Letter of W. T. Sherman to D. D. Porter
Source: United States, Naval War Records Office
Title: Official records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion. / Series I - Volume 23: Naval Forces on Western Waters (April 12, 1862 - December 31, 1862)
Publisher: Government Printing Office
Publication date: 1922
Pages: 605 - 606
Copied from: Cornell University's MoA Multivolume Monographs, Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion (1894 - 1922)
Letter from Major-General Sherman, U. S. Army, to Acting Rear-Admiral Porter, U.S. Navy, suggesting plans of operations.
DEAR SIR: Acting Master Brown having called on me to explain the position of your fleet and enquire of me, What next? I hasten to explain fully. It has been raining here pretty hard, and we have generally been thanking our good luck in getting our artillery stores and men out of that swamp at the nick of time. We now lay in Milliken’s Bend, arranged in brigades and divisions, so as to land. Two courses are open to us: First, land here and intrench a strong camp, from which to cut inland toward Red River, and thereby make that route of supply precarious; also to reach the Mississippi below Vicksburg and prevent boats coming up from Red River, and here await a renewed movement by Grant and learn definite news from Banks. Rumor on shore here is that Banks is attacking Port Hudson and is getting the worst of it.
Another is to go right up and clear out the Post of Arkansas and Little Rock.
It seems the rebels captured the Blue Wing with a mail on board and towing two flats of coal. Something should be done, as the Post of Arkansas is too near the mouth and can annoy our boats.
I had a long, free conversation to-day with General McClernand, who does not have any distinct plans for us, but settled down into the conclusion that we should all land here and retain boats enough to hold 10,000 men, and send all the balance back, should they not be escorted. We expect to discharge them to-morrow. It occurs to me that by putting on board your gunboats a regiment occasionally they could land and do good execution.
I wish you could come up for a few hours and we would talk this matter all over, and I believe General McClernand will do anything you ask.
Should Banks carry Port Hudson and come up, we must try Vicksburg again, and I think the best plan will be to attack the place in front, or at Haynes’ Bluff, feinting on the other; but of this when the time comes.
No doubt Grant is behind the Tallahatchie, and of course Pemberton has reinforced Vicksburg.
If you want any of your gunboats towed up, I will order it and have the tugs when discharged drop down.
Am pained beyond measure to hear of poor Gwin’s state; don’t believe a single Catholic priest is in our fleet; have sent to enquire, but the answer comes back from each division, None. I will send to Steele before this officer leaves.
I am, with great respect, your servant,
Admiral D. D. PORTER,
Commanding Mississippi Squadron.
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