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Udisturbed by his great troubles, he was not puffed up by the great success, but was ready for new labors, and, if God should send them, final successes.

"It is no injustice to others to say that his chief supporters were Sherman, McPherson and Logan. Sherman, like Grant, has achieved -"ch universal reputation, that we need not pause to eulogize him. McPherson here exhibited to the public those qualities which Grant had long known him to possess, and which were to shine with increasing luster until his lamentable fall in the Georgia campaign. Logan's dashing valor was eminently conspicuous. Having declared that the Western men would hew their way to the Gulf, he was a bright example of the truth of his prediction; ever at his post, and always distinguished for that fearless impetuosity which the world now considers his characteristic."

Grant had now become the "ideal" General of the Union. His name was a household word, and his portrait adorned every home, high or low, throughout the land.

When the news of this glorious victory officially reached President Lincoln, he wrote an autograph letter to Grant, as follows:

EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, July 13, 1863. To Major-General Grant:

MY DEAR GENERAL:—I do not remember that you and I ever met personally. I write this now as a grateful acknowledgement for the almost inestimable service you have done the country. I wish to say a word further. When you first reached the vicinity of Vicksburg, I thought you should do what you finally did-march the troops across the neck, run the batteries with the transports, and thus go below; and I never had any faith, except a general hope that you knew better than I, that the Yazoo Pass expedition and the like could succeed When you got below and took Port Gibson, Grand Gulf and vicinity, I thought you should go down the river and join General Banks; and when you turned northward east of the Big Black, I feared it was a mistake. I now wish to make a personal acknowledgement that you were right and I was wrong Yours very truly,

A. LINCOLN.

The brilliant success of Vicksburg did not induce Grant to rest his army, but only spurred him on to renewed efforts to disperse all organized troops in his district. General Sherman, with a strong force, was sent to drive Johnston out of Jackson, he having fallen back within the defenses of that city. Sherman prepared at once for the investment of the place. Johnston, fearing the fate of Vicksburg, after slight skirmishing, evacuated the town. While this was taking place Grant sent Herron with his division to Yazoo City, where there was a considerable rebel force, resulting in its capture with several hundred prisoners, artillery and public stores. On the 8th of July Port Hudson surrendered to General Banks. By its capitulation the Mississippi River was absolutely in control of the Union from its source to the Gulf, and never again passed into the hands of the Confederacy. The Mississippi Valley campaign was now virtually closed. President Lincoln honored the victor by nominating him to the vacant MajorGeneralship in the Regular Army of the United States, his commission dating from July 4, 1863.

UNION MONUMENT AT VICKSBURG.

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CHAPTER IX.

PREPARATIONS AT CHATTANOOGA.

Immediately succeeding the close of the Vicksburg campaign General Grant gave his time to the reorganization and administration of his department. Visiting from point to point, he personally inspected the condition and needs of each locality, settling all perplexing questions that naturally arose, owing to the absence of civil authority, regulating the military and civic jurisdiction over the conquered territory, all of which were settled with great good judgment, and met with the hearty concurrence of the government at Washington. Various expeditions were sent out in every direction to "spy out the nakedness of the land." An important one under General Ransom captured Natchez; among the "spoils" were five thousand head of cattle designed for the Confederates. General Steele

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NATHANIEL P. BANKS.

was dispatched to Helena to render important aid to General Schofield, commanding Department of the Missouri. Ord and Herron joined General Banks to take part

in new movements projected in the Department of the Gulf. Testimonials and banquets were tendered to, and accepted by General Grant, from the cities of Memphis and New Orleans.

At the latter city, while returning from a review of the Thirteenth Army Corps, his horse became frightened by the letting off of steam by a railroad locomotive. Dashing madly against a carriage that was coming in an opposite direction, horse and rider were thrown upon the street. The result was a most serious accident. His hip being temporarily paralyzed, rendered him quite helpless, nor was he able to walk without crutches, or mount his horse, without assistance until after he had reached Chattanooga, near the close of October. Many seriously thought that his services would be lost to the country.

Rosecrans, as stated in the previous chapter, had, "by a scratch," won the battle of Murfreesboro, January 2, driving the Confederate General Bragg, into Southern Tennessee. On June 24, 1863, having had a long rest, and recruited his army, he again moved upon the enemy, and, by a series of flank movements, succeeded in crowding him into Georgia. The Union general following closely took post on the 9th of September, at Chattanooga, on the left bank of the Tennessee.

Chattanooga at this time was probably the most important strategic position in the Rebel States. It commands the southern entrance into Tennessee, and lies at the mouth of Chattanooga Valley, which is formed by Lookout Mountain and Missionary Ridge, through which Chattanooga Creek flows into the Tennessee. It is also the junction of the railways leading from Memphis to Charleston, from Richmond to Nashville, and south to Atlanta.

The Confederates had been strongly reinforced by John

ston from Mississippi, and Longstreet from Virginia, Bragg having at this time an army of sixty thousand men; while Rosecrans' effective force was only forty-five thousand, he having had to garrison the places he had left in his rear. These were divided into three corps, commanded by Thomas, McCook, and Crittenden; the latter general held Chattanooga while the other corps were in the mountains, twenty miles distant.

Owing to the threatened attitude of Bragg, Rosecrans brought his army together at Chickamauga Creek, about

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VIEW OF LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN AND VALLEY FROM CHATTANOOGA.

nine miles from Chattanooga. On the 19th of September General Bragg attacked the Union forces, and after two days' desperate fighting pierced the center, and scattered the right wing in utter rout from the field. General Rosecrans, with the shattered corps of McCook and Crittenden, left the field, retiring to Chattanooga. General Thomas commanding the Union left, with desperate firmness, hardly equalled in the annals of war, resisted every attempt of the enemy to dislodge him or to get between him and Chatta

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