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Very respectfully；
U。 S。 GRANT； Major…General。
On returning to my camp at Young's Point； I started these two boats up the Yazoo and Steele's Bayou； with the Eighth Missouri and some pioneers； with axes； saws； and all the tools necessary。 I gave orders for a part of Stuart's division to proceed in the large boats up the Mississippi River to a point at Gwin's plantation； where a bend of Steele's Bayou neared the main river； and the next day； with one or two stag…officers and orderlies； got a navy…tug； and hurried up to overtake Admiral Porter。 About sixty miles up Steele's Bayou we came to the gunboat Price； Lieutenant Woodworth； United States Navy； commanding； and then turned into Black Bayou； a narrow； crooked channel； obstructed by overhanging oaks； and filled with cypress and cotton…wood trees。 The gunboats had forced their way through； pushing aside trees a foot in diameter。 In about four miles we overtook the gunboat fleet just as it was emerging into Deer Creek。 Along Deer Creek the alluvium was higher； and there was a large cotton…plantation belonging to a Mr。 Hill； who was absent； and the negroes were in charge of the place。 Here I overtook Admiral Porter； and accompanied him a couple of miles up Deer Creek； which was much wider and more free of trees； with plantations on both sides at intervals。 Admiral Porter thought he had passed the worst； and that he would be able to reach the Rolling Fork and Sunflower。 He requested me to return and use all possible means to clear out Black Bayou。 I returned to Hill's plantation； which was soon reached by Major Coleman； with a part of the Eighth Missouri； the bulk of the regiment and the pioneers had been distributed along the bayous； and set to work under the general supervision of Captain Kosaak。 The Diligent and Silver Wave then returned to twin's plantation and brought up Brigadier…General Giles A。 Smith； with the Sixth Missouri； and part of the One Hundred and Sixteenth Illinois。 Admiral Porter was then working up Deer Creek with his iron…dads； but he had left me a tug； which enabled me to reconnoitre the country； which was all under water except the narrow strip along Deer Creek。 During the 19th I heard the heavy navy…guns booming more frequently than seemed consistent with mere guerrilla operations； and that night I got a message from Porter； written on tissue…paper； brought me through the swamp by a negro； who had it concealed in a piece of tobacco。
The admiral stated that he had met a force of infantry and artillery which gave him great trouble by killing the men who had to expose themselves outside the iron armor to shove off the bows of the boats； which had so little headway that they would not steer。 He begged me to came to his rescue as quickly as possible。 Giles A。 Smith had only about eight hundred men with him； but I ordered him to start up Deer Creek at once； crossing to the east side by an old bridge at Hill's plantation； which we had repaired for the purpose； to work his way up to the gunboat； fleet； and to report to the admiral that I would come； up with every man I could raise as soon as possible。 I was almost alone at Hill's； but took a canoe； paddled down Black Bayou to the gunboat Price； and there； luckily； found the Silver wave with a load of men just arrived from twin's plantation。 Taking some of the parties who were at work along the bayou into an empty coal…barge； we tugged it up by a navy…tug； followed by the Silver Wave； crashing through the trees； carrying away pilot…house； smoke…stacks； and every thing above…deck； but the captain （McMillan； of Pittsburg） was a brave fellow； and realized the necessity。 The night was absolutely black； and we could only make two and a half of the four miles。 We then disembarked； and marched through the canebrake； carrying lighted candles in our hands； till we got into the open cotton…fields at Hill's plantation； where we lay down for a few hours' rest。 These men were a part of Giles A。 Smith's brigade； and part belonged to the brigade of T。 Bilby Smith； the senior officer present being Lieutenant…Colonel Rice； Fifty…fourth Ohio； an excellent young officer。 We had no horses。
On Sunday morning； March 21st； as soon as daylight appeared； we started； following the same route which Giles A。 Smith had taken the day before； the battalion of the Thirteenth United States Regulars； Major Chase； in the lead。 We could hear Porter's guns； and knew that moments were precious。 Being on foot myself； no man could complain； and we generally went at the double…quick； with occasional rests。 The road lay along Deer Creek； passing several plantations； and occasionally； at the bends； it crossed the swamp； where the water came above my hips。 The smaller drummer…boys had to carry their drums on their heads； and most of the men slang their cartridge…boxes around their necks。 The soldiers generally were glad to have their general and field officers afoot； but we gave them a fair specimen of marching； accomplishing about twenty…one miles by noon。 Of course； our speed was accelerated by the sounds of the navy…guns； which became more and more。 distinct； though we could see nothing。 At a plantation near some Indian mounds we met a detachment of the Eighth Missouri； that had been up to the fleet； and had been sent down as a picket to prevent any obstructions below。 This picket reported that Admiral Porter had found Deer Creek badly obstructed； had turned back； that there was a rebel force beyond the fleet； with some six…pounders； and nothing between us and the fleet。 So I sat down on the door…sill of a cabin to rest； but had not been seated ten minutes when； in the wood just ahead； not three hundred yards off； I heard quick and rapid firing of musketry。 Jumping up； I ran up the road； and found Lieutenant…Colonel Rice； who said the head of his column had struck a small force of rebels with a working gang of negroes； provided with ages； who on the first fire had broken and run back into the swamp。 I ordered Rice to deploy his brigade； his left on the road； and extending as far into the swamp as the ground would permit； and then to sweep forward until he uncovered the gunboats。 The movement was rapid and well executed； and we soon came to some large cotton…fields and could see our gunboats in Deer Creek； occasionally firing a heavy eight…inch gun across the cotton field into the swamp behind。 About that time Major Kirby； of the Eighth Missouri； galloped down the road on a horse he had picked up the night before； and met me。 He explained the situation of affairs； and offered me his horse。 I got on bareback； and rode up the levee； the sailors coming out of their iron…clads and cheering most vociferously as I rode by； and as our men swept forward across the cotton…field in full view。 I soon found Admiral Porter； who was on the deck of one of his iron…clads； with a shield made of the section of a smoke…stack； and I doubt if he was ever more glad to meet a friend than he was to see me。 He explained that he had almost reached the Rolling Fork； when the woods became full of sharp…shooters； who； taking advantage of trees； stumps； and the levee； would shoot down every man that poked his nose outside the protection of their armor； so that he could not handle his clumsy boats in the narrow channel。 The rebels had evidently dispatched a force from Haines's Bluff up the Sunflower to the Rolling Fork； had anticipated the movement of Admiral Porter's fleet； and had completely obstructed the channel of the upper part of Deer Creek by felling trees into it； so that further progress in that direction was simply impossible。 It also happened that； at the instant of my arrival； a party of about four hundred rebels； armed and supplied with axes； had passed around the fleet and had got below it； intending in like manner to block up the channel by the felling of trees； so as to cut off retreat。 This was the force we had struck so opportunely at the time before described。 I inquired of Admiral Porter what he proposed to do； and he said he wanted to get out of that scrape as quickly as possible。 He was actually working back when I met him； and； as we then had a sufficient force to cover his movement completely； he continued to back down Deer Creek。 He informed me at one time things looked so critical that he had made up his mind to blow up the gunboats； and to escape with his men through the swamp to the Mississippi River。 There being no longer any sharp…shooters to bother the sailors； they made good progress； still； it took three full days for the fleet to back out of Deer Creek into Black Bayou； at Hill's plantation； whence Admiral Porter proceeded to his post at the month of the Yazoo； leaving Captain Owen in command of the fleet。 I reported the facts to General Grant； who was sadly disappointed at the failure of the fleet to get through to the Yazoo above Haines's Bluff； and ordered us all to resume our camps at Young's Point。 We accordingly steamed down； and regained our camps on the 27th。 As this expedition up Deer Creek was but one of many efforts to secure a footing from which to operate against Vicksburg； I add the report of Brigadier…General Giles A。 Smith； who was the first to reach the fleet：
HEADQUARTERS FIRST BRI