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River, into the Yazoo. The country was unexplored, delays were inevitable, and the enemy had time to obstruct the way; and, when near the completion of the difficult, romantic passage, it was reluctantly given up.

One of the party thus graphically describes the Black Bayou:

"Black Bayou, a narrow stream, heretofore only navi. gated by dug-outs, was made of the width of our steamers, with great labor of felling trees and sawing stumps below the surface. Every foot of our way was cut and torn through a dense forest, never before traversed by steamers. I never witnessed a more exciting and picturesque scene than the transportation, on the last day, of the Third Brigade, by General Stuart. Crowded with men, the steamers, at the highest possible speed, pushed through overhanging trees and around short curves. Sometimes wedged fast between trees, then sailing along smoothly, a huge cypress would reach out an arm and sweep the whole length of the boats, tearing guards and chimneys from the decks. The last trip through the Black Bayou was in a night pitchy dark and rainy.

"While the adventure was of uncertain successwhen the result seemed almost accomplished, and when our gunboats were surrounded with an enemy confident of victory, and their extrication seemed almost an impossibil ity-officers and men worked with equal alacrity, whether in building bridges or making forced marches, both by day and in the night. The whole time was used in labor, con

stant and severe. It seems almost a miracle that the boats were saved. If Generals Sherman and Stuart, by their utmost exertions and labor, had forwarded their troops a single half day later, if the second forced march under General Sherman had been retarded a single hour, in all human probability the whole force would have been lost."

At different points severe encounters were had, often several thousand rebels appearing from ambush, or behind batteries.

This, like the similar movements preceding, was highly serviceable in deceiving and bewildering the enemy. But the faultfinders at home were loud in their complaints.

Said an heroic captain, now in Libby Prison, who went to the battle field a pro-slavery politician, while on a furlough at home:

"It is hard to fight an enemy in front and rear at the same time. I hear more complaints and carping here, in the midst of plenty, in a week, than in six months in the army."

This fact is the darkest page in the history of the war; no matter whether slavery, or some other question of policy, be the occasion of opposition.

Because of the silence kept around General Grant's army, suspending correspondence on account of guerillas on every hand, who would glean information, reports had been sent home, and circulated, that the army was dying with disease. This was good news for the disloyal; but, as the surgeon-general's report and General

Grant's despatches proved, was entirely and meanly false. While these men, who, when the war opened, were more afraid of "abolition" than of death, were enforcing the proclamation, and threading dismal swamps, with the old flag in their hands, the Arnolds at home were scolding and lying.

In Philadelphia an amusing. illustration occurred. Rev. Dr. B—was present in a gathering of ministers, when Dr. C opposed the President's course in regard

to the slaves. Said Dr. B:

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Brethren, when I was a young man, living West, I sometimes went over the prairie, kicking the low bushes to see what I could start. One day, when doing so, out came a copperhead. But he was there before I hit the bush. And thus with the proclamation. It has beaten the bush, and brought out the Copperheads. But they were there before."

One crimson face, and a loud laugh from all others, silenced the disloyal lips.

CHAPTER XIV.

A New Plan-Admiral Farragut's Ship-Porter's Fleet-Hot WorkThrilling Scene-Grierson's Raid-Ludicrous Scenes-Banks and Grant -Passing Grand Gulf Batteries-The Grand Advance-The Night March-The Night Battle-Port Gibson Taken-Governor Yates and the Victory.

OUR unwearied and undaunted commander must give up his favorite flanking movement. He cannot get through passes, bayous, and canals, into the rear of Vicksburg, and there take possession of the railroads to Jackson, the capital of the State. He next proposes to try a land route mainly. This is to be below the city, and behind the bluffs of Warrenton, along the country between the Mississippi and Black Rivers.

Admiral Farragut, the middle of March, in his fine flagship the "Hartford," attended by the "Albatross," steamed past Port Hudson, and, reaching a point near Vicksburg, communicated with General Grant and Admiral Porter.

The last day of March, the great movement of the

army began. Three corps of it were set in motion for the Louisiana shore, to concentrate at New Carthage, nearly opposite Warrenton. "The tug of war is yet to come. How can the gunboats, and the transports to convey the soldiers over the river, under the command of Admiral Porter, get by the terraces of dark-mouthed cannon overlooking the water at Vicksburg?

April 16th shone serene and cloudless upon the flashing tide of the majestic river of the West. At eleven o'clock that night, eight gunboats and six transports were to try the mettle of the Confederate Gibraltar.

Men are called for, willing to go into the jaws of destruction. The brave fellows rush with a hurrah to the decks. All is ready. The signal bell strikes eleven. Oh that kindly clouds would eclipse the stars, and fling their shadows on the devoted ships! But not a speck obscures the vernal sky. The steamers in sight are thronged to watch the scene; and the suspense is painful among the "A boat is coming!" are words which send a shudder of apprehension through every heart. Slowly, darkly, steadily it steals along the Louisiana shore, lost in foliage-shadow. Now it steers across to the Mississippi side; and another spectral form floats into view; another, and yet another, emerge from the gloom of night and distance.

crowds.

Midnight comes, and the procession of fourteen vessels is moving in darkness and silence straight toward Vicksburg, whose battlements loom through the gloom, re

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