ff； who had passed the batteries in the Tigress； and I think he was satisfied never to attempt such a thing again。 Thus General Grant's army had below Vicksburg an abundance of stores； and boats with which to cross the river。 The road by which the troops marched was very bad； and it was not until the 1st of May that it was clear for my corps。 While waiting my turn to march； I received a letter from General Grant； written at Carthage； saying that he proposed to cross over and attack Grand Gulf； about the end of April； and he thought I could put in my time usefully by making a 〃feint〃 on Haines's Bluff； but he did not like to order me to do it； because it might be reported at the North that I had again been 〃repulsed； etc。〃 Thus we had to fight a senseless clamor at the North； as well as a determined foe and the obstacles of Nature。 Of course； I answered him that I would make the 〃feint；〃 regardless of public clamor at a distance； and I did make it most effectually； using all the old boats I could get about Milliken's Bend and the mouth of the Yazoo； but taking only ten small regiments； selected out of Blair's division； to make a show of force。 We afterward learned that General Pemberton in Vicksburg had previously dispatched a large force to the assistance of General Bowers； at Grand Gulf and Port Gibson； which force had proceeded as far as Hankinson's Ferry； when he discovered our ostentatious movement up the Yazoo； recalled his men； and sent them up to Haines's Bluff to meet us。 This detachment of rebel troops must have marched nearly sixty miles without rest； for afterward； on reaching Vicksburg； I heard that the men were perfectly exhausted； and lay along the road in groups； completely fagged out。 This diversion； made with so much pomp and display； therefore completely fulfilled its purpose； by leaving General Grant to contend with a minor force； on landing at Bruinsburg； and afterward at Port Gibson and Grand Gulf。
In May the waters of the Mississippi had so far subsided that all our canals were useless； and the roads had become practicable。 After McPherson's corps had passed Richmond； I took up the route of march； with Steele's and Tuttle's divisions。 Blair's division remained at Milliken's Bend to protect our depots there； till relieved by troops from Memphis； and then he was ordered to follow us。 Our route lay by Richmond and Roundabout Bayou； then； following Bayou Vidal we struck the Mississippi at Perkins's plantation。 Thence the route followed Lake St。 Joseph to a plantation called Hard Times； about five miles above Grand Gulf。 The road was more or less occupied by wagons and detachments belonging to McPherson's corps； still we marched rapidly and reached Hard Times on the 6th of May。 Along the Bayou or Lake St。 Joseph were many very fine cotton plantations； and I recall that of a Mr。 Bowie； brother…in…law of the Hon。 Reverdy Johnson； of Baltimore。 The house was very handsome； with a fine； extensive grass…plot in front。 We entered the yard； and； leaving our horses with the headquarters escort； walked to the house。 On the front…porch I found a magnificent grand…piano； with several satin…covered arm…chairs； in one of which sat a Union soldier （one of McPherson's men）； with his feet on the keys of the piano； and his musket and knapsack lying on the porch。 I asked him what he was doing there； and he answered that he was 〃taking a rest；〃 this was manifest and I started him in a hurry； to overtake his command。 The house was tenantless； and had been completely ransacked； articles of dress and books were strewed about； and a handsome boudoir with mirror front had been cast down； striking a French bedstead； shivering the glass。 The library was extensive； with a fine collection of books； and hanging on the wall were two full…length portraits of Reverdy Johnson and his wife； one of the most beautiful ladies of our country； with whom I had been acquainted in Washington at the time of General Taylor's administration。 Behind the mansion was the usual double row of cabins called the 〃quarters。〃 There I found an old negro （a family servant） with several women； whom I sent to the house to put things in order； telling the old man that other troops would follow； and he must stand on the porch to tell any officers who came along that the property belonged to Mr。 Bowie； who was the brother…in…law of our friend Mr。 Reverdy Johnson； of Baltimore； asking them to see that no further harm was done。 Soon after we left the house I saw some negroes carrying away furniture which manifestly belonged to the house； and compelled them to carry it back； and after reaching camp that night； at Hard Times； I sent a wagon back to Bowie's plantation； to bring up to Dr。 Hollingsworth's house the two portraits for safe keeping； but before the wagon had reached Bowie's the house was burned； whether by some of our men or by negroes I have never learned。
At the river there was a good deal of scrambling to get across； because the means of ferriage were inadequate； but by the aid of the Forest Queen and several gunboats I got my command across during the 7th of May； and marched out to Hankiuson's Ferry （eighteen miles）； relieving General Crocker's division of McPherson's corps。 McClernand's corps and McPherson's were still ahead； and had fought the battle of Port Gibson； on the 11th。 I overtook General Grant in person at Auburn； and he accompanied my corps all the way into Jackson； which we reached May 14th。 McClernand's corps had been left in observation toward Edwards's Ferry。 McPherson had fought at Raymond； and taken the left…hand road toward Jackson； via Clinton； while my troops were ordered by General Grant in person to take the right…hand road leading through Mississippi Springs。 We reached Jackson at the same time； McPherson fighting on the Clinton road； and my troops fighting just outside the town； on the Raymond road； where we captured three entire field…batteries； and about two hundred prisoners of war。 The rebels； under General Joe Johnston； had retreated through the town northward on the Canton road。 Generals Grant； McPherson； and I； met in the large hotel facing the State…House； where the former explained to us that he had intercepted dispatches from Pemberton to Johnston； which made it important for us to work smart to prevent a junction of their respective forces。 McPherson was ordered to march back early the next day on the Clinton road to make junction with McClernand； and I was ordered to remain one day to break up railroads； to destroy the arsenal； a foundery； the cotton…factory of the Messrs。 Green； etc。； etc。； and then to follow McPherson。
McPherson left Jackson early on the 15th； and General Grant during the same day。 I kept my troops busy in tearing up railroad…tracks； etc。； but early on the morning of the 16th received notice from General Grant that a battle was imminent near Edwards's Depot； that he wanted me to dispatch one of my divisions immediately； and to follow with the other as soon as I had completed the work of destruction。 Steele's division started immediately； and later in the day I followed with the other division （Tuttle's）。 Just as I was leaving Jackson； a very fat man came to see me； to inquire if his hotel； a large； frame building near the depot； were doomed to be burned。 I told him we had no intention to burn it； or any other house； except the machine…shops； and such buildings as could easily be converted to hostile uses。 He professed to be a law…abiding Union man； and I remember to have said that this fact was manifest from the sign of his hotel； which was the 〃Confederate Hotel；〃 the sign 〃United States〃 being faintly painted out； and 〃Confederate〃 painted over it！ I remembered that hotel； as it was the supper…station for the New Orleans trains when I used to travel the road before the war。 I had not the least purpose； however； of burning it； but； just as we were leaving the town； it burst out in flames and was burned to the ground。 I never found out exactly who set it on fire； but was told that in one of our batteries were some officers and men who had been made prisoners at Shiloh； with Prentiss's division； and had been carried past Jackson in a railroad…train； they had been permitted by the guard to go to this very hotel for supper； and had nothing to pay but greenbacks； which were refused； with insult； by this same law…abiding landlord。 These men； it was said； had quietly and stealthily applied the fire underneath the hotel just as we were leaving the town。
About dark we met General Grant's staff…officer near Bolton Station； who turned us to the right； with orders to push on to Vicksburg by what was known as the upper Jackson Road； which crossed the Big Black at Bridgeport。 During that day （May 16th） the battle of Champion Hills had been fought and won by McClernand's and McPherson's corps； aided by one division of mine （Blairs）； under the immediate command of General Grant； and McPherson was then following the mass of Pemberton's army； disordered and retreating toward Vicksburg by the Edwards's Ferry road。 General Blair's division had come up from the rear； was temporarily attached to McClernand's corps； taking part with it in the battle of Champion Hills； but on the 17th it wa