Military history of Ulysses S. Grant : from April, 1861, to April, 1865

Front matter

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CORNELL

Preface

The fact tliat I became a member of General Grant's personal staff, before he assumed command of tlie armies of tbe United States, and tliat I have since remained with him, is the voucher that I offer for the correctness of this history. I have not meant to state one fact, unless it came under my own personal observation, or has been told me by the general of the army, or one of his important officers, or unless I know it from official papers. When I deviate from this rule, I make the deviation known.

The correspondence, telegraphic and written, of the headquarters of the armies, is accessible to me. I have also been allowed to examine all papers under the control of the War Department ; and, as many of the rebel archives are now in the possession of the government, I have seen the original reports made by the rebel generals, of every battle but two, which I have attempted to describe.

[y PEEFACE.

Those two are Corintli and luka, at neither of which General Grant was present in person. The original rebel field returns have also been closely examined by me. No statement of rebel movements or strength is made in this volume, unless taken from these sources ; or, if otherwise, the source is

named.

Generals Sherman, Sheridan, Ord, and Wilson, and the officers of General Grant's staff, as well as Admiral Porter, have afforded me much valuable information, and given me all the assistance in theii- power, that I have desired. The Honorable Edwin M. Stanton has also furnished me with information which I could not otherwise have obtained.

The present volume brings my narrative down to the period when General Grant was made Lieutenant-General, and assumed command of all the national armies. It refers to scenes and events, many of which I did not personally witness, as I first reported to him, in person, in February, 1864. His private as well as official correspondence, and daily conversation for years with himself and the officers who accompanied him in his earlier campaigns, are my principal authority. I have his permission now to make known whatever I have learned from these various sources.

My opinions, however, have not been submitted to General Grant. For them I alone am responsible. But, those opinions are based exclusively on the facts

PREFACE.

I have striven to avoid unnecessary personality, but the occasional danger of this fault has been ah insignificant consideration, when compared with the importance of historical truth. In matters of so much importance as those of which I write, there should be no secrecy, when the emergency which demanded secrecy is past .

The maps for this volume have been prepared tinder my own direction, and from official sources, I have endeavored to have them entirely accurate, and, on one map or another, to show the geographical position of every locality mentioned in the text. The positions of the troops have, without exception, been declared correct, by the general of the army. The maps of the campaign and of the siege of Vicksburg are simply reductions from those in the engineer bureau, the former by Lieutenant-Colonel Wilson, the latter by Major F. E. Prime, Captain C. B. Comstock, and Lieutenant-Colonel Wilson ; that of the battle of Chattanooga was made by General W. F. Smith, to accompany his report of engineer operations during the Chattanooga campaign ; those of Fort Henry and Fort Donelson were made by Colonel (afterwards Major-General) McPherson, who accompanied General Grant during those campaigns, as engineer. All the others were drawn under my own supervision. The map of the battle of Shiloh ' was made from a sketch drawn by Colonel McPherson, who was the only engineer officer on that field. It diflfers from the map in the engineer bureau, but is the only accurate map of Shiloh that I have seen. It has been corrected by both General Grant and General Sherman. When the scale of operations is too large to be illustrated on the map accompanying any particular chapter, the map of the theatre of war will be found useful by the careful reader.

Contents

Introduction,

Chapter I

Birth and parentage of Grant — His name — ^West Point — His army liie — The Mexican War — He marries — Leaves the army — Enters the leather trade — Galena — Grant drills a company — Takes it to Springfield — Organizes volunteer troops — ^Visits Cincinnati to ses McClellan — Becomes colonel of Twenty-first Illinois regiment — Marches it to Missouri — Is made brigadier-general of volimteers — Takes command of District of Southeast Missouri — Seizes Paducah — Sends a force to drive rebels into Arkansas — Makes a demonstration upon Belmont — Demonstration converted into an attack — ^Battle of Belmont — Grant's success — ^Enemy reenforced — Grant cuts his way out — Results of Belmont, ......... 7

Chapter II

Rebel strategic hue from Columbus to Bowling Green — Halleck in command of Department of the Missouri — Gunboats at the West — Demonstration in favor of Bucll — Smith reports capture of Fort Henry feasible — Grant visits St. Louis to suggest the operation — Movement against Port Henry sanctioned by Halleck — Attack by the fleet — Disposition of Grant's forces — Fall of Fort Henry — Grant prpposes capture of Fort Donelson — Halleck directs strengthening of Fort Henry — March to the Cumberland — Position and strength of Fort Donelson — The siege — Unsuccessful attack by the fleet — Assault by rebels on 15th of February — Counter-assault of national forces — Scene at Floyd's headquarters on night of 15th — Escape of Floyd and Pillow — Buckner proposes surrender — The capitulation — Buckner's headquarters — Halleck's dispatches after the victory — Results of capture of Fort Donelson, 22

Chapter III

Grant and Sherman — ^Beginning of their friendship — Grant goes to Nashville- Is relieved from command by Halleck — Smith placed in charge of expedition up the Tennessee — Grant supplies Smith from Fort Henry — Grant reinyjii COKTEKTS.

stated in cox^mand-Removes his headquarters to Savanna-Buell ordered to reenforce him-Buell's delay-Skirmishing at Pittsburg Landmg-Battle of Shiloh-Furious attack of rebels-National forces prepared-Grant arrires on the field-Sherman's line breaks -Sherman's skill and personal gallantry-Terrible fighting all over the field-National troops everywhere forced back-Grant's anxiety for Nelson and Lewis Wallace's support- Those commanders repeatedly ordered up, but do not arrive-Capture of Prentiss-Buell's arrival in person-His conversation with Grant-Last attack of rebels repulsed-Grant at Sherman's front-Situation at close of Sunday-Arrival of Buell's army in the night-Also of Lewis Wallace-Attack by Grant on Monday— Rebels everywhere repulsed— Grant leads a regiment-Rebels ask permission to bury their dead-Results of battle of Shiloh— Reflections, . - • • •

Chapter IV

Incorrect reports of battle of Shilgh-Halleck assumes command in the field — Disagi-eeable position of Grant— Siege of Corinth— Evacuation of Corinth by rebels— Ineffectual operations of Halleck— Halleck made general-in-chief— He offers command of Army of the Tennessee to Colonel Allen —Alien dechnes it— Grant then placed again in command — Military situation in September, 1862~Grant's force depleted— Enemy threatening— Price seizes luka— Grant's preparations to fight— Orders to Rosecrans and Ord— Battle of luka— Rosecrans neglects Grant's orders — Rebels escape in consequence—Grant's headquarters at Jackson — Rebels threaten Corinth — Strategy of Grant — Battle of Corinth — Rebels drive Rosecrans into Corinth — Final victory of Rosecrans — Enemy struck in flank by Ord — Rosecrans does not follow up his success, although repeatedly ordered by Grant to pursue — He finally obeys — ^Pursuit ineffectual — Return of Rosecrans — Results of luka and Corinth — Rosecrans reUeved and promoted — Relations of Grant with other officers — Reflections — Grant suggests movement against Vicksburg, ....... . .99

Chapter V

Military importance of Mississippi river — Grant proposes movement into interior, against Yicksburg — Campaign begun — McClemand endeavors to obtain command of an expedition against Vicksburg — Grant moves to Holly Springs — Enemy retreats — Rebels desert their fortifications on the Tallahatchie — Cooperative movement from Helena — Grant advances to Oxford — Sherman sent to Memphis — McClernand assigned to command of river expedition by the President — Sherman moves by river against Yicksburg — Grant's communications cut and Holly Springs captured — Grant lives off the country — Reopens his communications — Sherman's assault on Yicksburg — Repulse of Sherman — McClernand takes command of river expedition — Capture of Arkansas Post — Grant falls back to Memphis — Extraordinary behavior of Mc- Clernand— Grant takes command of T*iver expedition — Protest of McClernand, ......... 122

COITTENTS. IX

Chapter VI

Character of Mississippi valley — Position and strength of Vicksburg — Grant's force on taking command of expedition — Problem of the campaign — The Vicksburg canal — Continuous labor for months— Rise in river — Failure of canal — ^Lake Providence scheme — DiflSculties of this route — Abandonment of the plan — Alarm and subsequent derision of rebels — The Yazoo pass — Circuitous route — Obstructions by rebels — Pass finally cleared — Troops enter the pass — Rebel fort at Greenwood — Naval attack unsuccessful — Reenforcements ordered into the pass — Route found impracticable — Steele's bayou expedition— Remarkable natural difficulties — Sherman and Admiral Porter proceed to Deer creek — Porter gets into danger — Sherman rescues th6 fleet — Further and irremovable obstructions — Return of both expeditions to Milliken's bend — Concentration of Grant's forces — Impatience of the country and government — Efforts to remove Grant — Grant's new plan — Opposition of Sherman and other of Grant's subordinates — Grant inflexible — ^Movement of Thirteenth corps to New Carthage — Difficulties of route — Trouble with Mc- Clemand — Grierson's raid — Running of Vicksburg batteries — Cooperation of Admiral Porter — Attack on Grand Gulf — Failure to silence batteries — Further marches of troops — Running of batteries at Grand Gulf — Crossing of Mississippi river by Grant's advance — Demonstration by Sherman against Haine's bluff — Grant's confidence of success, . . . .156

Chapter VII

Preliminary orders for campaign — Passage of Mississippi river — Movement to high land — Battle-field of Port Gibson— McCIernand meets the enemy — Battle of Port Gibson — Grant comes on the field in person — Arrival of McPherson's command — Success on the right — McPherson's charge — Defeat of rebels — Pursuit until dark — Rebels retreat beyond Port Gibson — Pursuit to Big Black river — Bridges burnt by rebels and rebuilt by Grant — Evacuation of Grand Gulf — New plan of campaign — Reasons for change — Dispatches from Banks — New plan not divulged to Halleck — ^Efforts to bring up troops and supplies — Demonstrations towards Vicksburg — Instructions to Hurlbut — McPherson advances — Sherman arrives — Correspondence with Sherman — ^Army moves — Position of troops — Grant's habit in planning campaigns — Grant's force at outset of campaign — Headquarters ai Cayuga — More dispatches from Banks — ^Final dispatches to Halleck — McPherson ordered to Raymond — Battle of Raymond — Capture of Raymond — Enemy retreat to Jackson — Pemberton deceived by Grant's manoeuvres — Advance of Sherman and McPherson — Pursuit of rebels towards Jackson— Johnston's arrival at Jackson — Pemberton ordered to attack Grant's rear — McPherson arrives at Clinton — Battle of Jackson — Position of Mc- Pherson and Sherman — Charge of Crocker's division — Capture of Jackson- Retreat of Johnston towards Canton — Destruction of railroad and stores — Frustration of Johnston's plans— Pemberton again ordered to join Johnston — Grant intercepts Johnston's dispatches — Moves at once towards Bolton-^ Grant converges while rebels diverge — Pemberton moves to cut Grant's com-

X CONTENTS.

munications— Receives Johnston's orders and reverses Ms column— Battle-field of Champion's hiU— McClernand's advance— Grant's arrival— Hovey's attack— Battle of Champion's hill— Hovey's success— Enemy masses on Hovey— Grant reenforces Hovey— McClernand repeatedly ordered up, but does not arrive— McPherson outflanks the enemy— Rebels finally driven from the field— McClernand arrives Tvhen the battle is over— Reasons for McClernand's delay insufficient— Pursuit of the rebels—Rout of the enemy complete—Loring cut off— Losses on both sides— HiU of Death— Grant gets in advance of column— Johnston loses a day— Sherman ordered to Bridgeport with pontoon train— McClernand comes up with enemy at Black river bridga —Battle-field of Black river bridge— Gallant charge of Lawler— Demoralization of rebels — Firing of bridge— Capture of prisoners and cannon — Rapid reconstruction of bridges— Passage of Black river by entire army— Pursuit of the rebels to Vicksburg— Sherman strikes Walnut hills— Investment o^ Yicksburg- Evacuation of Haine's bluff— Results of campaign— Rebel movements during campaign — Reflections — Comparison with Italian campaign in nge, 203

Chapter VIII

Land defences of Vicksburg — Johnston orders Pemberton to evacuate — Pemberton determines to hold out — Position of Grant's army on 19th of May — Partial and unsuccessful assault — Rebels recover their spirit — National troops rested and supplies brought up — -Orders for a general assault on the 22d — Reasons for this assault — Mortar bombardment — ^Heavy cannonade on land front — Sherman assaults with Blair and Steele's divisions — Troops reach the parapet, but are repelled — Ransom's assault — Difficult nature of the ground — Failure of McPherson's attempt — McClernand's assault determined and gallant, but completely repelled — Distmguished bravery of individuals — Failure of assault all along the line — McClernand's dispatches — Grant's raphes— Renewal of the assault — Second failure — Grant's position during the assault — Renewed dispatches from McClernand — Reenforcements sent to McClernand — Death of Boomer — Results of the assault — Comparison with assaults in European wars, . . . . . . 296

Chapter IX

Preparations for the siege— Grant orders troops from Memphis — Halleck sends reenforcements from the East and West — Lack of siege material — Scarcity of engmeer officers— First ground broken 23d of May — ^Engineer operations — Ingenuity of officers and men— Enemy's defence— Sorties— Wood's approach—Loss of the Cincinnati— Tuttle's approach — Blair's approach — Ransom's approach— Logan's approach— A. J. Smith's approach — Carr's approach — Hovey's approach — Lauman's approach — Herron's approach — Menacing attitude of Johnston— Correspondence with Banks— Osterhaus sent to the Big, Black— Blair sent to the Yazoo— Mower and Kimball sent to Mechanicsburg— Attack on Milliken's bend— Arrival of Herron and Parke— Completion of investment— Fortification of Haine's bluff— Corps of observation— Line

COl^TENTS. XI

of countervallatiou — Pemberton prepares for escape — McClernand relieved — Condition of garrison — Sufferings of inhabitants — Mine of June 25th — Hardships of national troops — ^Persistency of Grant— Final assault fixed for July 6th — Pemberton proposes surrender — Terms of capitulation — Interview between commanders — Surrender of Vicksburg — Treatment of prisoners— ^Pemberton's headquarters — Garrison paroled and marched out of Vicksburg — Fall of Port Hudson — Opening of Mississippi river — Sherman sent against Johnston — Johnston retreats to Jackson — Sheiman besieges Jackson — Johnston evacuates — Destruction of railroads — Eeturn of Sherman — Results of entire campaign — Congratulations of the President and general-in-chief — Grant made major-general in regular army — Joy of the country — Dismay of rebels, . . . . . . .331

Chapter X

Grant recommends Sherman and McPherson for promotion — Characteristics of AmericSin soldiers — Army of the Tennessee — Organization of negro troops — Trade with the conquered regions — Grant urges movement against Mobile — Halleck disapproves — Grant's army broken up — Condition of troops— Feeling of citizens — Thirteenth corps sent to Banks — Grant visits New Orleans — Thrown from his horse — Reenforcements ordered to Rosecrans — ^A corps sent to Rosecrans — Grant ordered to Cairo — Meets the Secretary of War — Proceeds to Louisville — ^Placed in command of Military Division of the Mississippi, ......... 402

Chapter XI

Natural features of Chattanooga — Strategical importance — Relations to East Tennessee — Chickaraauga campaign — Defeat of Rosecrans — Retreat into Chattanooga — Abandonment of Lookout mountain — Investment of Chattanooga — Sufferings of Army of the Cumberland — Hooker sent west to support Rosecrans — Burnside's movement into East Tennessee— Difficulties of supply—Grant starts for Chattanooga — Directions to his three armies — ^Arrival at Chattanooga— Thomas's magnanimity — Lookout valley — Brown's ferry — Plan of operations to recover Lookout valley — Seizure of Brown's ferry — March of Hooker from Bridgeport — Battle of Wauhatchie — Repulse of rebels— 'Lookout valley secured — Communication reopened — Elation of soldiers —Still great difficulties in supply — Sherman's march from Memphis — Long lines of communication — Sherman's magnanimity — Grant hurries Sherman — Alarming situation of Burnside — ^Anxiety of government — Grant's calmness — Longstreet moves against Burnside — Grant's counter-plan — Dispatches of Grant to Halleck and Burnside — Thomas ordered to attack Bragg— Thomas not ready — Movement postponed till Sherman's arrival — Great anxiety about Burnside— Road from Nashville to Decatur opened — Supplies ordered to Burnside by Cumberland river — Difficulties of Sherman's route— Critical condition of Grant's armies — Extent of liis operations— Halleck siill anxious about Burnside — Grant impresses on Burnside necessity of holding out— xii CONTENTS.

Confidence of Burnside-Arrival of Sherman at Bridgeport-Reconnoissance by Grant, Sherman, and Thomas— Orders issued for battle of Chatta- •^ ' . 426

Chapter XII

Reconnoissances— Orders for battle of Chattanooga— Anxiety of government for Bumside— Difficulties and delays of Slierman- Battle-field of Chattanooga—Movement of Granger aod Palmer— Capture of Orchard knoll— Advance of Thomas's line— Preparations for bridging the Tennessee— Arrival of Sherman at North Chickamauga— Seizure of mouth of South Cbickamauga— Laying of pontoon bridge— Crossmg of Sherman's army— Arrival of Howard— Sherman moves on Missionary hills— Seizes first heights— Intrenches— Position of rebels on Lookout mountain — Position of Hooker — Difficulty of ascent— Seizure of base— Ascent of mountain— Battle on mountain—Capture of mountain — Thomas connects with Hooker — Grant's dispatches on night of 24th — Rebels evacuate Lookout point — Position of troops on 25th— Sherman's battle-ground— Sherman's assaults— Bragg rcenforces against Sherman — Weakening of rebel centre — Assault on rebel centre — Thomas's troops scale Missionary ridge- Rebel centre pierced — Missionary ridge carried — Rout of rebels — Large capture of men and guns — Hooker turns rebel left — Further captures — Rebel flight to Chickamauga — Sheridan's pursuit to Mission mills — Rebels withdraw from front of Sherman — Grant pushes out on 2Gth — Demoralization of rebels — Pursuit to Ringgold — Battle-field of Ringgold — Rebel resistance — Final retreat of rebels — Pursuit discontinued — Destruction of railroads and stores — Return of Thomas's command to Chattanooga — Sherman ordered to the Hiawassee — Summary of losses and gains — Character of battle of Chattanooga — Results, . 4*78

Chapter XIII

Knoxville still in danger — Granger sent to Burnside — Granger moves reluctantly — Sherman sent to Burnside — Sherman moves with vigor — Burnside falls back before Longstreet — Battle at Campbell's station — Retreat to Knoxville — Defences of Knoxville — Siege of Knoxville — Aid from loyal Tennesseans — Longstreet determines to assault — Strength and position of Fort Sanders — Assault of Fort Sanders — Repulse of Longstreet — Approach of Sherman — Raising of siege — Retreat of Longstreet — Burnside sends Sherman back to Hiawassee — Parke's pursuit of Longstreet — Burnside relieved by Foster — Results of entire campaign — Congratulations of President — Thanks of Congress— Miscalculation of Burnside — Battle of Bean's station — Success of Longstreet — Longstreet winters in Tennessee — Disappointment of Grant — — Grant proposes movement against Mobile — Bragg relieved by Hardee — Furloughing of veterans — Grant's visit to Knoxville — Impossibility of winter campaign — Germ of Meridian raid — Distribution of forces for winter — Sherman sent to Vicksburg — Grant's plan for ensuing pear — Mobile and At-

CONTENTS. Xlll

lanta objective and intermediate points — Sooy Smith's orders — Sherman's march from Vicksburg — Seizure of Meridian — Destruction of railroad — Failure of Smith to cooperate — Sherman returns to Vicksburg — Smith retreats to Memphis — Results of Meridian raid — Cooperation of Thomas — Johnston in command of rebel army — Movements in East Tennessee — Grant ordered to Washington, ........ 531

Chapter XIV

Military situation early in 1864 — ^Political situation — Need of one real head to the army — Grant made lieutenant-general — His predecessors in that grade — Action of the government — Grant's quiescence — Instructions to Sherman — Private correspondence between Grant and Sherman — Dispatches from Halleck — Journey to Washington — Arrival — ^Presentation of commission — Speeches of President and of Grant, ..... 665

LIST OF MAPS.

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TO TAOB PAGE

Theatee of "War, 1

DisTEioT OP Southeast Missouri, 11

Battle of Belmont, 16

Operations m Kentuokt and Tennessee, 23

Operations against Fort Henry, 28

Operations against Fort Donelson, 36

Battle of Sihloh, 73

"West Tennessee and Northern Mississippi, .... 101

Operations against Corinth and Iuka, 109

Operations against Yioksburg, 126

Campaign against Yioksburg, 156

Proposed Eoute from Lake Protidenoe to Red River, . .163

Operations in Yazoo Pass and Steele's Bayou, . . . 168

Battle of Champion's Hill 259

Siege of Yioksburg, 296

Campaign against Chattanooga, 426

Battle of Chattanooga, 434