Major-General Ulysses S. Grant too Brigadier-General Elias S. Dennis, June 11, 1863

NEAR VICKSBURG, MISS., June 11, 1863.

Brig. Gen. E. S. DENNIS

        Commanding District of Northeastern Louisiana:

In view of present danger of attack upon your command, it is advisable that every precaution should be taken to hold all government stores, and the troops at least secure from capture. If the government farms can be held, they should be held also, but not at the expense of sacrificing government troops and stores first, and the plantations afterwards in detail. Not being on the ground myself, I cannot say exactly how your troops should be located. A general direction, I would say occupy and fortify three points. One of these should be Lake Providence and one Millikens Bend. At Lake Providence direct Gen’l Reid to fortify close to the river, where he can protect his troops and public stores, at least until he can notify you of his necessities for more troops. All the Black troops should be got as much to themselves as possible, and required to fortify. Millikens Bend will be the proper place for them. You want to keep Youngs Point and the road across the point perfectly protected. This can be done with a very small force, the distance across being short, and Gun boats at both ends of the road. Gen'l Mowers Brigade was sent to you merely for an emergency. As soon as the emergency ceases, I want them returned to their Division. With the Cavalry you have, the mounted men Gen'l Reid has, and by mounting part of one negro Regiment, they can scout out every road from Lake Providence to Youngs Point so as to keep you advised of the approach of any force in time to prepare for them. Have you learned what has become of the force that attacked you a few days since? They should not be allowed to remain about Richmond.

U. S. GRANT.

SOURCES: John Y. Simon, Editor, The Papers of Ulysses S. Grant, Volume 8, p. 353-4; 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. 403-4

Major-General Ulysses S. Grant too Brigadier-General Elias S. Dennis, June 15, 1863

NEAR VICKSBURG, Miss., June 15, 1863.

Brig. Gen. E. S. DENNIS, Comdg. Dist. Northeast Louisiana:

My letter to you was not intended as an order, but simply advisory on my part, as to the points you should garrison.

In speaking of fortifying three points, Young's Point was not included. I merely spoke of that, as a point that must be held for military purposes. There being always transient troops passing, and gunboats on both sides of the point, no troops are necessary there, except as a guard for public property. The three points, then, to be fortified are from Milliken's Bend to Lake Providence.

It seems to me Lake Providence, Milliken's Bend, and an intermediate point, should be the places to fortify. You, however, as commander of the district, must exercise your own judgment as to where troops should be stationed, and how used.

I repeat what was before given as instructions: public property must be protected first; after that, all the protection you can give to plantations leased by Government must be given.

Negro troops should be kept aloof from white troops, especially in their camps, as much as possible. Wherever the movements of the enemy require a concentration of your forces, bring them together without regard to color.

U.S. GRANT.

SOURCES: John Y. Simon, Editor, The Papers of Ulysses S. Grant, Volume 8, p. 374-5; 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. 411-2