The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-08-21


promptly sent with one division or MS corps.
The number of steamers suitable for the naVlc
cation of these bayOus being Limited, most Oh
the force was sent up the MISSISSIPPI hlver W
Eagles Bend, a point where inc river runs
within one mile Of steeies Bayou unuS saxng
The expedition failed, probably more from
want of knowledge as to what would be requir-
ed to omen this route than from any impractic-
ability in the navigation OF the streams and
bayous through which it was proposed to pass.
Want of this knowledge led the expedition on
until difficulties were encountered, and then it
would be necessary to send back to YOungs
Point for the means of removing them. This
gave the enemy time to move forces to effectu-
ally checkmate further progress, and the expe-
ton was withdrawn when within few hun
dred yards of free and open navigation to the
Yazoo. All this may have been providential in
driving us ultimately to line of operations
which has proven eminently successful. For
further particulars of the Steele's Bayou expe-
dition see report of Major General w. F. Sher-
man, forwarded on the 18th of April. As soon
as decided to open water communication from
q point on the Mississippi near Milliken's Bend
to New Carthage, 1 determined to occupy the
latter place, it being the first point below
Vicksburg that could be reached by land at the
stage of the water then existing, and the Occu
pancy of which, while it secured to us point
on the Mississippi River would also protect
the main line of communication by water. Ac-
cordingly, the 18th army corps, Major General
J. A. McClernand commanding, was directed
to take up its line of march, on the Goth day
of March, for New Carthage, the 10th and 18th
corps to follow, moving no faster than supplies
and ammunition could be transported to them.
The roads, though level, were intOlerably
bad, and the movement was therefore necessa-
rly slow. Arriving at Smiths Plantation, two
miles from New Carthage, it was found that
bo 1aNa If nj hrO1y iro
eral places. thus leaving New Carthage an
leland.
RUNNING THE BATTERIES.
AL the boats that could be were collected
from the different bayouS in the vicinity, and
others were built, but the transportation of an
army in this way was found exceedingly tedi-
Ous Another route had to be found. This
was done by making q farther march around
Vidal to Perkins Plantation, distance of
twelve miles or more, making the whole dis
lance to be marched from Millikens Bend to
reach water communication on the opposite
side ofthe point, thirty-fve miles. Over this
distance, with bad roads to contend against,
supplies of ordinance stores and provisions had
to be hauled by wagons, with which to COM
mence the campaign on the other side of the
river At the same time that ordered the &C.
cupatlOn OF New Carthage, preparations were
being made for running transports by the
Nicksburg batteries with Admiral Porter's gun
boat fleet. On the night of the 10th of April
Admiral Porters fleet and the transports Sill
yer Wave, Forest Queen, and Henry Clay, ran
the Vick<burg batteries. The boilers of the
transports were protected as well as possible
with hay and cotton. More or less commissa-
ry stores were put on each. All three of these
boats were struck more or less frequently while
passing the enemy's batteries, and the Henry
Clay, by the explosion ola shell or by other
means, was set on fire and entirely consumed.
The other two boats were somewhat injured,
but not seriously disabled. No one on board
OF either was killed.
AS these boats succeeded in getting by so
well, l ordered six more to be prepared in like
manner for running the batteries. These lat
ter, viz: TigreSs, Anglo Saxon, Cheeseman
Empire City. Horizonia and Moderator, left
Milliken's Bend on the night of the 22d of
April, and five of them got by, but in some
what damaged condition. The Tigress receiy-
ed 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, Capt. ID. Conway, and the Silver Wave
Capt Mcmillan were composed Of volunteers
from the army. Upon the call for volunteer
for this dangerous enterprise officers and men
presented themselves by hundreds anxious to
undertake the trip. The names of those whose
services were accepted will be given in sepa-
rate report. 1t is striking feature, so far as
my observation goes, of the present volunteer
army OF the United States, that there is moth
ing which men are called upon to do. mecLan-
ical Or professional that accomplished adopts
cannot be found for the duty required in al
most every regiment.
COMMANDMENT OF GRAND GULF.
The transports injured in running the block
ade were repaired by order of Admiral Porter,
who was supplied with the material for such
repairs as they required, and who was and is
ever ready to afford all the assistance in his
power for the turtherancc of the success of our
arms. In very short time five of the trans
ports were in running order, and the remainder
were in d condition TO be used as barges in the
moving of troops. Twelve barges loaded with
forage and rItiOnS were sent in TOW of the last
six boats that run the blockade: one half of
them got through in condition " be used.
Owing to the limited number of transports be-
low Nicksburg, itseas found necessary to ex-
tend our line of land travel to Hard Times,
Louisiana, which, by the circuitous route it was
found necessary to take, increased the distance
to about seventy miles from Milikens Bend,
our starting point The 18th army corps being
all through to the Mississippi, and the 9TH
army corps well on the way SO much of the
18th as could be got on board the transports
and barges were put aboard and moved to the
front of Grand Gulf, on the 29th of April.
The plan here was that the navy should silence
the guns OF the enemy, and the troops land
under cover of the gunboats and carry the
place Nv storm. Al O'CLOCK, A. NJ. the navy
made the attack, and kept it up for more than
five hours in the most gallant manner From
a tug out in the stream | witnessed the whole
engagement. Many times it seemed to me the
gunboats were within pistol shot of the bat
teries 1t soon became evident that the guns
OF the enemy were too elevated and their tort-
tications 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 posi-
ton where it could be made useful in case of
an attempt at landing. This determined me to
run again by the enemy's batteries, turn his
position by eifecting landing at Rodney or at
Bruins burg between Grand Gulf and Rodney.
Accordingly orders were Immediately given
for the troops to debark at Hard Times, Louis
lana. and march across to the point immediate
" below Grand Gulf. At dark the gunboats
again engaged the batteries, and all tue trans
ports ran by, receiving but two or three shots
in the passage, and these without injury. l
had some time previously ordered reconnois-
sance to a point opposite Bruinsburg to ascer-
tain. if possible, from persons in the neighbour
hood. the character of the road leading to the
highlands back of Bruinsburg. During the
niSht learned from negro that there was a
GOOD road from Bruinsburg to Port Gibson,
which determined me to land there.
puRARKATTON OF THE ARMY FOR BRUINsBURG.
The work of ferrying the troops to Bruins
buro was commenced at daylight in the morn