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The losses were nearly all in General Sherman's wing of the army。 The loss in the fleet amounted to little； but their service was very valuable； and deserved great credit； though they received little。 There was a good deal of sympathy between our part of the forces and the fleet people； and I then thought； and still think； if we had been on the left next the river； that in connection with the tremendous fire from the navy； we could have carried the work in an hour after we opened on it。 Their missiles traversed the whole fortification； clear through to the hospitals at the upper end； and I stood five minutes in rifle…range of the fort next the rivernot hit； and but seldom shot at； and no one hit near me。
On the 18th we embarked； in a snow…storm； collected at Napoleon； which seemed to be washing away； and steamed to Milliken's Bend； were we arrived on January 21st； and soon after went to Young's plantation； near Vicksburg。
The above statement from General Hammond was received by General Sherman； inclosed in a letter dated 〃Chicago； February 5； 1876〃 and signed 〃John H。 Hammond； who was adjutant…general to General Sherman during the winter of 1862…'83。
J。 E。 TOURTELLOTTE
CINCINNATI； February 3； 1876
MY DEAR GENERAL： At Arkansas Post the troops debarked from steamer January 9th； from one o'clock to dark； in the vicinity of Notrib's farm； and on the 10th moved out to get position； Steele to the right； crossing the low ground to the north； to got a higher ground； avoid crowding the moving columns； and gain the left （our right） and rear of the 〃post；〃 and the river…bank above the post。 Stuart took the river…road the movement commencing at 11 o'clock a。m。。 After crossing the low ground covered with water； you were called back with Steele； as Stuart had driven out the enemy's rifle…trench pickets； this giving more and feasible room for moving。 Stuart was pushed forward； and by dark he and Steele were well up to their expected positions。 Before daylight on the 11th you directed me to accompany you for a personal inspection of the ground to your front； which we made on foot； going so far forward that we could easily hear the enemy at work and moving about。 Discovering the open fields； you at once directed Steele to move to the right and front； and pushed Stuart out so as to fully command them and the field…work of the enemy extending from the fort； to prevent farther strengthening； as it was evident these works were the product of a recent thought。 Stuart and Steele were prompt in taking position； but Morgan's command （not under your control） did not seem to work up； or keep in junction with yon。 At ten o'clock you sent me to McClernand to ascertain why the delay of attack。 He attributed it to Admiral Porter； which was really unjust。 The attack began at 1 p。m。； by Admiral Porter； and the sound of his first gun had not died till your men were engagedWood's； Barrett's； and the Parrott batteries and infantry。 It was lively for a time； and Stuart pushed clear up to the enemy's rifle… trenches； and forced them to keep sheltered。 Hammond was mostly with Steele； Sanger sent to McClernand； and McCoy； myself； and John Taylor were with you and Stuart。 At about half…past three I got your permission to go to Giles Smith's skirmish…line； and； thinking I saw evidence of the enemy weakening； I hurried back to you and reported my observations。 I was so confident that a demand for it would bring a surrender； that I asked permission to make it； and； as you granted me； but refused to let another member of your staff； at his request； go with me； I rode directly down the road with only an orderly。 Colonel Garland； commanding a brigade； was the first officer I saw； to whom； for you； I made the demand。 All firing ceased at once； or in a few moments。 I sent the orderly back to you； and you rode forward。 It was then four o'clock。
During the attack； nobody seemed to think McClernand had any clear idea of what or how it was to be done。 During the day he gave you no directions； nor came where you were； he was well to the rear； with his 〃man up a tree；〃 who in the capacity of a lookout gave McClernand information； from which he based such instructions as he made to his subordinates。 He was free to express himself as being a man of 〃destiny；〃 and his 〃star〃 was in the ascendance。 I am； etc。；
L。 M。 DAYTON； late Colonel of the Staff； now of Cincinnati； Ohio。
General W。 T。 SHERMAN。
MERIDIAN CAMPAIGN。
＇Special Field Orders； No。 11。＇
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE MEMPHIS； January 27； 1864
V。 The expedition is one of celerity； and all things must tend to that。 Corps commanders and staff…officers will see that our movements are not encumbered by wheeled vehicles improperly loaded。 Not a tent； from the commander…in…chief down； will be carried。 The sick will be left behind； and the surgeons can find houses and sheds for all hospital purposes。
VI。 All the cavalry in this department is placed under the orders and command of Brigadier…General W。 S。 Smith； who will receive special instructions。
By order of Major…General W。 T。 SHERMAN
L。 M。 DAYTON； Aide…de…Camp。
NOTE。…That same evening I started in a steamboat for Vicksburg。 W。 T。 S。 St。 Louis； 1885。
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE MEMPHIS； January 27； 1864
Brigadier…General W。 S。 SMITH； commanding Cavalry； etc。； present。
DEAR GENERAL： By an order issued this day I have placed all the cavalry of this department subject to your command。 I estimate you can make a force of full seven thousand men； which I believe to be superior and better in all respects than the combined cavalry which the enemy has in all the State of Mississippi。 I will in person start for Vicksburg to…day； and with four divisions of infantry； artillery； and cavalry move out for Jackson； Brandon； and Meridian； aiming to reach the latter place by February 10th。 General Banks will feign on Pascagoula and General Logan on Rome。 I want you with your cavalry to move from Colliersville on Pontotoc and Okolona； thence sweeping down near the Mobile & Ohio Railroad； disable that road as much as possible； consume or destroy the resources of the enemy along that road； break up the connection with Columbus； Mississippi； and finally reach me at or near Meridian as near the date I have mentioned as possible。 This will call for great energy of action on your part； but I believe you are equal to it； and you have the best and most experienced troops in the service； and they will do anything that is possible。 General Grierson is with you； and is familiar with the whole country。 I will send up from Haines's Bluff an expedition of gunboats and transports combined； to feel up the Yazoo as far as the present water will permit。 This will disconcert the enemy。 My movement on Jackson will also divide the enemy； so that by no combination can he reach you with but a part of his force。 I wish you to attack any force of cavalry you meet and follow them southward； but in no event be drawn into the forks of the streams that make up the Yazoo nor over into Alabama。 Do not let the enemy draw you into minor affairs； but look solely to the greater object to destroy