to make some sort of a water passage to the rear of Vicksburg,
either above, via the Yazoo, or around through Louisiana to some point
below the city, whence the army could cross again to the Vicksburg side
of the Mississippi and strike Pemberton's stronghold from the southeast.
In most of these attempts Grant himself had little faith, but the army
was better at work than idle. At last he resolved, without attempting a
regular canal, partly by land but utilizing bayous and creeks as he
could, to swing his army across west of the river to New Carthage, south
of Vicksburg, run the Vicksburg batteries with the fleet, and, uniting
his land and water forces in the capture of Grand Gulf, to gain the rear
of Vicksburg by way of the Big Black River. It was a bold plan, but it
succeeded.

In April, by building corduroy roads through miles of swamp and bridging
numberless bayous, the general succeeded in reaching New Carthage, some
twenty miles south of Vicksburg, with a good part of his land forces. On
the night of April 16th, the gunboats and provision transports ran the
gauntlet of Vicksburg's guns with little damage. The last of the month a
landing was effected just below Grand Gulf, on the east bank, fifteen or
twenty miles still farther south of Vicksburg. The enemy made some
resistance, but were driven back.

Grant's position was now full of peril. He was in the heart of the
enemy's country. Pemberton was occupying Jackson and Vicksburg with
50,000 men. General Joseph E. Johnston was hurrying to his aid with
re-enforcements. Grant's forces available for an advance about equalled
Pemberton's. A bold policy was the only safe one. Taking five days'
rations, he cut loose from his base at Grand Gulf and marched north to
attack Pemberton before Johnston could join him. Jackson, forty-four
miles to the east of Vicksburg, was easily captured, May 14th. Grant had
thus thrust himself in between Johnston and Pemberton. Turning to the
left he smote Pemberton a heavy blow at Champion's Hill on the 16th, and
drove him into Vicksburg. Johnston fell back baffled. In eighteen days
Grant had marched 200 miles, defeated the enemy in four engagements,
inflicting a loss of 8,000 and taking 88 guns, and shut up a large army
in Vicksburg--all this upon five days' rations. It is a brilliant
record, equalled, if at all, only by some of Napoleon's campaigns.

[Illustration: Map.]
Operations in Louisiana. February to July, 1863.

The bold com