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Seventh。 The chief reason for operating solely by water was the season of the year and high water in the Tallahatchie and Yalabusha Rivers。 The spring is now here； and soon these streams will be no serious obstacle； save in the ambuscades of the forest； and whatever works the enemy may have erected at or near Grenada。 North Mississippi is too valuable for us to allow the enemy to hold it and make crops this year。
I make these suggestions； with the request that General Grant will read them and give them； as I know he will； a share of his thoughts。 I would prefer that he should not answer this letter； but merely give it as much or as little weight as it deserves。 Whatever plan of action he may adopt will receive from me the same zealous cooperation and energetic support as though conceived by myself。 I do not believe General Banks will make any serious attack on Port Hudson this spring。 I am； etc。；
W。 T。 SHERMAN； Major…General。
This is the letter which some critics have styled a 〃protest。〃 We never had a council of war at any time during the Vicksburg campaign。 We often met casually； regardless of rank or power； and talked and gossiped of things in general； as officers do and should。 But my letter speaks for itselfit shows my opinions clearly at that stage of the game； and was meant partially to induce General Grant to call on General McClernand for a similar expression of opinion； but； so far as I know； he did not。 He went on quietly to work out his own designs； and he has told me； since the war； that had we possessed in December； 1862； the experience of marching and maintaining armies without a regular base； which we afterward acquired； he would have gone on from Oxford as first contemplated； and would not have turned back because of the destruction of his depot at Holly Springs by Van Dorn。 The distance from Oxford to the rear of Vicksburg is little greater than by the circuitous route we afterward followed； from Bruinsburg to Jackson and Vicksburg； during which we had neither depot nor train of supplies。 I have never criticised General Grant's strategy on this or any other occasion； but I thought then that he had lost an opportunity； which cost him and us six months' extra… hard work； for we might have captured Vicksburg from the direction of Oxford in January； quite as easily as was afterward done in July； 1863。
General Grant's orders for the general movement past Vicksburg； by Richmond and Carthage； were dated April 20； 1863。 McClernand was to lead off with his corps； McPherson next； and my corps （the Fifteenth） to bring up the rear。 Preliminary thereto； on the night of April 16th； seven iron…clads led by Admiral Porter in person； in the Benton； with three transports； and ten barges in tow； ran the Vicksburg batteries by night。 Anticipating a scene； I had four yawl…boats hauled across the swamp； to the reach of the river below Vicksburg； and manned them with soldiers； ready to pick up any of the disabled wrecks as they floated by。 I was out in the stream when the fleet passed Vicksburg； and the scene was truly sublime。 As soon as the rebel gunners detected the Benton； which was in the lead； they opened on her； and on the others in succession； with shot and shell； houses on the Vicksburg side and on the opposite shore were set on fire； which lighted up the whole river； and the roar of cannon； the bursting of shells； and finally the burning of the Henry Clay； drifting with the current； made up a picture of the terrible not often seen。 Each gunboat returned the fire as she passed the town； while the transports hugged the opposite shore。 When the Benton had got abreast of us； I pulled off to her； boarded； had a few words with Admiral Porter； and as she was drifting rapidly toward the lower batteries at Warrenton； I left； and pulled back toward the shore； meeting the gunboat Tuscumbia towing the transport Forest Queen into the bank out of the range of fire。 The Forest Queen； Captain Conway； had been my flag…boat up the Arkansas； and for some time after； and I was very friendly with her officers。 This was the only transport whose captain would not receive volunteers as a crew； but her own officers and crew stuck to their boat； and carried her safely below the Vicksburg batteries； and afterward rendered splendid service in ferrying troops across the river at Grand Gulf and Bruinsburg。 In passing Vicksburg； she was damaged in the hull and had a steam…pipe cut away； but this was soon repaired。 The Henry Clay was set on fire by bursting shells； and burned up； one of my yawls picked up her pilot floating on a piece of wreck； and the bulk of her crew escaped in their own yawl…boat to the shore above。 The Silver Wave； Captain McMillan； the same that was with us up Steele's Bayou； passed safely； and she also rendered good service afterward。
Subsequently； on the night of April 26th； six other transports with numerous barges loaded with hay； corn； freight； and provisions； were drifted past Vicksburg； of these the Tigress was hit； and sunk just as she reached the river…bank below； on our side： I was there with my yawls； and saw Colonel Lagow； of General Grant's staff； who had passed the batteries in the Tigress； and I think he was satisfied never to attempt such a thing again。 Thus General Grant's army had below Vicksburg an abundance of stores； and boats with which to cross the river。 The road by which the troops marched was very bad； and it was not until the 1st of May that it was clear for my corps。 While waiting my turn to march； I received a letter from General Grant； written at Carthage； saying that he proposed to cross over and attack Grand Gulf； about the end of April； and he thought I could put in my time usefully by making a 〃feint〃 on Haines's Bluff； but he did not like to order me to do it； because it might be reported at the North that I had again been 〃repulsed； etc。〃 Thus we had to fight a senseless clamor at the North； as well as a determined foe and the obstacles of Nature。 Of course； I answered him that I would make the 〃feint；〃 regardless of public clamor at a distance； and I did make it most effectually； using all the old boats I could get about Milliken's Bend and the mouth of the Yazoo； but taking only ten small regiments； selected out of Blair's division； to make a show of force。 We afterward learned that General Pemberton in Vicksburg had previously dispatched a large force to the assistance of General Bowers； at Grand Gulf and Port Gibson； which force had proceeded as far as Hankinson's Ferry； when he discovered our ostentatious movement up the Yazoo； recalled his men； and sent them up to Haines's Bluff to meet us。 This detachment of rebel troops must have marched nearly sixty miles without rest； for afterward； on reaching Vicksburg； I heard that the men were perfectly exhausted； and lay along the road in groups； completely fagged out。 This diversion； made with so much pomp and display； therefore completely fulfilled its purpose； by leaving General Grant to contend with a minor force； on landing at Bruinsburg； and afterward at Port Gibson and Grand Gulf。
In May the waters of the Mississippi had so far subsided that all our canals were useless； and the roads had become