand men. “I learned about the same time, that troops were expected at Jackson from the Southern cities, with General Beauregard in command. To delay until the tenth of May, and for the reduc- tion of Port Hudson after that, the accession of twelve thousand men would not leave me relatively so strong as to move promptly with what I had. Information received from day to day of the movements of the enemy also impelled me to the course pur- sued. While lying at Hawkinson’s Ferry, waiting for wagons, supplies, and Sherman’s corps, which had come forward in the meantime, demonstrations were made, successfully, I believe, to induce the enemy to think that route, and the one by Hall’s Ferry shove, were objects of much solicitude to me. Recon- noissances were made to the west side of the Big Black to within six miles of Warrenton. On the 7th of May an ad- vance was ordered, McPherson’s corps keeping the road nearest Black river to Rocky Springs, McClernand’s corps keeping the ridge read from Willow Springs, and Sherman following with his corps divided on the two roads. All the ferries were closely guarded until our troops were well advanced. It was my intention here to hug the Black ‘river as closely as possible with McCler- nand’s and Sherman’s corps, and get them to the railroad, at some place between Edward’s Station and Bolton. McPherson |
| Collection Name | Illinois and the Civil War - Documents |
