Major-General Ulysses S. Grant to Lieutenant-Colonel Samuel J. Nasmith, June 25, 1863

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE,        

Near Vicksburg, June 25, 1863.

Lieut. Col. SAMUEL J. NASMITH,

        Comdg. Officer, Expedition against Greenville, Miss.:

SIR: As soon as the troops brought by you from Snyder's Bluff, and the battery of artillery sent from here, are embarked, you will proceed to the mouth of the Yazoo River, where you will find two gunboats lying under command of Captain Selfridge, and soon as he can get off you will proceed to Greenville, Miss.

It is reported that the enemy have moved a battery and about 250 men from Yazoo City to a point some 6 miles above Greenville. The object of the expedition you command is to capture this battery and troops if possible. Specific directions how to do it are not necessary, but use every effort to effect the object of the expedition. Should they retreat, and your force prove sufficient to compete with them, follow them as long as there is a hope of capture. On your return, in case of pursuit, destroy all bridges and corn-cribs, bring away all negroes disposed to follow you, and teams of rebels to haul them and their plunder. Keep your men out of the houses as much as possible, and prevent plundering. Give the people to understand if their troops make raids necessary, all their crops and means of raising crops will be destroyed.

After breaking up the rebels on the Mississippi, then proceed to Catfish Point, where there is also said to be a battery established by the enemy. The same general direction applies to it.

Should any negroes accompany you, they will be left at one of the camps established either at Milliken's Bend or Young's Point.

Respectfully, 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. 437-8

Diary of John Beauchamp Jones: July 27, 1863

Nothing but disasters to chronicle now. Natchez and Yazoo City, all gone the way of Vicksburg, involving a heavy loss of boats, guns, and ordnance stores; besides, the enemy have got some twenty locomotives in Mississippi.

Lee has retreated as far as Culpepper Court House.

The President publishes another proclamation, fixing a day for the people to unite in prayer.

The weather is bad. With the exception of one or two bright days, it has been raining nearly a month. Superadded to the calamities crowding upon us, we have a rumor to-day that Gen. Lee has tendered his resignation. This is false. But it is said he is opposed to the retaliatory executions ordered by the President, which, if persisted in, must involve the life of his son, now in the hands of the enemy. Our officers executed by Burnside were certainly recruiting in Kentucky within the lines of the enemy, and Gen. Lee may differ with the President in the equity of executing officers taken by us in battle in retaliation.

SOURCE: John Beauchamp Jones, A Rebel War Clerk's Diary at the Confederate States Capital, Volume 1, p. 388-9

Diary of Sir Arthur James Lyon Fremantle: Friday, May 22, 1863

The bombardment at Vicksburg was very heavy and continuous this morning.

I had a long conversation with General Johnston, who told me that the principal evils which a Confederate general had to contend against consisted in the difficulty of making combinations, owing to uncertainty about the time which the troops would take to march a certain distance, on account of their straggling propensities.

But from what I have seen and heard as yet, it appears to me that the Confederates possess certain great qualities as soldiers, such as individual bravery and natural aptitude in the use of firearms, strong, determined patriotism, and boundless confidence in their favourite generals, and in themselves. They are sober of necessity, as there is literally no liquor to be got. They have sufficient good sense to know that a certain amount of discipline is absolutely necessary; and I believe that instances of insubordination are extremely rare. They possess the great advantage of being led by men of talent and education as soldiers who thoroughly understand the people they have to lead, as well as those they have to beat. These generals, such as Lee, Johnston, Beauregard, or Longstreet, they would follow anywhere, and obey implicitly. But, on the other hand, many of their officers, looking forward to future political advancement, owing to their present military rank, will not punish their men, or are afraid of making themselves obnoxious by enforcing rigid discipline. The men are constantly in the habit of throwing away their knapsacks and blankets on a long march, if not carried for them, and though actuated by the strongest and purest patriotism, can often not be got to consider their obligations as soldiers. In the early part of the war they were often, when victorious, nearly as disorganised as the beaten, and many would coolly walk off home, under the impression that they had performed their share. But they are becoming better in these respects as the war goes on.¹

All this would account for the trifling benefits derived by the Confederates from their numerous victories.

General Johnston told me that Grant had displayed more vigour than he had expected, by crossing the river below Vicksburg, seizing Jackson by vastly superior force, and, after cutting off communications, investing the fortress thoroughly, so as to take it if possible before a sufficient force could be got to relieve it. His army is estimated at 75,000 men, and General Johnston has very little opinion of the defences of Vicksburg on the land side. He said the garrison consisted of about 20,000 men.

News has been received that the Yankees were getting up the Yazoo river; and this morning General Walker's division left at 6 A.M. for Yazoo city.

The General with his Staff and myself rode into Canton, six miles, and lodged in the house of a planter who owned 700 slaves.

Dr Yandell is a wonderful mimic, and amused us much by taking off the marriage ceremony, as performed by General Polk in Tennesse — General Morgan of Kentucky notoriety being the bridegroom.²

One of Henderson's scouts caused much hilarity amongst the General's Staff this afternoon. He had brought in a Yankee prisoner, and apologised to General Johnston for doing so, saying, “I found him in a negro quarter, and he surrendered so quick, I couldn't kill him.” There can be no doubt that the conduct of the Federals in captured cities tends to create a strong indisposition on the part of the Confederates to take prisoners, particularly amongst these wild Mississippians.

General Johnston told me this evening that altogether he had been wounded ten times. He was the senior officer of the old army who joined the Confederates, and he commanded the Virginian army until he was severely wounded at the battle of “Seven Pines.”³

_______________

¹ After having lived with the veterans of Bragg and Lee, I was able to form a still higher estimate of Confederate soldiers. Their obedience and forbearance in success, their discipline under disaster, their patience under suffering, under hardships, or when wounded, and their boundless devotion to their country under all circumstances, are beyond all praise.

² When I was introduced to General Polk in Tennessee I recognised him at once by Dr Yandell's imitation, which was most wonderfully accurate.

³ Called "Fairoaks" by the Yankees.

SOURCE: Sir Arthur James Lyon Fremantle, Three Months in the Southern States: April-June, 1863, p. 121-4

Colonel Thomas Kilby Smith to Elizabeth Budd Smith, March 27, 1863

“young's Point,” La., March 27, 1863.

My Dear Wife:

On the 17th inst., ten days ago, my command, with the residue of General Sherman's old division, was suddenly ordered to reinforce Admiral Porter's fleet of gunboats, which had advanced up Steele's Bayou, with a view to an attack upon Yazoo City. The order came after midnight; and by daybreak we were embarked upon transports and under weigh, leaving our horses, transportation, and all impedimenta behind. The infantry accomplished all that was expected, but the Admiral was frustrated in his designs. To-night we are returned to our old camping ground and I am accepting General Grant's hospitality, and propose to stay on board the Magnolia, his headquarters.

SOURCE: Walter George Smith, Life and letters of Thomas Kilby Smith, p. 282-3

Brigadier-General Nathan Kimball to Lieutenant-Colonel John A. Rawlins, June 5, 1863

HEADQUARTERS KIMBALL'S PROVISIONAL DIVISION,

Satartia, Miss., June 5, 1863.

COLONEL: I find the enemy in force at Yazoo City. About 6 miles above here are 8.000, at Liverpool. The whole force on this (the Big Black) river is 20,000 infantry and cavalry and twenty-five guns. The force between the Yazoo and Black Rivers is under [W. H. T.] Walker. Johnston's headquarters are still at Canton, where he is massing troops; rumor says 60,000.

My cavalry penetrated to the Big Black River yesterday, and burned the ferries east of this place, but I find it impossible to go farther north on the Big Black as the enemy hold the country in force.

General Mower is occupying Mechanicsburg, and I am doing everything possible to obstruct an advance should one be made by the enemy. Should it be desired to hold this place in such a case, more force will be required and more artillery. Should I not be able to beat or repulse them, I shall hold to the very last.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

 NATHAN KIMBALL,

Brigadier-General, Commanding.

Lieut. Col. JOHN A. RAWLINS,

Assistant Adjutant-Genera1.

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. 387