The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1905-10-12
WAR OF THE REBELLION.
SContnued from page IL

| NonHnueo from page ID
defend the r9ad leading across the Big
Rlack from Halls and Baldwin's Fer
ries; with Stevensons Division on his
right to oppose any advance up the
| river and Bowen's sent to Bovina Sta
ton to defend the important railroad
| bridge there. 1t was possible that
Grant might make a raid against jack
| son, and the troops which were being
ordered from more remote points were
to stop there and defend that city.
PembertOn Proposes, Grant Disposes.
| While Gen. Pemberton was occupy
ing the time with these futile DISPOSE
tons Grant was rapidly maturing his
plan. He sent a letter from Grand
Gulf to Banks telling him not to ex-
Hudson, but to come on himself with
his troops and join the Army of the
tennessee, when. after disposing of
Nicksburg, the army would return and
| take Port Hudson.
Shermans Corps had come across
the river from Hard Times Landing,
its place guarding the line of commun-
ications having been taken by troops
sent from Memphis by Gen. Hurlbut
who stripped the defenses of his di-
vision to the last degree of prudence
| in order to reinforce Grant. Sherman
loaded with coffee, sugar, bareback and
ammunition. These were distributed
in proper proportion to the various
commands, and the line of supplies to
the rear was abandoned, the army be-
ing instructed that it must for a while
get all that it needed in addition to
these from the surrounding country.
The men found no difficulty in doing
this, because hogs, cattle, sheep, pOul
try and forage abounded, and as they
moved constantly forward they found
every day fresh supplies and left an
exhausted country behind them.
Gen. Grant sent a message to Hal
leck from Grand Gulf informing him
of what he had done and that he had
cut off his communications for the time
being. The receipt of the message Gre
ated not little CONSERVATION in Wash
ington, where the Administration was
deeply depressed by the unfortunate
issue of Hooker's battle at Chancel-
louisville, and Gen. Halleck hurried a
message back ordering Gen. Grant to
withdraw from his advanced position
and unite his army with that of Gen.
Banks.
With his three corps now we'll in
hand Gen. Grant pushed forward for
jackson, so miles east of Vicksburg, to
strike Joe Johnston and crush him be-
fore he could collect a formidable
force. 1t was reported that Beauregard
was arriving Will Hedfy pouieS VI
troops.
AS Gen. Grant moved he kept up the
show of striking at Vicksburg, to con-
firm the impression that dominated
PembertOn's mind. Gen. McClernand,
having so often disappointed Gen.
Grants expectations, was not allowed
to take the right of the army in the
advance upon Jackson, but this was en-
trusted to the more energetic and re-
liable Mcpherson. Gen. McClernand,
with his corps was to have the general
left of the army, moving up the Big
Black, cover tthe ferries and prevent
any raid across that river toward the
rear, and to generally act as If he were
moving against Vicksburg. Gen. Nc
Pherson Was TO move out strongly to
the right, taking the most direct road
to Jackson through Rocky Springs,
follow Mcclernand, moving generally
so as to keep ip touch with Mcpherson
on the. right and McClernand on the
left, the expectation being that he
would eventually join with Mcpherson
in the attack upon Jackson.
There was much natural anxiety as
to what might be encountered at Jack
son. as it was a great railroad center,
and the maneuvers of the army had
developed FAIR enough to give wide
spread alarm Ito the Confederates. No
doubt Jefferson Davis and Joseph r.
JOHHSlOIly :vOQfI hurry W JdChSoH
troops from. as far east as Georgia and
Florida. Jefferson Davis had said that
he would save Vicksburg, even IL he
had to abandon Tennessee; and this
meant that the whole Of Bragg's army
might be rushed down to overwhelm
Grant. Some troops were, in fact, sent
from Bragg's army and Gen. Joe
Johnston, who had been upon sick
bed at Chattanooga for some time, was
peremtorily ordered to proceed to Jack
son and take command in the field.
The Battle Of Raymond.
4 On the night of May IL, 1853 Gen.
Grant had his army we'll in hand. with
the Thirteenth Corps (McClernands
at Five Mile Creek threatening Penn
berton, whose advanced forces were
behind Fourteen Mile and Bakers
Creeks as outposts for those at Ed
wards Station. 1t was Grants policy
to keep Pemberton in this position, and
McClernand had advanced until his
skirmishcrs were in touch with those
of the enemy; Sherman, on McCler-
nand's right, at Auburn, and McPher-
son with the Seventeenth Corps on the
road from Utica and Raymond having
advanced five miles from Utica.
At o'clock of May II. 1868, Grant
sent to Gen. Mcpherson the following
order, which as a model of the clear
ness and explicitness of Grants or
ders to his subordinates during this
campaign is worth reproducing entire
Iy 1t read
"Cayuga Post Office. Miss,
May II, 1868: l p. m.
Mai Gen. j. L. Mcpherson, Com
handing Seventeenth Army Corps:
Move your command tonight to the
If there jS and