The National tribune., 1905-10-12

sons Ferry the following letter to
Secretary Stanton:
"Hankinson's Ferry. May s, 1863; 10
a. III. zsss ss.esx
"Via Memphis, Tenn. May IS: II a. m,
Enemy had built a bridge OF fiat
boats across the Big Black at this point.
Logan pressed up on them so hard In
his pursuit that they were not able to
destroy 1t. 1t is reported by our pick
cts that they have two brigades in our
front on the other shore, and McPher-
son is going over this morning with a
competent force to stir them up. But
for the exceeding incompetency Of Gen.
McClernand, and the delay thence
arising, the movement from Bruins
burg In this direction must FIve re-
suited In the capture of 5000 instead
of about 700 rebels. A tug with barges
ran the Vicksburg batteries on Sum
day night, the Sd inst. The hay with
which the loading of the barges was
covered was set on fire, and the hard
bread beneath was considerably DAM
aged by water in putting it out, but
yesterday 200 wagons loaded with ra-
tions arrived from Milliken's Bend at
Perkins's Plantation. AS soon as these
supplies reach here and Sherman's
troops arrive, the general advance up
this peninsula will be resumed. Sher-
man himself was at Grand Gulf yester-
day, and two of his divisions will de-
distributed across the peninsula, guard
ing every point. Gen. McClernand is
on the right center: Mcpherson here on
the left. A reconnaissance pushed as
far as Rocky Springs and in the vicin-
ity Of the ferry on the Vicksburg road
discovers no enemy. Please notice that
in my dispatch of yesterday I was mis-
informed as to Logan's movement of
the evening previous. It was on the
Warrenton and not the Vicksburg
road. The army is thoroughly recov-
cred from the fatigue of the late oper-
ations.
&c. A. Dana.
Hon. e. M. Stanton. Secretary of
War"
Four Precious Days.
Gen. Pemberton lost four precious
days In endeavoring to understand
Grants movements and Intentions.
Naturally he could only measure Gen.
Grant by such a commonplace standard
as himself, and he made his DISPOSE
tions, as far as he made any intelligent
dispositions, to counteract what q man
Of his caliber in Grants position would
do. Gen. Grant had thrust forward
Mcpherson across the Big Black from
Hankinson's Ferry to within five miles
of Warrenton. This led Gen. Penn
berton to believe that Grant intended
to do the obvious thing of moving i'm
mediately to besiege him in Vicksburg,
beginning his lines at the river below
the city. But soon Gen. Pemberton
learned that Gen. Grant was moving
on up the Big Black. and then he be-
came certain that his opponent was go
ing to do the next obvious thing. That
is, cut the railroad from Jackson at
some point beyond the Big Black and
advance to the siege from the eastward.
Consequently Pemberton at once be-
gan a concentration. of his troops at
Edwards Station, where he anticipated
that the battle would be delivered. He
telegraphed what he was doing to Jo-
seph e. Johnston and Jefferson Davis,
and Johnston answered at once: "If
Grant crosses, unite all your troops to
beat him. Success will give back what
was abandoned to win It." This meant
that Pemperton should withdraw all
his troops from around Vicksburg and
unite them where he could strike
Grants heads OF columns and crush
Vicksburg or leaving 1t open with an
insufficient defense against rapid
movement from Grants army was in
tolerable to Pemberton.s and he would
not obey Johnstons order. Jefferson
Davis expressed the opinion that
Grants army was not making any,
thing more than a raid; that it could
not live more than a few days away
from the river, and 1t might be ex-
pected to soon return to Warrenton,
where 1t could get supplies brought
IacrOss to Young's Point. Therefore,
the three divisions which had been out
toward Grand Gulf were brought back
to interpose between Grant and Vicks-
burg, with Loring's Division placed to
1od Ssaoe fyurr, ~