15TH ARMY CORPS,
HANKINSON'S FERRY,
18 MILES FROM GRAND
GULF, May 9, 1863.
One week after hammering away at Haines' Bluff I got here
and overtook Grant's army, having marched eighty-three miles and crossed the
Mississippi. We are short of wagons and provisions, but in this starving
country we find an abundance of corn, hogs, cattle, sheep, and poultry. Men who
came in advance have drawn but two days' rations in ten and are fat. Tomorrow I
march to Big Sandy, nine miles. Next day to Auburn fifteen miles, and we will
then be within striking distance of the railroad running east from Vicksburg.
The enemy must come out to fight us soon or we will be in their rear. The army
is in good condition and if they fight us we will have a desperate one. Grant
was delighted to see me, and everything works well. . . .
SOURCES: M. A. DeWolfe Howe, Editor, Home Letters of
General Sherman, p. 260. A full copy of this letter can be
found in the William
T Sherman Family papers (SHR), University of Notre Dame Archives
(UNDA), Notre Dame, IN 46556, Folder CSHR 2/04.
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