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tenant…General （Bishop） Polk was in chief command； with headquarters at Meridian； and had two divisions of infantry； one of which （General Loring's） was posted at Canton； Mississippi； the other （General French's） at Brandon。 He had also two divisions of cavalryArmstrong's； composed of the three brigades of Ross； Stark； and Wirt Adams； which were scattered from the neighborhood of Yazoo City to Jackson and below； and Forrest's； which was united； toward Memphis； with headquarters at Como。 General Polk seemed to have no suspicion of our intentions to disturb his serenity。
Accordingly； on the morning of February 3d； we started in two columns； each of two divisions； preceded by a light force of cavalry； commanded by Colonel E。 F。 Winslow。 General McPheraon commanded the right column； and General Hurlbut the left。 The former crossed the Big Black at the railroad…bridge； and the latter seven miles above； at Messinger's。 We were lightly equipped as to wagons； and marched without deployment straight for Meridian； distant one hundred and fifty miles。 We struck the rebel cavalry beyond the Big Black； and pushed them pell…mell into and beyond Jackson during the 6th。 The next day we reached Brandon； and on the 9th Morton； where we perceived signs of an infantry concentration； but the enemy did not give us battle； and retreated before us。 The rebel cavalry were all around us； so we kept our columns compact and offered few or no chances for their dashes。 As far as Morton we had occupied two roads； but there we were forced into one。 Toward evening of the 12th； Hurlbut's column passed through Decatur； with orders to go into camp four miles beyond at a creek。 McPherson's head of column was some four miles behind； and I personally detached one of Hurlbut's regiments to guard the cross…roads at Decatur till the head of McPherson's column should come in sight。 Intending to spend the night in Decatur； I went to a double log…house； and arranged with the lady for some supper。 We unsaddled our horses； tied them to the fence inside the yard； and； being tired； I lay down on a bed and fell asleep。 Presently I heard shouts and hallooing； and then heard pistol…shots close to the house。 My aide； Major Audenried； called me and said we were attacked by rebel cavalry； who were all around us。 I jumped up and inquired where was the regiment of infantry I had myself posted at the cross…roads。 He said a few moments before it had marched past the house； following the road by which General Hurlbut had gone； and I told him to run； overtake it； and bring it back。 Meantime； I went out into the back…yard； saw wagons passing at a run down the road； and horsemen dashing about in a cloud of dust； firing their pistols； their shots reaching the house in which we were。 Gathering the few orderlies and clerks that were about； I was preparing to get into a corn…crib at the back side of the lot； wherein to defend ourselves； when I saw Audenried coming back with the regiment； on a run； deploying forward as they came。 This regiment soon cleared the place and drove the rebel cavalry back toward the south； whence they had come。
It transpired that the colonel of this infantry regiment； whose name I do not recall； had seen some officers of McPherson's staff （among them Inspector…General Strong） coming up the road at a gallop； raising a cloud of duet； supposing them to be the head of McPherson's column； and being anxious to get into camp before dark； he had called in his pickets and started down the road； leaving me perfectly exposed。 Some straggling wagons； escorted by a New Jersey regiment； were passing at the time； and composed the rear of Hurlbut's train。 The rebel cavalry； seeing the road clear of troops； and these wagons passing； struck them in flank； shot down the mules of three or four wagons； broke the column； and began a general skirmish。 The escort defended their wagons as well as they could； and thus diverted their attention； otherwise I would surely have been captured。 In a short time the head of McPherson's column came up； went into camp； and we spent the night in Decatur。
The next day we pushed on； and on the 14th entered Meridian； the enemy retreating before us toward Demopolis； Alabama。 We at once set to work to destroy an arsenal； immense storehouses； and the railroad in every direction。 We staid in Meridian five days； expecting every hour to hear of General Sooy Smith； but could get no tidings of him whatever。 A large force of infantry was kept at work all the time in breaking up the Mobile & Ohio Railroad south and north； also the Jackson & Selma Railroad； east and west。 I was determined to damage these roads so that they could not be used again for hostile purposes during the rest of the war。 I never had the remotest idea of going to Mobile； but had purposely given out that idea to the people of the country； so as to deceive the enemy and to divert their attention。 Many persons still insist that； because we did not go to Mobile on this occasion； I had failed； but in the following letter to General Banks； of January 31st； written from Vicksburg before starting for Meridian； it will be seen clearly that I indicated my intention to keep up the delusion of an attack on Mobile by land； whereas I promised him to be back to Vicksburg by the 1st of March； so as to cooperate with him in his contemplated attack on Shreveport：
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE VICKSBURG； January 31； 1864
Major…General N。 P。 BANKS； commanding Department of the Gulf； New Orleans。
GENERAL： I received yesterday； at the hands of Captain Durham； aide…de…camp； your letter of the 25th inst。； and hasten to reply。 Captain Durham has gone to the mouth of White River； en route for Little Rock； and the other officers who accompanied him have gone up to Cairo； as I understand； to charter twenty…five steamboats for the Red River trip。 The Mississippi River； though low for the season； is free of ice and in good boating order； but I understand that Red River is still low。 I had a man in from Alexandria yesterday； who reported the falls or rapids at that place impassable save by the smallest boats。 My inland expedition is now moving； and I will be off for Jackson and Meridian to…morrow。 The only fear I have is in the weather。 All the other combinations are good。 I want to keep up the delusion of an attack on Mobile and the Alabama River； and therefore would be obliged if you would keep up an irritating foraging or other expedition in that direction。
My orders from General Grant will not； as yet； justify me in embarking for Red River； though I am very anxious to move in that direction。 The moment I learned that you were preparing for it； I sent a communication to Admiral Porter； and dispatched to General Grant at Chattanooga； asking if he wanted me and Steele to cooperate with you against Shreveport； and I will have his answer in time； for you cannot do any thing till Red River has twelve feet of water on the rapids at Alexandria。 That will be from March to June。 I have lived on Red River； and know somewhat of the phases of that stream。 The expedition on Shreveport should be made rapidly； with simultaneous movements from Little Rock on Shreveport； from Opelousas on Alexandria； and a combined force of gunboats and transports directly up Red River。 Admiral Porter will be able to have a splendid fleet by March lst。 I think Steele could move with ten thousand infantry and five thousand cavalry。 I could take about ten thousand； and you could； I suppose； have the same。 Your movement from Opelousas； simultaneous with mine up the river； would compel Dick Taylor to leave Fort De Russy （near Marksville）； and the whole combined force could appear at Shreveport about a day appointed beforehand。
I doubt if the enemy will risk a siege at Shreveport； although I am informed they are fortifying the place； and placing many heavy guns in position。 It would be better for us that they should stand there； as we might make large and important captures。 But I do not believe the enemy will fight a force of thirty thousand men； acting in concert with gunboats。
I will be most happy to take part in the proposed expedition； and hope； before you have made your final dispositions； that I will have the necessary permission。 Half the Army of the Tennessee is near the Tennessee River； beyond Huntsville； Alabama； awaiting the completion of the railroad； and； by present orders； I will be compelled to hasten there to command it in person； unless meantime General Grant modifies the plan。 I have now in this department only the force left to hold the river and the posts； and I am seriously embarrassed by the promises made the veteran volunteers for furlough。 I think； by March lst； I can put afloat for Shreveport ten thousand men； provided I succeed in my present movement in cleaning out the State of Mississippi； and in breaking up the railroads about Meridian。
I am； with great respect； your obedient servant；
W。 T。 SHERMAN； Major…General； commanding。
The object of the Meridian expedition was to strike the roads inland； so to paralyze the rebel forces that we could take from the defense of the Mississippi River the equivalent of a corps of twenty thousand men； to be used i