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ce down the high ridge between the Big Black and Yazoo； and will expect to meet us on the Yazoo and receive from us the supplies which he needs； and which he knows we carry along。 Parts of this general plan are to cooperate with the naval squadron in the reduction of Vicksburg； to secure possession of the land lying between the Yazoo and Big Black； and to act in concert with General Grant against Pemberton's forces； supposed to have Jackson； Mississippi； as a point of concentration。 Vicksburg is doubtless very strongly fortified； both against the river and land approaches。 Already the gunboats have secured the Yazoo up for twenty…three miles； to a fort on the Yazoo at Haines's Bluff； giving us a choice for a landing…place at some point up the Yazoo below this fort； or on the island which lies between Vicksburg and the present mouth of the Yazoo。 （See map ＇b； c； d＇； Johnson's plantation。）
But； before any actual collision with the enemy； I purpose； after our whole land force is rendezvoused at Gaines's Landing； Arkansas； to proceed in order to Milliken's Bend （a）； and there dispatch a brigade； without wagons or any incumbrances whatever； to the Vicksburg & Shreveport Railroad （at h and k）； to destroy that effectually； and to cut off that fruitful avenue of supply； then to proceed to the mouth of the Yazoo； and； after possessing ourselves of the latest and most authentic information from naval officers now there； to land our whole force on the Mississippi side； and then to reach the point where the Vicksburg & Jackson Railroad crosses the Big Black （f）； after which to attack Vicksburg by land； while the gun…boats assail it by water。 It may be necessary （looking to Grant's approach）； before attacking Vicksburg； to reduce the battery at Haine's Bluff first； so as to enable some of the lighter gunboats and transports to ascend the Yazoo and communicate with General Grant。 The detailed manner of accomplishing all these results will be communicated in due season； and these general points are only made known at this time； that commanders may study the maps； and also that in the event of non…receipt of orders all may act in perfect concert by following the general movement； unless specially detached。
You all now have the same map； so that no mistakes or confusion need result from different names of localities。 All possible preparations as to wagons； provisions； axes； and intrenehing…tools； should be made in advance； so that when we do land there will be no want of them。 When we begin to act on shore； we must do the work quickly and effectually。 The gunboats under Admiral Porter will do their full share； and I feel every assurance that the army will not fall short in its work。
Division commanders may read this to regimental commanders； and furnish brigade commanders a copy。 They should also cause as many copies of the map to be made on the same scale as possible； being very careful in copying the names。
The points marked e and g （Allan's and Mount Albans） are evidently strategical points that will figure in our future operations； and these positions should be well studied。
I am； with great respect； your obedient servant；
W。 T。 SHERMAN； Major…General。
The Mississippi boats were admirably calculated for handling troops； horses； guns； stores； etc。； easy of embarkation and disembarkation； and supplies of all kinds were abundant； except fuel。 For this we had to rely on wood； but most of the wood…yards； so common on the river before the war； had been exhausted； so that we had to use fence…rails； old dead timber； the logs of houses； etc。 Having abundance of men and plenty of axes； each boat could daily procure a supply。
In proceeding down the river； one or more of Admiral Porter's gunboats took the lead； others were distributed throughout the column； and some brought up the rear。 We manoeuvred by divisions and brigades when in motion； and it was a magnificent sight as we thus steamed down the river。 What few inhabitants remained at the plantations on the river…bank were unfriendly； except the slaves； some few guerrilla…parties infested the banks； but did not dare to molest so； strong a force as I then commanded。
We reached Milliken's Bend on Christmas…day； when I detached one brigade （Burbridge's）； of A。 J。 Smith's division； to the southwest； to break up the railroad leading from Vicksburg toward Shreveport； Louisiana。 Leaving A。 J。 Smith's division there to await the return of Burbridge； the remaining three divisions proceeded； on the 26th； to the mouth of the Yazoo；。 and up that river to Johnson's plantation； thirteen miles； and there disembarked Steele's division above the mouth of Chickasaw Bayou； Morgans division near the house of Johnson （which had been burned by the gunboats on a former occasion）； and M。 L。 Smith's just below。 A。 J。 Smith's division arrived the next night； and disembarked below that of M。 L。 Smith。 The place of our disembarkation was in fact an island； separated from the high bluff known as Walnut Hills； on which the town of Vicksburg stands； by a broad and shallow bayou…evidently an old channel of the Yazoo。 On our right was another wide bayou； known as Old River； and on the left still another； much narrower； but too deep to be forded； known as Chickasaw Bayou。 All the island was densely wooded； except Johnson's plantation； immediately on the bank of the Yazoo； and a series of old cotton…fields along Chickasaw Bayou。 There was a road from Johnson's plantation directly to Vicksburg； but it crossed numerous bayous and deep swamps by bridges； which had been destroyed； and this road debouched on level ground at the foot of the Vicksburg bluff； opposite strong forts； well prepared and defended by heavy artillery。 On this road I directed General A。 J。 Smith's division； not so much by way of a direct attack as a diversion and threat。
Morgan was to move to his left； to reach Chickasaw Bayou； and to follow it toward the bluff； about four miles above A。 J。 Smith。 Steele was on Morgan's left； across Chickasaw Bayou； and M。 L。 Smith on Morgan's right。 We met light resistance at all points； but skirmished； on the 27th； up to the main bayou； that separated our position from the bluffs of Vicksburg； which were found to be strong by nature and by art； and seemingly well defended。 On reconnoitring the front in person； during the 27th and 28th； I became satisfied that General A。 J。 Smith could not cross the intervening obstacles under the heavy fire of the forts immediately in his front； and that the main bayou was impassable； except at two pointsone near the head of Chickasaw Bayou； in front of Morgan； and the other about a mile lower down； in front of M。 L。 Smith's division。
During the general reconnoissance of the 28th General Morgan L。 Smith received a severe and dangerous wound in his hip； which completely disabled him and compelled him to go to his steamboat； leaving the command of his division to Brigadier。 General D。 Stuart； but I drew a part of General A。 J。 Smith's division； and that general himself； to the point selected for passing the bayou； and committed that special task to his management。
General Steele reported that it was physically impossible to reach the