The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1902-11-28

commanded two divisions in Grants
army and had held them at Memphis
Grant at first intended to take all his
! force against Pemberton, and Sherman
joined him about the time his infantry
crossed the Tallahatchie, Dec 2.
There were weighty reasons against
divided movement upon Vicksburg
over the land and water routes. The
Confederates held interior lines and
could easily use the same troops to
fight Grants column in Mississippi and
one going down the river, while these
columns could only support each
other by the long course back to Mem
phis and then to the point of danger
many days travel to the front. See
ing, however, that the war department
was firm in it's purpose to make an at
tack down the river, even though
Grant should go ahead on the course
he had adopted overland, that general
called Sherman into his counsels and
the result was that Sherman and not
Grant led the first formidable attack
upon the Notifications of Vicksburg.
After considerable telegraphing with
Washington, Grant was ordered to
have 10000 troops at Memphis for an
attack down the river large part of
these troops was to be new regiments,
and it was known that General j. A.
McClernand, then stationed in Illinois,
was raising men for the purpose of an
expedition down the river. McClernand
was of higher rank than Sherman and
had authority from the president and
secretary of war to command the river
expedition independent Of Grant.
In order to forestall McClernand,
Grant, who finally got authority to Ell
Their lead the troops he was to send
with the expedition down the river in
person or appoint another to the task,
sent Sherman. Sherman's instructions
were to take one of his own divisions
and the troops of General Curtis, then
at Memphis, and proceed at once down
the Mississippi and with the aid Of
the gunboats reduce the Confederate
fortress. BY prompt action Sherman's
expedition got under way before Nc
Clernand was ready, and he retained
the chief command to the end.
After Sherman had cut loose from
Grant and the forces were separated
there was a new problem for the COM
mander in northern Mississippi. Should
he be defeated in battle the Confeder-
ates could overrun west Tennessee and
even Kentucky and, once in the rear
of Sherman, destroy his supplies and
take Memphis in his rear. The new
situation, therefore, imposed extra eau
ton upon Grant. Against his own
judgment he had divided his army in
the face of the enemy and either wing
was weaker than the enemy when he
his strength, which he
could readily do. 1t was understood
between Grant and Sherman that, in
case Pemberton refused to stand for
battle against Grants corlmn and
back to Yicksburg to check
mate Sherman, Grant would follow
close on his heels and get into position
to attack the Confederate rear while
Sherman engaged on the front.
1t was expected that Pemberton
would look first to the safety of Vicks-
burg, for that was the problem set be-
fore him.
Sherman's force was insignificant as
with all that Pemberton
could marshal against him if he chose 1
to ignore Grant. But if Grant could
keep Pemberton away from Vicksburg
The task would be easy, for the actual
garrison of the Vicksburg fortress at
he time was only about 5000 men.
Pemberton's urgent call for more
:roops to hold Vicksburg against Grant
was an evidence that he had little con-
idence in his ability to guard the i'm
mediate fortress and also cover the
arge territory adjacent and lying eX-
posed to the Federal columns. But he
lid not give up the task of warding off
he threatened blow. While Grant was
planning and making dispositions the
Confederate cavalryman Forrest gath
red his rough riders in west Tennes-
Zee for a dash upon the Mississippi
CENTRAL railroad, upon which Grant de-
,ended for communications with his
main base in Kentucky. Forrest had
ONE from Bragg's camp in east Ten
lessee. Bragg could spare no infantry
o reinforce Pemberton, but he
sent what aid he could in the
hape of raiding cavalcade.
While Forrest was preparing for his
old ride behind Grant, PembertOn set
n foot a similar expedition with forces
carer home. General Earl Van Dorm,
rho was at the head of the largest
ody of the troops afield in Mississippi, /,
ad the reputation of a dashing leader :
or mounted men. A raid under his
was planned to strike the
abroad just in rear of Grants line and ,
estroy his army stores. These two
otis hung over Grant while he was I;
ushing his way toward the Yalla, :
usha with Sherman speeding away in :
mother direction. =
GEORGE l.. KILMER. :
Hahn n