Department of Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, 2002: Report (to Accompany S. 1178)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1882 edition. Excerpt: ...McArthur's division of McPherson's corps was still up the river, one brigade being left at Lake Providence throughout the campaign, and the other two not coming up in time to be of service prior to the assaults at Vicksburg. Blair's division of Sherman's corps was also left behind to guard the roads from Milliken's Bend, but rejoined the army the day before the battle at Edwards' Station. After deducting these divisions, the force with which Grant began the campaign was about 41,000, and at no time prior to the siege had he over 45,000 available. These divisions in rear, however, being occupied in guarding his communications, it is proper that they should be counted as part of his effective strength. The numbers were therefore practically equal. The advantages of position were all on the side of the Confederates, they being in their own country, with which they were perfectly familiar, and which afforded admirable opportunities for defence, while the Union forces were entirely ignorant of the country, and were dependent for supplies upon seventy miles of wretched road, through overflowed lands, passing within a short distance of the Confederate position, and thus open to attack at all times. On the other hand, those who fought for the Union had an enormous advantage in their naval resources, which gave them unquestioned command of the river navigation, and without which the campaign never could have been prosecuted in the manner that it was prosecuted. At the time of the Battle of Port Gibson, the armies on both sides were scattered, one corps of Grant's army being at Milliken's Bend, seventy miles from Bruinsburg, and one-third of Pemberton's being at or near Jackson, forty-four miles by rail from Vicksburg. It was thus about an even...