burne, was taking the Rebel army in flank. Thus, surrounded on almost every side, Lovell, who commanded that portion of the Rebel army, abandoned the line of the Tallahatchie and fell back in confusion, without making even a respectable effort to defend his position.

It would be impossible, in a book of this extent, to give details of the brilliant manœuvring on the part of General Grant's forces, which led to this result. The Rebels had fallen back to Grenada, and Northern Mississippi appeared to be almost entirely under control of our forces. Grant moved forward on the Rebel lines at Grenada, and was preparing for a final assault upon Pemberton, when an unexpected disaster, due to the treason or cowardice of a subordinate, destroyed all his plans, uncovered his rear to the enemy and threatened to destroy his communications. It came about in the following manner:

Hovey, after the retreat of the rebels, had been ordered to return to Helena, and, when Van Dorn, who commanded a division of Pemberton's army, was aware of this fact, he resolved upon a bold expedition in rear of Grant's forces, with the intention of capturing the posts of Columbus, Trenton, Jackson, Bolivar, Corinth, Holly Springs and other places of lesser importance, and, by this means, compelling Grant, in order to save his line of communication with the North, to fall back and so relieve Pemberton, whose front and flanks were being roughly assailed by the indefatigable captor of Fort Donelson.

Van Dorn lost no time in putting his plan into execution. He fell like a thunderbolt on Cold Water, Davis's Mills and Middlesburg, but was bloodily repulsed in each endeavor. Unfortunately the strong and important post of Holly Springs, which contained many valuable stores, and which was garrisoned by the Eighth Wisconsin infantry, was under the command of a man who was utterly inadequate to the task before him Van Dorn surrounded the place on the 20th of December, and at once moved to an assault upon it. Murphy, the commander, deeming his regiment too weak to resist the shock, despite the protestations of his officers and men, disgracefully surrendered the place, almost without firing a shot.

Grant was then at Oxford, Miss., thirty miles away, and, when this disastrous news reached him, fearing a movement of the enemy in his rear, he fell back to Holly Springs, which Van Dorn had evacuated, after burning or carrying off everything of value.

Grant immediately issued a ringing order, in which he denounced the surrender of the place, and refused to accede to terms of parole agreed upon between the inefficient commander and the rebel general, unless some modifications were made by the latter. He also congratulated the garrisons that held out, most warmly. The wretched Colonel was dismissed in disgrace from the service of the United States.

:

SHERMAN'S UNSUCCESSFUL ENDEAVOR.

Prior to the mishap at Holly Springs, the first act in the drama having been successfully performed, Grant proposed to the Commander-in-Chief to hold Pemberton beyond the Yalebooka river, while forces from Helena and Memphis were moved on Vicksburg. Halleck acceeded to this proposal, and, on the 8th of December, General Sherman, who commanded the right wing of the army, and who had formed a junction with Grant, near Waterford, Miss., on December 1, received the following order:

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE,

OXFORD, MISS., Dec. 8, 1862.

MAJOR-GENERAL W. T. SHERMAN, Commanding Right Wing:

GENERAL-You will proceed with as little delay as possible to Memphis, Tenn., taking with you one division of your present command. On your arrival at Memphis, you will assume command of all the troops there, and that portion of General Curtis's force at present east of the Mississippi River, and organize them into brigades and divisions in your own way. As soon as possible, move with them down the river, to the vicinity of Vicksburg; and, with the co-operation of the gunboat fleet under command of Flag-Officer Porter, proceed to the reduction of that place, in such manner as circumstances and your own judgment may dictate.

The amount of rations, forage, land transportation, etc., necessary to take will be left entirely with yourself. The quartermaster at St. Louis will be instructed to send you transportation for thirty thousand men. Should you

still find yourself deficient, your quartermaster will be authorized to make up the deficiency from such transports as may come into the port of Memphis. On arriving in Memphis, put yourself in communication with Admiral Porter, and arrange with him for his co-operation.

Inform me at the earliest practicable day of the time when you will embark, and such plans as may then be matured. I will hold the forces here in readiness to co-operate with you in such manner as the movements of the enemy may make necessary.

Leave the district of Memphis in the command of an efficient officer, and with a garrison of four regiments of infantry, the siege-guns, and whatever cavalry may be there.