Major-General Ulysses S. Grant to Absalom H. Markland, June 29, 1863

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE,        

Near Vicksburg, June 29, 1863.

A. H. MARKLAND, Special Agent, Post-Office Department:

DEAR SIR: Yours of yesterday, stating that an effort was being made to change the plan of distributing the mails for the Department of the Tennessee from Memphis to Cairo, is received.

The mails for this department are carried by Government through their own agents, I believe, as far as Memphis. From that point they are distributed by agents detailed by me. Nearly the entire mail for the department must come to Memphis, whether distributed elsewhere or not, and, in my opinion, should be gotten to that point with as little delay as possible. The distribution at Cairo would necessarily involve some delay, at least for those letters and public documents intended for the commander of the District of West Tennessee, and would not hasten the delivery of one single letter within the department. I have, therefore, to request that no change be made in the present satisfactory postal arrangement.

Very truly, yours,

U.S. GRANT.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 24, Part 3 (Serial No. 38), p. 448-9

Major-General Ulysses S. Grant to Julia Dent Grant, June 29, 1863

June 29th 1863

Dear Julia,

During the present week I think the fate of Vicksburg will be decided. Johnston is still hovering beyond the Black river and will attack before you receive this or never. After accumulating so large an army as he has, at such risk of loosing other points in the Confederacy by doing it, he cannot back out without giving battle or loosing prestige. I expect a fight by Wednsday or Thursday. There may be much loss of life but I feel but little doubt as to the result.—Saturday or Sunday next I set for the fall of Vicksburg. You can come down then and bring the children with you. We will have to make some arrangement for them to go to school as soon as schools open after vacation. You will have to stay with them as a general thing but by selecting a good place for you and them to board you can visit me a part of the time, when I am still. I do not expect to be still much however whilst the war lasts. Fred, has returned from his uncles. He does not look very well but is not willing to go back until Vicksburg falls. I think I will send him a trip as far North as St. Paul after the fall of Vicksburg. Remember me to all at home. You do not say whether you have leased the farm or not. I do not want White to hold it. Kiss the children for me.

Ulys.

SOURCE: John Y. Simon, Editor, The Papers of Ulysses S. Grant, Volume 8, p. 444-5

Major-General William T. Sherman: General Orders, No. 49, June 29, 1863

GENERAL ORDERS, No. 49.}

HDQRS. FIFTEENTH ARMY CORPS,        

Camp at Bear Creek, June 29, 1863.

The following modifications of existing orders are made and will be executed at once:

I. General Osterhaus will continue, as heretofore, to hold the fortified position on Black River, at the railroad bridge, with patrols and guards, watching the river below as far as Baldwin's, and up as far as Bridgeport; his reserves at Clear Creek, near Bovina.

II. General McArthur will occupy Tiffin in force, with guards toward the Messinger ford, connecting with Osterhaus on the Bridgeport road, and his main guards occupying the main ridge up as far as Brant's.

III. Major-General Parke will leave a small guard at Milldale and Templeton's, sufficient to hold those points, and move all the troops of the Ninth Army Corps to the east side of Clear Creek, connecting his guards at Brant's with McArthur's, his center near Wixon's and his guards connecting with General W. S. Smith's, near Mrs. Nelly's.

IV. General Tuttle will hold his present position on the spur leading from McCall's to Markham's and Young's, and will entrench a position back of Trible's.

V. General W. S. Smith will hold as now his position at Oak Ridge Post-Office, with guards forward on the two Benton roads, and his right connecting with General Parke, at Mrs. Nelly's. General Smith, in connection with General Washburn, will effectually blockade all roads and paths coming from the north and lying between the ridge road and Yazoo Valley road.

VI. General Washburn will hold the fortified position at Haynes' Bluff, with Kimball's division, and will continue to strengthen the lines on the north front. That being our strongest front, we should invite attack in that quarter.

VII. This disposition of forces makes a connected line from the railroad bridge to Haynes' Bluff, by Tiffin, Wixon's, McCall's, Nelly's, and Oak Ridge. Each corps and division commander will proceed to entrench a position near his key-point, sufficient for two batteries and one brigade, commanding water, and looking to the east and north. All roads to the rear should be improved; a double track for wagons made by opening fences and trimming out woods. Lateral roads should also be looked to, to facilitate concentration and lateral movements. Roads to the front should be obstructed, except such as are necessary for our guards and our own use. The commanding general, after careful personal inspection, pronounces the points from which we have most reason to apprehend danger, to be the two fords at Messenger's, and about a mile below Birdsong, Wixon's, and Nelly's are the best points for concentration, and the ridges by Fox's and Markham's the best lines of operation.

VIII. All the cavalry not absolutely needed for orderlies and patrols will be massed under command of Colonel Bussey, Third Iowa, on Bear Creek, from Young's up to Harris', and is charged specially to watch the lower Benton road and the ford below Birdsong.

IX. All commanders of corps and divisions, and the chief of cavalry, will report by letter or staff officer daily to the commanding general at his bivouac near Tuttle's.

By order of Maj. Gen. W. T. Sherman:

[L. M. DAYTON,]        

Aide-de-Camp.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 24, Part 3 (Serial No. 38), p. 449-50

Major-General Ulysses S. Grant to Major-General William T. Sherman, June 29, 1863

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE,        

Near Vicksburg, June 29, 1863.

Maj. Gen. WILLIAM T. SHERMAN, Comdg. Fifteenth, Army Corps:

GENERAL: Your general order, blank number, is received. The dispositions you made are excellent. It will be impossible for Johnston to cross the Big Black River, north of the railroad, without being discovered and your troops ready for him. My only apprehensions are that Johnston, finding us so ready, may cover a movement south, and dash in at Baldwin's and south of that before troops can be got out to meet him. A move of this kind certainly could not be made for anything more than a diversion to relieve the Vicksburg garrison. It does not look to me as if Johnston would ever think of bringing his wagon train across Big Black River south of us. I had but little confidence in the blockading of the roads south of the Jackson road; something has been [done], however, and will help a little if Johnston should attempt to come in that way. Ord's cavalry watch all the ferries south of Baldwin's, and though they sometimes see rebel cavalry east of the river, yet they discover no signs of an attempt to cross.

I sent out a scout, who traveled for some time east from Big Black River bridge and south of the railroad. He says no troops have gone south of the railroad. The same statement is made by a deserter from one of the Texas brigades stationed at Bolton Station; but this information is several days old. In the mean time Johnston may have changed his plans and the position of his troops half a dozen times. You need not fear, general, my tender heart getting the better of me, so as to send the secession ladies to your front; on the contrary, I rather think it advisable to send out every living being from your lines, and arrest all persons found within who are not connected with the army.

Very truly, yours,

U.S. GRANT.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 24, Part 3 (Serial No. 38), p. 449

Major-General James B. McPherson to Major-General Ulysses S. Grant, July 1, 1863

MCPHERSON'S, July 1, 1863.

Major-General GRANT:

The mine on Logan's front is ready, and the enemy appear to be digging in toward it. Shall I explode it? And what disposition do you desire me to make of my troops; anything more than having the rifle-pits filled with sharpshooters?

JAS. B. McPHERSON.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 24, Part 3 (Serial No. 38), p. 456

Major-General James B. McPherson to Major-General Ulysses S. Grant, July 1, 1863

SEVENTEENTH ARMY CORPS, [July 1,] 1863.

Major-General GRANT:

The mine will be exploded about 3 p.m. to-day.

JAS. B. McPHERSON.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 24, Part 3 (Serial No. 38), p. 456

Major-General James B. McPherson to Major-General John A. Logan, July 1, 1863—11 a.m.

BEFORE VICKSBURG, July 1, 1863—11 a.m.

Major-General LOGAN, Commanding Third Division.

GENERAL: The mine in your front will be exploded as soon as the proper disposition of the troops can be made. It is not intended to make any assault, but simply to have the rifle-pits lined with sharpshooters, and the command under arms, ready to take advantage of any chance in our favor or repel any sortie of the enemy.

Yours, truly,

JAS. B. McPHERSON.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 24, Part 3 (Serial No. 38), p. 456

Major-General Edward O. C. Ord to Lieutenant Colonel John A. Rawlins, July 1, 1863

HDQRS. THIRTEENTH A. C., Near Vicksburg, July 1, 1863.

Lieut. Col. JOHN A. RAWLINS, A. A. G., Dept. of the Tennessee:

COLONEL: I have the honor to send to headquarters two prisoners, with a black boy, captured near the mouth of Big Black by Maj. James Grant Wilson, Fifteenth Illinois Cavalry, while attempting to cross the river in a canoe. Major Wilson found a few letters in the possession of the prisoners, which are inclosed for the information of the major-general commanding.* If the statements in the letters of the amount of rations (and the black boy says it has been but one-quarter pound of bacon and meal each for ten days past) can be relied on, the information is valuable. It is strongly corroborated by the statements of deserters for some days past.

E. O. C. ORD.

_______________

* Not Found.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 24, Part 3 (Serial No. 38), p. 457

Major-General Ulysses S. Grant to Major-General Edward O. C. Ord, July 1, 1863

[July 1, 1863.]

Major Wilson's report looks as if it would be prudent to move out troops. They had better be sent to Big Bayou tonight, and tomorrow take a strong position, whilst the Cavalry reconnoitre the enemy. We can tell better then what to do.

SOURCE: John Y. Simon, Editor, The Papers of Ulysses S. Grant, Volume 8, p. 451

Major-General Edward O. C. Ord to Major-General Ulysses S. Grant, July 1, 1863

ORD'S [HEADQUARTERS], July 1, 1863.

Major-General GRANT:

Shall I send out a brigade with artillery to the south, to meet the reported march?

E. O. C. ORD.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 24, Part 3 (Serial No. 38), p. 457

Major-General Ulysses S. Grant to Major-General Edward O. C. Ord, July 1, 1863

HEADQUARTERS, July 1, 1863.

General ORD:

Have you any information besides what I sent you? If it is really true that the enemy have 12,000 troops at Hankinson's Ferry, they should be met. I will telegraph General Herron to ascertain more fully.

U.S. GRANT.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 24, Part 3 (Serial No. 38), p. 457

Major-General Edward O. C. Ord to Major-General Ulysses S. Grant, July 1, 1863

ORD'S, July 1, 1863.

GENERAL: I have positive intelligence, from cavalry just in and from the report of Major Wilson, that the enemy have crossed at and near Hankinson's Ferry. I have ordered Lawler, with a brigade, to move down east of Warrenton, and occupy the ground between Warrenton and Hankinson's Ferry. He will be off in half an hour, if you do not direct otherwise.

E. O. C. ORD,        

Major-General.

General GRANT.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 24, Part 2 (Serial No. 37), p. 209

Major-General Francis J. Herron to Major-General Ulysses S. Grant, July 1, 1863

HERRON'S HEADQUARTERS, July 1, 1863.

General GRANT:

I do not place any confidence in the report of the infantry being at Hankinson's Ferry, but think it probably a scout of their cavalry crossed. I have telegraphed fully to General Ord.

F. J. HERRON.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 24, Part 3 (Serial No. 38), p. 457

Major-General Edward O. C. Ord to Major-General Ulysses S. Grant, July 1, 1863

ORD'S, July 1, 1863.

Nothing further than the dispatch from Herron, which came from Logan and Major Wilson, via Warrenton. Wilson was stationed near Hankinson's Ferry. I think it is likely the enemy has shown some force there, perhaps as a feint. I have two brigades ordered to be ready to march for the country between Warrenton and Hall's Ferry. Shall I send them off?

E. O. C. ORD.

General GRANT.

[Indorsement.]

A cavalry picket, to give notice if crossing is attempted, will be sufficient. Only move troops after it is known there is a force to oppose.

U.S. GRANT,        

Major-General.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 24, Part 2 (Serial No. 37), p. 209

Major-General Ulysses S. Grant to Major-General William T. Sherman, July 1, 1863

NEAR VICKSBURG, Miss., July 1, 1863.

General SHERMAN:

The enemy have shown some force this side of the Black, at Hankinson's Ferry. Ord sends out one brigade to-night to watch them. They may try a direction to the south of the city, with the view of drawing as much force in that direction as possible. I will let you know all that takes place as early as possible.

U.S. GRANT.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 24, Part 3 (Serial No. 38), p. 457

Major-General Edward O. C. Ord to Major-General Ulysses S. Grant, July 1, 1863

[July 1, 1863.]

One of the men who gave himself up is confined here here  is about three miles from here his wife is sick expected to die he is poor & without Servants  the man has behaved well & is anxious to give his parole & be with his wife can I parole him as I should do if it was left with me  all quiet on Black river this Eve

SOURCE: John Y. Simon, Editor, The Papers of Ulysses S. Grant, Volume 8, p. 449

Major-General Ulysses S. Grant to Major-General Edward O. C. Ord, July 1, 1863

Near Vicksburg July 1st 1863

Gen Ord.

Sherman has had a Scout out to Bolton. He can discern no indication of troops having passed South. Johnston must be watched at all points however. Big Bayou should be obstructed as high up as possible, except where we use the crossing

U. S. Grant Maj. Genl.

SOURCE: John Y. Simon, Editor, The Papers of Ulysses S. Grant, Volume 8, p. 452

Major-General William T. Sherman to Major-General Ulysses S. Grant, July 1, 1863

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE,

July 1, 1863.

GENERAL: I am just in from a circuit. All is absolutely silent along Big Black River.

One of your best scouts, Tuttle, is just in from Bolton, where I sent him to see if he could learn if any part of Johnston's army had passed south of the railroad; especially to watch the course of army wagons. He could see or hear nothing to show that a movement south was in progress. I will send him out to Auburn to-night.

Osterhaus watches Baldwin's and Hall's Ferries.

It might be well to send a small force to the red church, between Warrenton and Hankinson's, to make a show. My troops are in such a position that they could reach Noland or Whitaker in five hours. Big Bayou should be made impassable.

I am at one bridge, as high up as possible, shortening the neck between it and the branch (see your map), and I have a good road to run between the railroad, via Tiffin, Bovina, and Noland. I think Johnston may feint to the south, but do not think he will risk chances in the pocket of Black River. Still, we must watch him close. I will have a scout out on an old road from Rocky Springs and Auburn, and can tell quickly if anything is afloat.

Everybody still reports a few rebel force at Mechanicsburg, Vernon, Brownsville, and Bolton. Militia collecting at Jackson. Johnston vibrating between Jackson and Canton.

All well.

SHERMAN,        

Major-General.

General GRANT.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 24, Part 2 (Serial No. 37), p. 248-9

General Joseph E. Johnston to Lieutenant-General John C. Pemberton, July 3, 1863

CAMP NEAR BIRDSONG FERRY, July 3, 1863.

Lieutenant-General PEMBERTON:

Your dispatches of June 28 were destroyed by messenger. He states that General Smith's troops were driven back to Monroe. This statement and his account of your condition make me think it necessary to create a diversion, and thus enable you to cut your way out, if the time has come for you to do this. Of that time I cannot judge; you must, as it depends upon your condition. I hope to attack the enemy in your front about the 7th, and your co-operation will be necessary. The manner and the proper point for you to bring the garrison out must be determined by you from your superior knowledge of the ground and distribution of the enemy's forces. Our firing will show you where we are engaged. If Vicksburg cannot be saved, the garrison must.

J. E. JOHNSTON.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 24, Part 3 (Serial No. 38), p. 987

Major-General Henry W. Halleck to Major-General Ulysses S. Grant, June 12, 1863—11:30 a.m.

WAR DEPARTMENT,        

Washington, June 12, 1863—11.30 a.m.

Major-General GRANT, Via Memphis, Tenn.:

I hope you fully appreciate the importance of time in the reduction of Vicksburg. The large re-enforcements sent to you have opened Missouri and Kentucky to rebel raids. The siege should be pushed night and day with all possible dispatch.

H. W. HALLECK,        

General-in- Chief.

SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 24, Part 1 (Serial No. 36), p. 42