two places, I determined not to march them back, but taking a
small escort of cavalry, some fifteen or twenty men, I went to
the gulf myself, and made the necessary arrangements for changing
my base of supplies from Bruinsburg to Grand Gulf.

In moving from Milliken's Bend, the fifteenth army corps,
Major-General W. T. Sherman commanding, was left to be the last
to start. To prevent heavy re-enforcements going from Vicksburg
to the assistance of the Grand Gulf forces, I directed Sherman to
make a demonstration on Haines's Bluff, and to make all the
_show_ possible. From the information since received from
prisoners captured this ruse succeeded admirably.

It had been my intention, up to the time of crossing the
Mississippi river, to collect all my forces at Grand Gulf, and
get on hand a good supply of provisions and ordnance stores
before moving, and in the meantime to detach an army corps to
co-operate with General Banks on Port Hudson and effect a
junction of our forces.

About this time I received a letter from General Banks giving his
position west of the Mississippi river, and stating that he could
return to Baton Rouge by the 10th of May; that by the reduction
of Port Hudson he could join me with 12,000 men.

I learned about the same time that troops were expected at
Jackson from the southern cities with General Beauregard in
command. To delay until the 10th of May, and for the reduction of
Port Hudson after that, the accession of 12,000 men would not
leave me relatively so strong as to move promptly with what I
had. Information received from day to day of the movements of the
enemy also impelled me to the course pursued. Whilst lying at
Hawkinson's Ferry waiting for wagons, supplies, and Sherman's
corps, which had come forward in the mean time, demonstrations
were made, successfully, I believe, to induce the enemy to think
that route and the one by Hall's Ferry above were objects of much
solicitude to me. Reconnoissances were made to the west side of
the Big Black to within six miles of Warrenton. On the 7th of May
an advance was ordered, McPherson's corps keeping the road
nearest Black river to Rocky Springs, McClernand's corps keeping
the Ridge road, with his corps divided on the two roads. All the
ferries were closely gua