fied that Vicksburg could only be turned from the south side, set to work enlarging the canal, which had been previously located by General Williams, across the peninsula, on the Louisiana side of the river; hoping to make a channel which would pass transports for moving the army, and carrying supplies to the new base of operations below. In this he was frustrated by heavy rains and high water.

A new route was next explored and judged practicable, through certain bayous communicating with Tensas river. This, with the aid of dredge boats, was so improved that one small steamer and several barges were taken through; but the river falling rapidly, and the roads becoming passable between Milliken's Bend and New Carthage, near the middle of April, made this route impracticable and unnecessary.

Soon after commencing the first canal, the General caused a channel to be cut from the Mississippi river into Lake Providence, which it was thought might afford a passage, by its connection with Bayou Baxter and Bayou Macon, for transports, through Tensas, Wachita, and Red rivers, to the Mississippi below.

Another attempted route was by way of Yazoo Pass, Coldwater, and Tallahatchie rivers into the Yazoo, in the hope of obtaining a foothold on high land above Haines's Bluff; but it was found that a sufficient number of boats of the right class for conveying a sufficient force, could not be had; beside which, it was found. that while our troops were opening one end of the route, the enemy were obstructing the other, thus gaining time to fortify Fort Pemberton, at Greenwood, so that our gunboats were unable to silence their batteries; so the project was abandoned.

Another expedition was attempted by Steele's Bayou, Black Bayou, Deer Creek, Rolling Fork, and Sunflower, to the Yazoo, with the same general objects in view, but failed of success, from want of sufficient knowledge of the route. These failures were considered by the General as probably Providential, in driving him ultimately. to a line of operations, which proved eminently successful.

The waters fast falling, and the roads beginning to be passable, about the middle of April, the land forces took up the line of march for New Carthage, via Richmond; the 13th Army Corps moving first, commanded by General McClernand, and the 17th under General McPherson, soon following. At the same time, preparations were being made for running transports down past the Vicksburg batteries, with Admiral Porter's gunboat fleet.

On the night of the 16th of April, Admiral Porter's fleet, and the transports Silver Wave, Forest Queen, and Henry Clay, ran the Vicksburg batteries. The boilers of the transports were protected as well as possible, with bales of hay and cotton.

More or less commissary stores were put on each. All three of these boats were struck more or less frequently while passing the batteries, and the Henry Clay, by the explosion of shell, or by other means, was set on fire, and entirely consumed. The other two boats were not seriously disabled. No one on board of either was

hurt.

Six more boats were then prepared in like manner, for running the batterries, viz.: Tigress, Anglo-Saxon, Cheeseman, Empire City, Horizonia, and Moderator. These 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, soon after passing the last of the batteries. The crews of these steamers, with the exception of the Forest Queen and Silver Wave, were composed of volunteers from the army.

Upon the call for volunteers for this dangerous enterprise, officers and men presented themselves by hundreds, anxious to undertake the trip.

Twelve barges, loaded with forage and rations, were · sent down in tow of the last six boats, and half of them got through in a condition to be used, and five of the transports were soon put in running order, and the remainder were in a condition to be used as barges, in moving troops.

The 13th Army Corps having got through to the Mississippi, as much of it as the barges would carry were embarked and conveyed to the front of Grand Gulf on the 29th of April. The plan was for the navy to silence the guns of the enemy, and the troops to land under cover of the gunboats, and carry the place by storm. But this was found impracticable, after five hours bombardment, from the fact of the enemy's guns being too elevated, and the fortifications too strong to be taken from the water side.

It was therefore determined to again run the gauntlet of the batteries, and turn the enemy's position by effecting a landing below. Orders were at once given for the troops to debark at Hard Times, on the Louisiana shore, and to march down to a point opposite Bruinsburg, between Grand Gulf and Rodney.

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At dark the gunboats again engaged the batteries' and all the transports ran by, with but little injury. The work of ferrying the troops across to Bruinsburg, was commenced at daybreak in the morning, both gunboats and transports being used. As soon as the 13th Corps were crossed, three days' rations were given them, and they started at once on the road to Port Gibson. The 17th Corps crossed over, received their rations and followed, as speedily as possible. The 15th Corps, under General Sherman, had remained at Milliken's Bend, with orders to make a demonstration on Haines' Bluff, making as large a show as possible, in order to prevent any heavy reinforcements being sent from Vicksburg to the assistance of the Grand Gulf forces. This ruse was executed with most admirable success.

At two o'clock, on the 1st of May, the advance of the enemy was met eight miles from Bruinsburg, and compelled to fall back; and from position to position they were driven, with considerable loss, all day, toward Port Gibson, where it was thought they would make another stand; but in the morning it was found they had retreated.

Port Gibson taken, Grand Gulf was evacuated by the enemy; and General Grant, in person, with a small cavalry escort, went there and made arrangements for changing his base of supplies to that place.

General Sherman's Corps having come up, the army moved rapidly on, though upon different roads, from victory to victory, including in brilliant succession, Champion's Hill, or Baker's Creek, Raymond, Jackson, and Black River Bridge, where the entire garrison and seventeen pieces of artillery were captured.

General Sherman, by the morning of the 18th of

May, had crossed the Black River, at Bridgeport, above, by means of pontoons, and was ready to march on Walnut Hills. McClernand and McPherson built floating bridges during the night, and were ready for crossing their commands by eight o'clock, A. M., of the 18th.

Sherman marched at an early hour, taking the Bridgeport and Vicksburg road, turning to the right when within three and a half miles of Vicksburg, to get possession of the Walnut Hills and the Yazoo River, which he successfully accomplished before night.

McPherson crossed the Black River above the Jackson Road, and came into the same road with Sherman, but in his rear. He arrived at night-fall with his advance to where Sherman turned to the right.

McClernand moved by the Jackson and Vicksburg road to Mount Albans, and there turned to the left, to get into Baldwin's Ferry Road. By this disposition, the three army corps covered all the ground their numbers would admit of, and by the morning of the 19th, the investment of Vicksburg was made as complete as could be, by the forces at General Grant's command.

During the day there was continuous skirmishing, and, relying upon the demoralization of the enemy, in consequence of their late repeated defeats, a general assault was ordered at two, P. M., in hopes of being able to carry their works.

The 15th, Sherman's Corps, from having arrived in front of the works on the 18th, to get a good position, were enabled to make a vigorous assault. The 13th and 17th Corps succeeded no further than to gain advanced positions, covered from the fire of the enemy. The 20th and 21st of May were spent in perfecting communications with the army supplies, which, it may