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ection of Parrott guns； Omaha； Fifty…seventh Ohio； Sioux City； Eighty…third Indiana； Spread Eagle； One Hundred and Twenty…seventh Illinois； Ed。 Walsh； One Hundred and Thirteenth Illinois； Westmoreland； Fifty…fifth Illinois； headquarters Fourth Brigade； Sunny South； Fifty…fourth Ohio； Universe； Sixth Missouri； Robert Allen； commissary…boat。
Third Division； Brigadier…General G。 W。 MORGAN。… Steamers Empress； division headquarters； Key West； One Hundred and Eighteenth Illinois； Sam Gaty； Sixty…ninth Indiana； Northerner； One Hundred and Twentieth Ohio； Belle Peoria； headquarters Second Brigade； two companies Forty…ninth Ohio； and pontoons； Die Vernon； Third Kentucky； War Eagle； Forty…ninth Indiana （eight companies）； and Foster's battery； Henry von Phul； headquarters Third Brigade； and eight companies Sixteenth Ohio； Fanny Bullitt； One Hundred and Fourteenth Ohio； and Lamphere's battery； Crescent City； Twenty…second Kentucky and Fifty…fourth Indiana； Des Moines； Forty…second Ohio； Pembina； Lamphere's and Stone's batteries； Lady Jackson； commissary…boat。
Fourth Division； Brigadier…General FREDERICK STEELE … Steamers Continental； headquarters； escort and battery； John J。 Roe； Fourth and Ninth Iowa； Nebraska； Thirty…first Iowa； Key West； First Iowa Artillery； John Warner； Thirteenth Illinois； Tecumseh； Twenty…sixth Iowa； Decatur； Twenty…eighth Iowa； Quitman； Thirty…fourth Iowa； Kennett； Twenty ninth Missouri； Gladiator； Thirtieth Missouri； Isabella； Thirty…first Missouri； D。 G。 Taylor； quartermaster's stores and horses； Sucker State； Thirty…second Missouri； Dakota； Third Missouri； Tntt； Twelfth Missouri Emma； Seventeenth Missouri； Adriatic； First Missouri； Meteor； Seventy…sixth Ohio； Polar Star； Fifty…eighth Ohio。
At the same time were communicated the following instructions：
HEADQUARTERS RIGHT WING； THIRTEENTH ARMY Corps FOREST QUEEN； December 23； 1882。
To Commanders of Divisions； Generals F。 STEELE； GEORGE W。 MORGAN； A。J。 SMITH； and M。 L。 SMITH
With this I hand to each of yoU a copy of a map； compiled from the best sources； and which in the main is correct。 It is the same used by Admiral Porter and myself。 Complete military success can only be accomplished by united action on some general plan； embracing usually a large district of country。 In the present instance； our object is to secure the navigation of the Mississippi River and its main branches； and to hold them as military channels of communication and for commercial purposes。 The river； above Vicksburg； has been gained by conquering the country to its rear； rendering its possession by our enemy useless and unsafe to him； and of great value to us。 But the enemy still holds the river from Vicksburg to Baton Rouge； navigating it with his boats； and the possession of it enables him to connect his communications and routes of supply； east and west。 To deprive him of this will be a severe blow； and； if done effectually； will be of great advantage to us； and probably； the most decisive act of the war。 To accomplish this important result we are to act our partan important one of the great whole。 General Banks； with a large force； has reinforced General Butler in Louisiana； and from that quarter an expedition； by water and land； is coming northward。 General Grant； with the Thirteenth Army Corps； of which we compose the right wing； is moving southward。 The naval squadron （Admiral Porter） is operating with his gunboat fleet by water； each in perfect harmony with the other。
General Grant's left and centre were at last accounts approaching the Yalabusha； near Grenada； and the railroad to his rear； by which he drew his supplies； was reported to be seriously damaged。 This may disconcert him somewhat； but only makes more important our line of operations。 At the Yalabusha General Grant may encounter the army of General Pemberton； the same which refused him battle on the line of the Tallahatchie； which was strongly fortified； but； as he will not have time to fortify it； he will hardly stand there； and； in that event； General Grant will immediately advance down the high ridge between the Big Black and Yazoo； and will expect to meet us on the Yazoo and receive from us the supplies which he needs； and which he knows we carry along。 Parts of this general plan are to cooperate with the naval squadron in the reduction of Vicksburg； to secure possession of the land lying between the Yazoo and Big Black； and to act in concert with General Grant against Pemberton's forces； supposed to have Jackson； Mississippi； as a point of concentration。 Vicksburg is doubtless very strongly fortified； both against the river and land approaches。 Already the gunboats have secured the Yazoo up for twenty…three miles； to a fort on the Yazoo at Haines's Bluff； giving us a choice for a landing…place at some point up the Yazoo below this fort； or on the island which lies between Vicksburg and the present mouth of the Yazoo。 （See map ＇b； c； d＇； Johnson's plantation。）
But； before any actual collision with the enemy； I purpose； after our whole land force is rendezvoused at Gaines's Landing； Arkansas； to proceed in order to Milliken's Bend （a）； and there dispatch a brigade； without wagons or any incumbrances whatever； to the Vicksburg & Shreveport Railroad （at h and k）； to destroy that effectually； and to cut off that fruitful avenue of supply； then to proceed to the mouth of the Yazoo； and； after possessing ourselves of the latest and most authentic information from naval officers now there； to land our whole force on the Mississippi side； and then to reach the point where the Vicksburg & Jackson Railroad crosses the Big Black （f）； after which to attack Vicksburg by land； while the gun…boats assail it by water。 It may be necessary （looking to Grant's approach）； before attacking Vicksburg； to reduce the battery at Haine's Bluff first； so as to enable some of the lighter gunboats and transports to ascend the Yazoo and communicate with General Grant。 The detailed manner of accomplishing all these results will be communicated in due season； and these general points are only made known at this time； that commanders may study the maps； and also that in the event of non…receipt of orders all may act in perfect concert by following the general movement； unless specially detached。
You all now have the same map； so that no mistakes or confusion need result from different names of localities。 All possible preparations as to wagons； provisions； axes； and intrenehing…tools； should be made in advance； so that when we do land there will be no want of them。 When we begin to act on shore； we must do the work quickly and effectually。 The gunboats under Admiral Porter will do their full share； and I feel every assurance that the army will not fall short in its work。
Division commanders may read this to regimental commanders； and furnish brigade commanders a copy。 They should also cause as many copies of the map to be made on the same scale as possible； being very careful in copying the names。
The points marked e and g （Allan's and Mount Albans） are evidently strategical points that will figure in our future operations； and these positions should be well studied。
I am； with great respect； your obedient servant；
W。 T。 SHERMAN； Major…General。
The Mississippi boats were admirably calculated for handling troops； horses； guns； stores； etc。； easy of embarkation and disembarkation； and supplies of all kinds were abundant； except fuel。 For this we had to rely on wood； but most of the wood…yards； so common on the river before the war； had been exhausted； so that we had to use fence…rails； old dead timber； the logs of houses； etc。 Having abundance of men and plenty of axes； each boat could daily procure a supply。
In proceeding down the river； one or more of Admiral Porter's gunboats took the lead； others were distributed throughout the column； and some brought up the rear。 We manoeuvred by divisions and brigades when in motion； and it was a magnificent sight as we thus steamed down the river。 What few inhabitants remained at the plantations on the river…bank were unfriendly； except the slaves； some few guerrilla…parties infested the banks； but did not dare to molest so； strong a force as I then commanded。
We reached Milliken's Bend on Christmas…day； when I detached one brigade （Burbridge's）； of A。 J。 Smith's division； to the southwest； to break up the railroad leading from Vicksburg toward Shreveport； Louisiana。 Leaving A。 J。 Smith's division there to await the return of Burbridge； the remaining three divisions proceeded； on the 26th； to the mouth of the Yazoo；。 and up that river to Johnson's plantation； thirteen miles； and there disembarked Steele's division above the mouth of Chickasaw Bayou； Morgans division near the house of Johnson （which had been burned by the gunboats on a former occasion）； and M。 L。 Smith's just below。 A。 J。 Smith's division arrived the next night； and disembarked below that of M。 L。 Smith。 The place of our disembarkation was in fact an island； separated from the high bluff known as Walnut Hills； on which the town of Vicksburg stands； by a broad and shallow bayou…evidently an old channel of the Yazoo。 On our right was another wide bayou； known as Old River；