ed-pilots, engineers, firemen, and deck-hands, in the greatest numbers offered themselves. From one regiment, known as the Lead Mine regiment, raised in my own section, no less than one hundred and sixteen men and sixteen commisioned officers volunteered for that dangerous yet glorious service. The consequence of all this was that resort was had to lot as to who should have the privilege of risking life in that unparal leled adventure. One noble boy from my own city, who had drawn the prize, was offered $100 in greenbacks for his chance, which he refused to take, but courageously held on and successfully passed not only the Vicksburg but the Grand Gulf batteries. What language can do justice to an army animated by such a spirit? What triumphs and what glories might not justly be expected from it?

The transports and gunboats below the batteries, the army reaches by land marches Perkins's plantation, twenty miles above, and Hard Times landing, nearly opposite Grand Gulf. It was supposed that Admiral Porter, who always seconded General Grant with a zeal equal to his courage and ability, could reduce the batteries at Grand Gulf, after which the troops were to be crossed over in the transports, and were to land and carry the place by assault. But after five hours and a half of the most desperate naval fighting ever seen upon this continent, the brave Porter drew off his shattered fleet, unable to effect a reduction of the principal battery. During all of this time the army had been waiting with intense impatience for the time to come when the guns of the batteries should be silenced and they could land, and great was the disappointment when it was known that the fleet had failed to reduce the works. It seemed then that all had miscarried, and that the expedition, on which so many hopes hung, would be a failure.

At that moment was seen in General Grant that greatest of all gifts of a military man the gift of deciding instantly amid the pressure of the greatest emergencies. I was with him when Porter reported his inability to reduce the batteries, and in an instant he made his new dispositions, and gave his orders. They were, to debark all his troops, and march them down three miles below Grand Gulf, "and," said he, "after nightfall I will run every transport I have below their batteries, and not one shall be injured.” And, sure enough, when it became dark, Porter again attacked the batteries with his fleet, and amid the din and clatter of the attack, the transports all safely passed Grand Gulf. And, sir, it was a noble sight as this grand army was about to bivouac at Disharoon landing, three miles below Grand Gulf, with their camp fires burning brightly on that soft April night, when these transports, one by one, escaping all

serious injury from the terrific tempest through which they had passed, rounded to, responding to eager inquiries, "All is well," and which was followed by such a shout as our brave and patriotic soldiers only can give.

Early the next morning this whole army was again embarked on board the gunboats and transports, bound down the Mississippi, for Cowes and a market," for some place where a landing could be made on solid ground on the Mississippi side. And that was a proud spectacle when the grim old iron-clad Benton, the flag-ship of Admiral Porter, on which was General Grant, led the way down the river, the entire fleet and the transports following. She landed at a dilapidated plantation called Bruinsburg, and General Grant was the first man to go ashore to seek information. He there met a loyal "American citizen of African descent," who gave him trustworthy information in regard to the country and the roads into the interior. Instantly the debarkation of the troops commenced, and the line of march taken up toward Port Gibson. Before two o'clock the next morning, May 1, 1863, the enemy was encountered, and the battle of Port Gibson, the first of the series resulting in the capture of Vicksburg, was fought during that whole day, ending finally in the complete rout of the enemy.

And that which must ever be regarded by the historian as the most extraordinary feature of this campaign, is the astounding fact that when General Grant landed in the State of Mississippi and made his campaign in the enemy's country, he had a smaller force than the enemy. There he was, in the enemy's country, cut off, in a measure, from his supplies, with a great river in his rear, and in one of the most defensible of countries, through which he had to pass. To his idomitable courage and energy, to his unparalleled celerity of movement, striking the enemy in detail, and beating him on every field, is the country indebted to those wonderful successes of that campaign which have not only challenged the gratitude and admiration of our own countrymen, but the admiration of the best military men of all nations. My colleague [Mr. Farnsworth] has well said that General Grant is no 'carpet knight." If gentlemen could know him as I know him, and as his soldiers know him, they would not be so reluctant about conferring this honor. If they could have seen him as I saw him on that expedition; if they could have witnessed his terrible earnestness, his devotion to his duty, his care, his vigilance, and his unchallenged courage, I think their opposition to this bill would give way.

When he left his head-quarters at "Smith's plantation," below Vicksburg, to enter on that great campaign, he did not take with him the

trappings and paraphernalia so common to many military men. As all depended on quickness of movement, and as it was important to be encumbered with as little baggage as possible, he set an example to all under him. He took with him neither a horse, nor an orderly, nor a servant, nor a camp chest, nor an overcoat, nor a blanket, nor even a clean shirt His entire baggage for six days-I was with him at that time-was a tooth brush. He fared like the commonest soldier in his command, partaking of his rations and sleeping upon the ground, with no covering excepting the canopy of heaven. How could such a soldier fail to inspire confidence in an army, and to lead it to victory and to glory? Confer upon him the rank contemplated by this bill, and you excite the enthusiasm of all your armies, and all your soldiers will be eager to follow his victorious banners!

But, gentlemen say, wait and confer this rank when the war is over. Sir, I want it conferred now, because it is my most solemn and earnest conviction that General Grant is the man upon whom we must depend to fight out this rebellion in the field, and bring this war to a speedy and triumphant close. It is said that he will have to leave his army if this rank is conferred upon him and come to Washington. Let me say to gentlemen that they need have no uneasiness upon that score. General Grant, if this appointment shall be conferred upon him, will never leave the field, but he will be with his army wherever his presence is most needed; he will be with his soldiers to lead them on in this gigantic struggle to preserve our God-given Government, in which he, in common with all loyal men, has so great an interest.

After a few brief remarks from other members, Mr. Ross's amendment was carried by 117 votes against 19. The bill so amended was finally passed and sent to the Senate for their action.

The Senate having confirmed the bill, so far as it revived the grade of Lieutenant-Generals, and the President having, on March 1st, approved the same, Major-General Ulysses S. Grant was nominated by President Lincoln for that high rank. On the 2d of March, 1864, the nomination was confirmed by the Senate in Executive Session, and he became the ranking officer of the United States Army.

CHAPTER LVII.

PREPARING FOR A NEW CAMPAIGN.

GENERAL GRANT had no sooner finished one campaign before he began making his plans for another still more brilliant. He forwarded to Washington his views of the way the war in the southwest should be conducted to insure the earliest and most complete suppression of the rebellion. What these views are in detail will be developed by time; but among other recommendations that of a concerted movement of all our armies under one policy, and, so far as practicable, under one direction, was the principal feature of General Grant's project.

In alluding to this plan, a correspondent at Chattanooga wrote as follows:

Assuming that it is true that General Grant has forwarded to Washington his plan—and whether he has or not can be ascertained by inquiry at the proper department-no one will question his title to do so, or the weight his recommendations should have. Standing before the country the first General in the field, with results proving his great abilities, almost marvellous, it is not to be supposed for an instant that his views will fail to excite the greatest interest. To suppose that they will not enter largely into the future conduct of the war is to imply a disposition to deny him the influence his great services entitle him to have, and a suspicion that the powers at Washington are inimical to the General, whom the country recognizes as not only having done most, but as best qualified to give counsel. It may, therefore, confidently be expected that the future movements of our armies and the policy that will prevail in the campaigns to follow, will be much in ac cordance with the suggestions of General Grant.

I do not pretend to speak from authority. If General Grant has not presented his views nothing will be heard of them at Washington. If he has, we may safely assume that no time will be lost in giving them that consideration to which the great eminence of the author entitles them.*

The Congress at Washington, however, gave evidence of their desire to forward General Grant's plans, and Senator Howe, of Wisconsin, offered the following joint resolution on the 7th of January, 1864, under the plea of releasing the prisoners within the rebel lines:

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives in Congress

assembled:

SEC. 1. That the President of the United States is hereby authorized and requested to call out and arm one million of volunteers to serve for the period of ninety days unless sooner discharged, and to be employed to carry food and freedom to every captive held in rebel prisons, and to plant the flag of the United States upon every prison they occupy.

SEC. 2. That the President be requested to assign Major-General Ulysses S. Grant to the command of the forces raised under this call, together with such of the forces now in the field as may be joined with them, and he is hereby authorized to detail for the subordinate commands in the forces to be raised under the authority of these resolutions, such officers or privates now in the field as he may deem best qualified therefor; or he may assign to such commands any person or persons who may volunteer under the same authority; provided, however, that any officer or private, now in the military service of the United States, who may be detailed to any such command by authority hereby, shall receive no additional pay for such substituted service; and no volunteer, under the same authority, who shall be detailed to any such command, shall receive more pay than the pay of a private.

In the mean time General Grant devoted his attention to the minor duties connected with his immediate depart

ment.

Many of the rebel troops finding that all hope for the establishment of a Southern Confederacy had passed away,

*New York Times, December, 1863.