New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-09-03
Continued from second page.

expected attack from that quarter The
passage Of Portcr's feet down the river
was the first intimation that Grant might
be coming from the other direction.
Genera Grant was now ready. Con-
fronted with an army as large as his own
but broken up into fragments-whicn. now
ever. were within easy cooperating dis
lance of each 0ther-he proposed TO violate
the axiom that an army operating IN an
enemv's country should start from foru-
fed and guarded base II supplies. He was
in the enenv's country with the Father
Of Waters and the fortress Of Nicksburg
between himself and his base Of supplies
Papiditv of movement was what he de-
sired for be wished TO meet Pemoerton' :
forces DiecemeaI. before they could be con-
centrated.
The troops were landed at Bruinsourg'
on the east side of the river below Grand
Gulf The wagon train was not brought
over. but was 20 come up later 4 tooth
brush has been stated 20 have been Grant $
only personal baggage. Everything except
what he wore. including his horse. was
with the wagon train. For a week he was
without change of clothing and no regular
meals. The troops started from Bruinsburg
with only two days rations. Later this
supplv was augmented by one hundred
thousand pounds Of salt meat. hard bread
coffee. sugar and salt. loaded in two hum
6red wagons. which were sent down the
river 10 Grand Gulf Up 20 this time the
only vehicles taken with the army We're
those collected upon landing for the
. g These were
drawn by such anipals as could be gain
cred In from the surrounding country
horses. mules. oxen. II was motley
train. including fine coaches loaded nearly
TO the tops with boxes Of cartridges ana
drawn by mules IN plough harness. stra"
collars and rope lines. and lons-coupled
wagons with racks for carrying cotton
bales. drawn by oxen.
Starting from Rruinsburg on April 90.
he marched his men ten miles inland and
| attacked a force found there. General
Bowen's force of eight thousand gave way
before Grants nineteen thousand. The
( loss Of Port Gibson forced the evacuation
OF the formidable fortified works at Grand
| Gulf. Impressed now with the fact that
/ Grants attack was 10 be from the south.
Penn berton began 10 concentrate MS troops
70 protect Vickshurg itself.
B Grants problem was that Of keeping
Pemberton and Johnston separated He
marched rapldlv toward jackson. the cap
ital Of the state. about fifty miles east Of
Vicksburg. fghting at Raymond on May
a and Jackson on May Is The Big Black
River flows south through the country mid
way between Jackson and Nicksburg A
I ferries and
bridges across this stream. The capture
y Jackson destroyed Pemberton's lire OF
communication with Johnston and resulted
in Grants coming into possession OF some
Intercepted dispatches between Pemberton
and Johnston which revealed whatever
/ plan the Confederates had.
| General Grant. having driven Johnston
eastward. now turned westward, following
the railroad toward Nicksburg. Efforts
were made bv Pemberton 20 hold him OF
( first at Champions Hill on May l6, and on
the following day az Black River Bridge.
but without any success. Then the Conied-
crate army retreated into Vicksburg and a
council OF war decided 70 Withstand a siege.
Haines's Bluff, WAS abandoned and General
Sherman had the satisfaction Of riding
along the edge OF the precipitous hillside
and looking down upon the spot whore his
troops had CALAMITY tried 10 carry the blum
after crossing the Chickasaw Bayou sew
eral months before on MAY 10 Nicksburs
was invested as far as Grants present
army could surround a. Believing that the
Confederates were thoroughly demoralizcd
ny their recent defeats he ordered an as
sault that very afternoon It's chief result
three weeks without regular rauons beyond
1--WE days supply and they had become
weary of bareback, chicken. duck and tur-
key they had gathered up in their foragins
expeditions on May u Grant overheard
"A soldier VINO recognized him say In low
tone. "Hardtack." In moment the cry
was taken up along the line, "HardtFSk
Hardtack," lie stopped and told the men
close AT hand that a road was being built
which would give them fresh supply Of
food very soon The cry was changed 20
cheers. and that night 'ull rations II bread
and coffee and other supplies We're issued.