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of the Mississippi； by virtue of a confidential order of the War Department； dated October 21； 1862； which order bore the indorsement of President Lincoln； General Grant still exercised a command over him； by reason of his general command of the Department of the Tennessee。 By an order （No。 210） of December 18； 1862； from the War Department； received at Arkansas Post； the Western armies had been grouped into five corps d'armee； viz。： the Thirteenth； Major…General MeClernand； the Fourteenth； Major…General George H。 Thomas； in Middle Tennessee； the Fifteenth； Major…General W。 T。 Sherman； the Sixteenth； Major…General Hurlbut； then at or near Memphis； and the Seventeenth； Major…General McPherson； also at and back of Memphis。 General Grant when at Napoleon； on the 18th of January； ordered MeClernand with his own and my corps to return to Vicksburg； to disembark on the west bank； and to resume work on a canal across the peninsula； which had been begun by General Thomas Williams the summer before； the object being to turn the Mississippi River at that point； or at least to make a passage for our fleet of gunboats and transports across the peninsula； opposite Vicksburg。 General Grant then returned to Memphis； ordered to Lake Providence； about sixty miles above us； McPherson's corps； the Seventeenth； and then came down again to give his personal supervison to the whole movement。
The Mississippi River was very high and rising； and we began that system of canals on which we expended so much hard work fruitlessly： first； the canal at Young's plantation； opposite Vicksburg； second； that at Lake Providence； and third； at the Yazoo Pass； leading into the head…waters of the Yazoo River。 Early in February the gunboats Indianola and Queen of the Pest ran the batteries of Vicksburg。 The latter was afterward crippled in Red River； and was captured by the rebels； and the Indianola was butted and sunk about forty miles below Vicksburg。 We heard the booming of the guns； but did not know of her loss till some days after。 During the months of January and February； we were digging the canal and fighting off the water of the Mississippi； which continued to rise and threatened to drown us。 We had no sure place of refuge except the narrow levee； and such steamboats as remained abreast of our camps。 My two divisions furnished alternately a detail of five hundred men a day； to work on the canal。 So high was the water in the beginning of March； that MeClernand's corps was moved to higher ground； at Milliken's Bend； but I remained at Young's plantation； laid off a due proportion of the levee for each subdivision of my command； and assigned other parts to such steamboats as lay at the levee。 My own headquarters were in Mrs。 Grove's house； which had the water all around it； and could only be reached by a plank…walk from the levee； built on posts。 General Frederick Steele commanded the first division； and General D。 Smart the second； this latter division had been reenforced by General Hugh Ewing's brigade； which had arrived from West Virginia。
At the time of its date I received the following note from General Grant：
MILLIKEN'S BEND； March 16； 1863
General SHERMAN。
DEAR SIR： I have just returned from a reconnoissance up Steele's Bayou； with the admiral （Porter）； and five of his gunboats。 With some labor in cutting tree…tops out of the way； it will be navigable for any class of steamers。
I want you to have your pioneer corps； or one regiment of good men for such work； detailed； and at the landing as soon as possible。
The party will want to take with them their rations； arms； and sufficient camp and garrison equipage for a few days。 I will have a boat at any place you may designate； as early as the men can be there。 The Eighth Missouri （being many of them boatmen） would be excellent men for this purpose。
As soon as you give directions for these men to be in readiness； come up and see me； and I will explain fully。 The tug that takes this is instructed to wait for you。 A full supply of axes will be required。
Very respectfully；
U。 S。 GRANT； Major…General。
This letter was instantly （8 a。m。） sent to Colonel Giles A。 Smith； commanding the Eighth Missouri； with orders to prepare immediately。 He returned it at 9。15； with an answer that the regiment was all ready。 I went up to Milliken's Bend in the tug； and had a conference with the general； resulting in these orders：
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE BEFORE VICKSBURG； March 16； 1863
Major…General W。 T。 SHERMAN； commanding Fifteenth Army Corps。
GENERAL： You will proceed as early as practicable up Steele's Bayou； and through Black Bayou to Deer Creek； and thence with the gunboats now there by any route they may take to get into the Yazoo River； for the purpose of determining the feasibility of getting an army through that route to the east bank of that river； and at a point from which they can act advantageously against Vicksburg。
Make such details from your army corps as may be required to clear out the channel of the various bayous through which transports would have to ran； and to hold such points as in your judgment should be occupied。
I place at your disposal to…day the steamers Diligent and Silver Wave； the only two suitable for the present navigation of this route。 Others will be supplied you as fast as required； and they can be got。
I have given directions （and you may repeat them） that the party going on board the steamer Diligent push on until they reach Black Bayou； only stopping sufficiently long at any point before reaching there to remove such obstructions as prevent their own progress。 Captain Kossak； of the Engineers； will go with this party。 The other boat…load will commence their work in Steele's Bayou； and make the navigation as free as possible all the way through。
There is but little work to be done in Steele's Bayou； except for about five miles abort midway of the bayou。 In this portion many overhanging trees will have to be removed； and should be dragged out of the channel。
Very respectfully；
U。 S。 GRANT； Major…General。
On returning to my camp at Young's Point； I started these two boats up the Yazoo and Steele's Bayou； with the Eighth Missouri and some pioneers； with axes； saws； and all the tools necessary。 I gave orders for a part of Stuart's division to proceed in the large boats up the Mississippi River to a point at Gwin's plantation； where a bend of Steele's Bayou neared the main river； and the next day； with one or two stag…officers and orderlies； got a navy…tug； and hurried up to overtake Admiral Porter。 About sixty miles up Steele's Bayou we came to the gunboat Price； Lieutenant Woodworth； United States Navy； commanding； and then turned into Black Bayou； a narrow； crooked channel； obstructed by overhanging oaks； and filled with cypress and cotton…wood trees。 The gunboats had forced their way through； pushing aside trees a foot in diameter。 In about four miles we overtook the gunboat fleet just as it was emerging into Deer Creek。 Along Deer Creek the alluvium was higher； and there was a large cotton…plantation belonging to a Mr。 Hill； who was absent； and the negroes were in charge of the place。 Here