hardships endured, the stormy weather, and the horrid roads, and closes in these words:

let us

"More difficulties and privations are before us ; endure them manfully. Other battles are to be fought; let us fight them bravely. A grateful country will rejoice at our success, and history will record it with immortal honor."

Generals Carr, Hovey, Benton, and Colonels Macauley, Spiegel, and others, led on the heroic boys with unrivalled valor.

Naturally enough, Governor Yates, of Illinois, who gave our hero his first commission in the conflict, and who was on the late battle field, sent to his State the following enthusiastic and glowing despatch:

GRAND GULF, Miss., May 4, 1863.

Our arms are gloriously triumphant. We have succeeded in winning a victory which, in its results, must be the most important of the war. The battle of May 1st lasted from eight o'clock in the morning until night, during all which time the enemy was driven back on the right, left, and centre. All day yesterday our army was in pursuit of the rebels, they giving us battle at almost every defensible point, and fighting with desperate valor. Last night large force of the enemy was driven across Black River, and General McClernand was driving another large force in the direction of Willow Springs. About two o'clock yesterday, I left General Logan, with his division, in pursuit of the enemy, to join General Grant at Grand Gulf, which the enemy had evacuated in the morning, first blowing up their magazines, spiking their cannon, destroying tents, &c. On my way to Grand Gulf, I saw guns scattered all along the

road, which the enemy had left in their retreat. The rebels were scattered through the woods in every direction. This army of the rebels was considered, as I now learn, invincible; but it quailed before the irresistible assaults of Northwestern valor.

I consider Vicksburg as ours in a short time, and the Mississippi River as destined to be open from its source to its mouth.

I have been side by side with our boys in battle, and can bear witness to the unfaltering courage and prowess of our brave Illinoisans.

RICHARD YATES, Governor.

The very day this message was dated, the terrible carnage of Chancellorsville, in Virginia, under Hooker, sent him and his battalions staggering back to the Rappahannock, fulfilling strikingly the proverb of Solomon: "He hath set adversity over against prosperity."

CHAPTER XV.

Sherman-Deceiving the Enemy-General Grant's Wisdom, and humane Care of the Men-Ready to move again-Governor Pettus frightened→ Grant's Despatch-A Battle-The Capital taken-News-Crossing the River-The Investment and Assault-The Attack repeated-The Siege -The Messenger deserts-The Prison Fortress-Amusing Incidents.

UT where was the splendid General Sherman ?— for he had few superiors in the field. All this time of advance, General Grant's comprehen. sive military wisdom was shining in secret war

fare. It was no trifling part of the campaign, to keep the rebels at the great centres, Richmond and Chattanooga, and, wherever interference with his plans might appear, in the dark. So Sherman was sent up the Yazoo River to threaten Haines's Bluff, and Colonel. Corwyn dashed with his cavalry along the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, menacing the posts in that direction.

There was, at this juncture, some hope that General Banks might ascend the river from Baton Rouge, and, taking Port Hudson, join General Grant with twelve thousand troops. But he was doomed to disappointment, and to wait for Grant.

The grand Army of the West has reached a crisis in affairs again. Leaving Grand Gulf as a base, the columns are to strike for the State capital en route to Vicksburg. Our heroic chief seems to lay aside the field command, and, with his plain felt hat, soiled clothes, and bearded face, superintends the work of preparation. For now, the preliminary work of clearing the way being done by light marching, the gigantic work of moving the whole caravan of a great army has come. To see that the troops have shelter, and clothing, and food, is quite as needful to success as arms and ammunition. He therefore, in person, looked after his quartermasters, commissaries, &c., reining each man up to duty. This direct and sincere interest in the comfort of the soldiers has always won their purest respect and regard.

General Grant takes up his headquarters at an advanced position on Black River, called Hawkinson's Ferry. All the machinery of warfare is ready. Like a couchant lion prepared to spring on his prey, he waits a few days for Sherman's corps and the wagon trains to arrive; sending out forces toward other points up the river, making the enemy believe that his plan was to lead his army in that direction.

The game of misleading the rebels succeeded admirably. The terrified Governor Pettus issued a flaming proclamation, in which these words occur:

"Fathers, brothers, Mississippians—while your sons and kindred are bravely fighting your battles on other

fields, and shedding new lustre on your name, the burning disgrace of successful invasion of their homes, of insult and injury to their wives, mothers, and sisters, of rapine and ruin, with God's help and by your assistance, shall never be written while a Mississippian lives to feel in his proud heart the scorching degradation."

May 7th, General Grant's order to advance flies along the lines. Tents disappear, and miles of supply trains fall into the wake of the proud battalions, with their front toward Vicksburg. With the centre of the three great columns, and not behind, General Grant marches, guiding and watching their every motion. Soon as he was fairly "out to sea," in the mariner's descriptive phrase—cut loose from doubtful territory, and committed to the alternative of resplendent conquest or darkest defeat, he told the Government so, in the following few words:

IN THE FIELD, May 11, 1863.

To Major-General HALLECK, General-in-Chief:

My force will be, this evening, as far advanced along Fourteen Mile Creek, the left near Black River, and extending in a line nearly east and west, as they can get without bringing on a general engagement.

I shall communicate with Grand Gulf no more, except it becomes necessary to send a train with a heavy escort.

You may not hear from me again for several days.

U. S. GRANT, Major-General.

Northeasterly, between him and Jackson, was Raymond, a rebel position. In the morning of May 12th,