Situation April 30th. ON the 30th of April, Grant has about 97,000 officers1 and men present for duty; of whom 51,000 are operating against Vicksburg and Grand Gulf, 5000 at Helena, 33,000 between Memphis and Corinth, and the rest in western Kentucky and Tennessee. Of 35,000 in Louisiana, Banks thinks he can spare 15,000 to operate against Port Hudson, or to help Grant in his campaign against Pemberton. Pemberton has about 51,000;2 13,000 at Vicksburg, 4000 between the city and Haynes's Bluff, 9000 between Vicksburg and Port Gibson, 5000 at Jackson, 10,000 scattered through the State of Mississippi, and 11,000 at Port Hudson in Louisiana. Upon the whole, the proportion of strength on land is about as two to one in Grant's favor, but on the water the Federal navy is supreme, and under its protection Grant's supplies can be brought on the Mississippi from Memphis to Young's Point, or up the Yazoo as far as Haynes's Bluff, and from the western bank below Vicksburg to Grand Gulf, or any point in that neighborhood. In this way, his base line is trans 38 R., 249. For organization, see pp. 317, 296, 273. 238 R., 702, etc. The numbers for the Confederates are approximate only; they are taken from a comparison of all the records; the last report given was for March 31st. See Map, p. 243. ferred to the heart of his enemy's country. He has a fair knowledge of his enemy's strength, and has nothing to fear for the safety of the men who have crossed. Pemberton has failed to oppose their landing, and now can hardly assemble a large enough force to attack them. On the other hand, they have not yet reached the bluffs, and if Pemberton can hold them in check until his forces are assembled, he may perhaps detain them until his reinforcements come up from Mobile and Tennessee. Once in possession of the bluffs, Grant can reasonably expect to hold out until the rest of his troops cross the river. He can take Grand Gulf; and estabComment. lish a base there, supplying it by wagons over the road from Millikens Bend, and by such craft as can from time to time run by the batteries at Vicksburg and come down the Mississippi. He proposes to detach an army corps to Banks at Port Hudson, which cannot then hold out very long. When it falls, the lower Mississippi will be open, Grand Gulf will be supplied from New Orleans, Banks will return Grant's corps with 15,000 men from his own command, and Grant will then advance along the line of the Big Black River and attack either Jackson or Vicksburg. No time must be lost.' Grant deems it a matter of vast importance that the highlands shall be reached without resistance.2 McClernand Two roads led from Bruinsburg to Port Gibson. The northern followed the left bank of Bayou Pierre, and the southern branched off to the right and Bowen and entered the road leading from Rodney move on at a point about three miles west of Port Port Gibson. Gibson and about two miles south of the north road. About four miles west of Port Gibson, '36 R., 48. 2 See Map, p. 273. the north and south roads, which were here a mile and a half apart, were connected by a cross-road. On the 30th of April, Bowen, in command at Grand Gulf, sent out about 500 men' to occupy those roads." During the night, Green's3 brigade was put in position on the south road and Tracy's, which came up by a forced march from Warrenton, on the cross-road. McClernand's corps, XIII, landed at noon of the 30th, and after drawing three days' rations to put in their haversacks, at 4 P.M., were started on the south road to Port Gibson. McPherson's corps, XVII, followed as rapidly as they could cross the river. About I A.M., of the Ist of May, the Confederate pickets were driven back. Soon after sunrise, McClernand sent Osterhaus's division to attack the enemy's right; and Carr's and Hovey's, supported by A. J. Smith's, to attack their left. The ground in this region is very irregular; cut up by deep ravines that have been hollowed out by the |