Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1886-03-06
Second paDer.

| SSSOHu RipSE
A few weeks after the successful de-
fense OF Corinth the army under Gen
erai Grant was reorganized and given
the name of the army OF the Tennessee,
and the region under his military juris-
diction was designated the department
of the Tennessee. From this period
until the close of the war the command
which entered upon its career under
| Grant was known as the army OF the
! Tennessee.
l undertake to give in this paper an
account of the movement of the army of
the Tennessee upon Vlcksburg, south
ward through central Mississippi, in
the months of November and December,
1862, movement which resulted in fail
ure through the more than cowardly sur
render of Holly Springs to the confed-
crates. by the federal Colonel Murphy,
| and the destruction OF all of Grants
supplies
Following the battle of Corinth, Oc-
tober Sd and 4th, 1869, reinforcements
came rapidly to General Grants army
from the north. These reinforcements
consisted mainly of regiments of newly
enlisted men and of recruits assigned to
the old organizations in the field. They
were lacking in drill, discipline and ex-
perience, but when scattered among the
veterans at the front they speedily ac-
quired the ways and habits OF soldiers.
On the 23d of October General Rose
Grams was relieved from duty as an Off
Ger in General Grants command and he
subsequently succeeded General Buell.
in command of the army of middle Ten
nessee. 1t was thought that he might
do himself justice and his country better
service with an independent command,
as he maintained disposition to decline
to obey the orders of bis immediate su-
periors.
About this time General Grant was
apprised that General Pembertor, to
whom the defence of .Vioksburg had
been assigned by the confed-
|
his forces out of that city and advanced
them northward. He made his head.
quarters at Holly Springs, about fifty
miles west and little south of Corinth,
and had fortified line along the Talla-
hatchie river, south OF Holly Springs,
building strong earthworks for the de-
fense of his chosen position. Subse-
!. quently Pemberton advanced his line
northwsrd to the Codwater river and
occupied Grand Junction, at the Mem
phis g. Charleston and the Missig sippi
Central railroad crossing. point about
twenty five miles north of Holly Springs.
On the End OF November General Grant
began his movement on Pemberton'.
army and against the confederate strong
hold of Vicksburg. He had an active
field force of 10000 men and was con
fronted by about an equal number unde
Pemberton, the latter possessing the ad
vantage OF defensive position agains
an invading foe. The left wing of Genera
Grants army was commanded by Genera
j. B. Mcpherson, the center by Genera
G. S. Hamilton and the right WIN
d By General W. I. Sherman. The righ
wing remained stationary, for the tim
being, at Memphis, while the left an
center advanced, covering Pemberton
right flank safely and leaving his lei
flank accessible at any time from th
Mississippi river, which was in our POI
session as far down as Vicksburg.
Our army was poc'ly supplied in i;
horse aud mule department., having n
ce.vsd no additional stock for sewers
months. From this cause the forwar
movement in it's inception was not pa
ticularly vigorous. One weak horse
au artillery harness or one weak mule
wagon team can delay the progress
an entire marching column of soldie
and their trains, and when it happens,
y it did at this time, that fully one-quart
= of the four footed stock was in feeb
condition, the resultant delay becom
= intolerable. The first night out fro
= Cofinth brought an order to the varIor
bivouacs for the return of she bulk
the artillery force and most OF Il
wagon train to Corinth, there
await fresh horses aud mule
bls b,Ils So we crawled back over the tedio
road to our cid camp in Corinth and t
. infantry proceeded onward and on t
I, 'Ssh of November occupied Ora.