Our move to Memphis was the beginning, upon entirely new lines, of a second campaign for the capture of Vicksburg.
Joseph Sheaff
CHAPTER VI.
The Final Vicksburg Campaign—Situation at and Around Vicksburg— Memphis—Lake Providence—Digging Canal—Cutting Levee—Running Batteries—March Through Swamps—Grand-Gulf—Feint by Sherman— Battle of Port Gibson—Death of McCorcle—Battles of Raymond and Jackson—Champion Hill—Casler and His "Base of Supplies"—Battle of Black River Bridge—Investment of Vicksburg—Grant—The Silent—The Invincible.
"Count me o'er earth's chosen heroes
They were men that stood alone."
The capture of the forts upon the Tennessee and Cumberland rivers, together with the Corinth campaign, were merely preliminary to the opening of the Mississippi by the capture of Vicksburg, its chief stronghold. But it was necessary for our forces to get in the rear of that place in order to attack it. To proceed southwardly from Corinth necessitated the holding of long lines of railway and the scattering of our men to such an extent as to render such a campaign hazardous, prolonged and uncertain with the forces then available. The first Vicksburg campaign which, among other things, included an attempt by General Sherman to reach the coveted position by way of the Yazoo River, was, therefore, abandoned with a view of using the Mississippi itself as a means by which to pass below and approach it from the rear. The latter plan possessed important advantages but was a hazardous undertaking and because of the apparently insuperable difficulties involved, seemed almost chimerical. Vicksburg stood upon a high bluff, the base of which was washed by the river. A frontal attack was not to be contemplated. The problem then was, either to find or make a channel for gunboats and transports through the lakes, bayous and swamps west of Vicksburg to some point below where a successful landing could be made and maintained or to run the batteries directly with the gunboats and transports, so as to have both below for the use of the army when a feasible way could be found for moving the latter.
