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Mar 22 1863 (Sunday)

The impending failure of his efforts to find a path through the winding waterways of the Delta Region is becoming more and more clear to U.S. Grant. "The expedition by the way of Yazoo Pass seems to have come to a dead-lock at Greenwood. More forces are on the way to them, but I doubt of their being of any service." Grant gives General Quimby the option of returning or pushing forward to Fort Pemberton. "I leave it to your judgment to say whether the expedition with you should return from Greenwood or prosecute the attack further." To Sherman, Grant confides, 'I regret that the chances look so gloomy for getting through to the Yazoo....I had made so much calculation upon the expedition down Yazoo Pass, and now again by the route proposed by Admiral Porter." It is now clear to General Grant that he must devise another plan for cracking the formidable Vicksburg defenses. A captured Federal officer is asked what he thought Grant was doing: "Hasn't the old fool tried this ditching and flanking five times already?" "Yes," replied the prisoner, "but he has thirty-seven more plans in his pocket."

BEFORE VICKSBURG, March 22, 1863. - Maj. Gen. N. P. BANKS, Comdg. Dept. of the Gulf: Admiral Porter, with five gunboats, and Major-General Sherman, with a division of troops, are now attempting to get into the Yazoo....They got in as far as Deer Creek without any great difficulty, but I fear a failure of getting farther. This experiment failing, there is nothing left for me but to collect all my strength and attack Haynes' Bluff. This will necessarily be attended with much loss, but I think it can be done....My effective force, including all arms, will be between 60,000 and 70,000, if I bring all from Memphis that can be spared in an emergency. An attack on Haynes' Bluff cannot possibly take place under two weeks, if so soon. My forces are now scattered, and the difficulty of getting transportation is very great. U. S. GRANT.

With no room to turn his boats around, Admiral David Porter is forced to back his fleet out of the maze of tangled bayous. Rebel pioneers are frantically trying to chop down enough trees to block their route to the Sunflower River when Sherman's men arrive. "The enemy had begun...to obstruct [Porter's] progress by felling trees in the channel and firing from ambush on his working parties when exposed on the decks or on the banks of the stream....Having reason to believe...the enemy to be in force near the gunboats, we hastened forward...,and about 3 p.m. our advance guard...came in contact with the enemy. Our arrival was very opportune, and the two leading battalions pushed the enemy along the swamp...for about 2 miles, and until they were to the north and rear of the gunboat fleet." General Featherston reports on the progress of the Rebel forces. "We have engaged the enemy here for two days, and driven them back about 5 or 6 miles. We have been fighting their boats.....They were re-enforced...; infantry marched up by land, how many we are not able to say....We need boats, we need ammunition, and will need more men if they advance. We cannot pursue them well without more troops; our forces are worn out."

HDQRS. FIFTY-FOURTH OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY, Opposite Vicksburg. - Capt. G. MOODIE WHITE, A. A. A. G., 2d Brig., 2d Div., 15th A. C., Army of the Mississippi. - SIR: We had marched about 4 miles when the advance guard of the First Brigade was fired upon by the enemy, and brisk skirmishing was soon heard in front....Major-General Sherman came up at the moment, and ordered me to advance in line of battle....We advanced...through the woods 2 miles, and when we emerged into an open field we could see our gunboats close at hand....I called in the skirmishers, and advanced up the road by the right flank until we met the infantry force in company with the gunboats....My dispositions for rear guard were scarcely completed when the enemy appeared to the eastward...being followed by our troops at very long musket range....The gunboat Carondelet threw a few shells, by way of impetus to their backward movement, with excellent effect....We moved along at a snail's pace, keeping in rear of the last gunboat, until sundown, when we were relieved....I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, C. W. FISHER, Major, Commanding Fifty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry.


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Mar 23 1863 (Monday)

Despite the fact that the Union forces in his front have retreated, "Blizzards" Loring is adamant that more troops should be sent to reinforce Fort Pemberton. "This undoubtedly is the important point to be held.....Unless this place is strongly fortified, they will return again." Loring is proven correct when General Quimby's reinforced column is sighted moving down the Tallahatchie River. Quimby reports, "I induced Lieutenant-Commander Foster to move down with the Chillicothe and De Kalb to draw the fire of the fort....The guns of the fort made no response. General Ross and myself...could distinctly see the guns, but the gunners kept under cover, evidently reserving their fire for a nearer approach of the gunboats."

JACKSON, March 23, 1863--9 p.m. - Brigadier-General MOORE, Yazoo City: General Loring reports enemy returning with re-enforcements of men and gunboats to attack Fort Pemberton. It is necessary that the heavy guns should go up unless....Have boats and your entire command ready to move on summons from General Loring. J. C. PEMBERTON.

The two Union warships of Admiral Farragut, operating on the Mississippi River between Port Hudson and Vicksburg, have drawn the attention of departmental commander Joe Johnston. "Would it be practicable to capture the two Federal vessels which passed Port Hudson...? Have we boats enough for the attempt?" To aid him in obstructing river traffic, Farragut sends a request to Admiral Porter for three additional ships to be sent to him from Vicksburg. However, Porter is off leading the Steele's Bayou expedition and the request falls to the desk of the ram fleet commander Alfred W. Ellet. "I have received a written communication from Admiral Farragut, in which he informs me that he had requested from Admiral Porter an iron-clad gunboat and two rams....In consequence of the failure to get the fleet above that point, he is entirely too weak." General Ellet leaps at the opportunity to assist Farragut and issues the necessary orders, under his own authority, to his nephew Charles Rivers Ellet. "You will proceed in command of the rams Switzerland and Lancaster to pass the batteries at Vicksburg..., and report to Admiral Farragut below....You will not, in the event that either boat is disabled, attempt under fire of the batteries to help...the other boat, but will run on down, it being of primary importance that one boat at least should get safely by."

U.S. FLAG-SHIP HARTFORD, Below Vicksburg, March 23, 1863. - Brig. Gen. ALFRED W. ELLET, Commanding Mississippi Marine Brigade: - GENERAL: I have written Admiral Porter to the effect that I am most desirous of having an iron-clad gunboat and two rams below Vicksburg, to maintain the control of the river between this place and Port Hudson. The Red River trade is now the only resource of the enemy for their supplies at both Vicksburg and Port Hudson. The failure of my vessels to get by Port Hudson has reduced me to the necessity of asking the above assistance from Admiral Porter, but I am unwilling to interfere with the admiral's command in any way, but I feel assured that if he were here he would grant the assistance I so much need to carry out this great object. I beg to assure you that nothing would be more gratifying to me than to have two of your rams, and I remain, truly, your obedient servant, D. G. FARRAGUT, Rear-Admiral.

Jefferson Davis issues a proclamation setting aside Friday as a national day of "fasting and prayer." The decree draws the sardonic comment, "Fasting in the midst of famine!" from the hungry residents of Richmond. Not to be outdone, President Lincoln issues his own proclamation to "set apart Thursday, the 30th day of April 1863, as a day of national humiliation, fasting, and prayer."

GENERAL ORDERS, No. 46. - HDQRS. ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, March 23, 1863. In obedience to the proclamation of the President of the Confederate States, setting apart Friday, the 27th of March, as a day of fasting and prayer for the nation, all duties will be suspended on that day in the Army of Northern Virginia, except such as are necessary for its safety and subsistence. Religious services appropriate to the occasion will be performed by the chaplains in Their respective regiments. Soldiers! no portion of our people have greater cause to be thankful to Almighty God than yourselves....Devoutly thankful for His signal mercies, let us bow before the Lord of Hosts, and join our hearts with millions in our land in prayer "that He will continue His merciful protection over our cause; that He will scatter our enemies and set at naught their evil designs, and that He will graciously restore to our beloved country the blessings of peace and security." R. E. LEE, General.



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Mar 24 1863 (Tuesday)

Throughout the Vicksburg campaign, General John Pemberton has kept his headquarters at Jackson, Mississippi. Relying upon General Stevenson in Vicksburg, and General Gardner in Port Hudson, Pemberton has swiftly and decisively repulsed every Union advance towards the river fortress. Now, with the Union withdrawal from nearby Young's Point, Pemberton is becoming convinced that Grant's army is on the verge of giving up on it's attempts to advance on Vicksburg from the Mississippi River. To deal with the last Union threat left, Pemberton sends reinforcements to Greenwood. "If satisfied enemy is actually leaving Vicksburg, you had better order up another brigade..., as Loring may need more aid."

VICKSBURG, March 24, 1863. - Lieutenant-General PEMBERTON: Close observation with the telescope for the last two days confirms the report of an intelligent deserter that a large part of the forces opposite to us have left; most of them, he states, have gone to Moon Lake, some to Lake Providence, and one division to Deer Creek....The two Federal gunboats are still here....C. L. STEVENSON.

In a letter to President Davis, Joe Johnston reiterates his reasons for asking for reinforcements for Bragg's army in Tullahoma, Tennessee. "In Mississippi, and in Middle Tennessee we cannot foresee attack long enough beforehand to be able to re-enforce the threatened army from either of the others....In Middle Tennessee..., his march may be so delayed as to give us three or four days, but in that time troops could only be drawn from East Tennessee, and that department could not furnish more than a small force." To deal with the possible advance or Rosecrans' army, Johnston's plans are related by Colonel W. Preston Johnston: "[The general] thinks the most probable plan of the enemy...is to attempt to go to Chattanooga....If he makes this move, and our forces fall back..., he exposes his flank....With the annoyance of our cavalry, he would not march more than 5 miles a day." Braxton Bragg is still attending to his sick wife, and his absence is sparking rumors that he has been relieved from command. Despite the fact that most of the senior generals in the Army of the Tennessee would love to see Bragg's removal, many officers, including General Bate, believe that such a move would be detrimental to the army.

HEADQUARTERS SECOND BRIGADE, McCOWN'S DIVISION, March 24, 1863. - Hon. LANDON C. HAYNES: - SENATOR: It is thoroughly understood in the Army of Tennessee...that General Bragg has been relieved from the command of the Army of Tennessee. Can it be possible that is or will be so? The moment it is done our army here will gradually begin to degenerate into an armed mob....I understand from high sources that his standing with his officers and men has been made a cause of complaint to the Government. My opinion is the very men who make the complaints will rue it in three months from to-day should he be removed. The truth is, senator, the captious wishes of officers who are ambitious should not be yielded to merely for their gratification. It is a dangerous precedent in an army to gratify the malcontents....Would it not be consistent with your sense of duty to have an interview with the President and urge the retention of General Bragg in his present command...? I am, senator, your obedient servant, WM. B. BATE.

James Longstreet continues to pursue his plans for seizing as much of the food and supplies as possible in the Union controlled portion of North Carolina. "General D. H. Hill is ordered to use all possible dispatch in the execution of the plans for drawing out supplies". To succeed, Longstreet must be able to capture or neutralize the Union garrison forces in the region and his first target is Washington, North Carolina. To General D.H. Hill, Longstreet writes. "The grand thing is to get Washington and its garrison....The moment this is accomplished you can move your entire force against New Berne.....The way seems to me to be clear if we can only be prompt." However, Hill is warned that his primary mission is to gather all the available supplies from the area. "I do not expect you to take Washington...if it is found to be more difficult than you anticipated....The important question is to draw in all of the meat rations that can be had....Every vehicle in the country should be put in use and at liberal rates of transportation so as to haul in supplies for our armies." Not content with being given permission to use Hood and Pickett's divisions for his operations, Longstreet requests that the remaining division of his corps, currently stationed in Northern Virginia, also be sent to him.

HEADQUARTERS, March 24, 1863. - General R. E. LEE, Commanding, &c.:- GENERAL: We can occupy [the] country and draw the supplies out with another division of my old corps, but I do not think it would be prudent to attempt such a move with a less force. The divisions of Generals Pickett and Hood, with one other brigade (Davis'), are all the troops that I can command for this service....If we can supply our army otherwise the expedition should not be made. If it is a case of necessity we should lose no time....I remain, very respectfully, your obedient servant, JAMES LONGSTREET, Lieutenant-General, Commanding.

Ambrose Burnside arrives in Cincinnati, Ohio, to take command of the Department of the Ohio and is given his instructions by Henry Halleck. "One of the first things to which your attention will be called is the expected raid of the enemy from East Tennessee into Kentucky....It will be preferable...to hold your main force in some central position, and at the same time to annoy the enemy and threaten his communications." However, before Burnside can get settled in, he receives a report that Rebel raiders under General Pegram have already struck. General Manson reports, "[The] Rebels took Danville at 4: o'clock....Colonel Wolford made a gallant stand, but was driven back....Estimated strength of rebel force, 12,000. I have no artillery, but will hold my position." "Old Burn" is insistent, "We ought to capture or disperse the whole of Pegram's force," but his attempts are foiled when he learns that "the train carrying [the] Twenty-fifth Indiana Battery to Lebanon was thrown from the track..., and [the] gun carriages and caissons completely destroyed."

HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY BRIGADE, Near Stigall's Ferry, Ky. - Capt. J. O. MARTIN, Asst. Adjt. Gen., Dept. of East Tennessee, Knoxville. - SIR: I...had the whole force, numbering about 1,550 cavalry...moving nearly the whole night....The enemy..., after a slight resistance, retired from before the town, and commenced retreating....We attacked their rear by charging them in the streets of Danville....On entering the suburbs of the town, it was met by a heavy fire force an infantry ambuscade in a thicket....The street fight was brisk for some twenty minutes; rendered more so from the fact that some of the citizens fired at us from the windows....Learning from the citizens that the enemy regarded my force as the advance of a heavy infantry column..., I pushed my command...up to within 2 miles of the Gibraltar, at the Kentucky River bridge....I played this game of bluff, occasionally skirmishing with the enemy, until the cattle had been collected, and then, burning the two bridges over Dick's River (now much swollen by recent rains), I commenced falling back slowly by the Stanford and Somerset road....I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, JNO. PEGRAM, Brigadier-General, Provisional Army Confederate States.


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Mar 25 1863 (Wednesday)

Charles R. Ellet and his uncle John Ellet prepare their rams for passing the Vicksburg batteries. "The wind was extremely unfavorable, and...the puff of [the] escape-pipes could be heard with fatal distinctness below. The flashing of the enemy's signal lights...showed me that concealment was useless. The morning...was beginning to break, and I saw that, if we were to pass at all, it was to be done at once." The Switzerland is struck repeatedly, but despite taking extensive damage makes it down the river. The Lancaster is not so lucky. C.R. Ellet reports, "The Lancaster, I regret to say, is a total loss. Her boilers were exploded, and being a very rotten boat, she went to pieces and sank immediately." When he learns of the departure of the two rams, Admiral Porter explodes in anger and requests an explanation from the ram fleet commander, Alfred Ellet. "Will you please inform me by what authority you sent the rams Lancaster and Switzerland past the batteries at Vicksburg, in open day, and without taking any precaution to guard their hulls. One of these vessels has, in consequence, been sunk, and the other damaged extensively." David Porter is also surprised that the rams tried the dangerous passage during the daylight hours. "I blame myself...for not insisting on General Ellet's waiting for a dark night. I was so much afraid of their impetuosity that it deprived me of sleep all night, but I never for a moment supposed that he would come down in the day-time."

HDQRS. SECOND DISTRICT, DEPT. OF MISS. AND E. LA., Vicksburg, March 25, 1863. - Maj. R. W. MEMMINGER, Assistant Adjutant General. - MAJOR: I have the honor to report that, about 5.30 o'clock this morning, two boats attempted to pass our batteries. One of them was sunk about 2 miles below the town, with almost all on board; the other was seriously disabled. When she had floated out of range of our batteries, the gunboat Albatross took her in tow. She is now helpless, and it will apparently take some time for them to repair her damages....I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant, C. L. STEVENSON, Major-General, Commanding.

The cavalry command of Nathan Bedford Forrest continues to make it's presence felt in Middle Tennessee. Forrest's men are out to destroy the stockaded railroad bridge over the Little Harpeth River near the small town of Brentwood, midway between Franklin and Nashville, and any Union forces that may stand in their way. Union General Gordon Granger reports on the engagement, "The rebels...were moving westward; [we] pursued and overtook them, 6 miles out; sharp engagement...; When success seemed certain, Forrest came with a strong force on the left. We were compelled to fall back to Brentwood." Forrest immediately sends in a flag of truce "demanding an immediate and unconditional surrender," but is turned down by Union commander Colonel Edward Bloodgood who replies: "Come and take us!"

HDQRS. FIRST DIVISION, FIRST CAVALRY CORPS. - MAJOR: Major De Moss promptly attacked them. As soon as this was done, with my escort I moved rapidly to the right of the pike, and...found the enemy were preparing to make their escape toward Nashville....By this time the firing in front between the enemy and Major De Moss became general. The enemy had been driven inside of their works, and I ordered my escort to charge them. Just as this order was given, and General Armstrong had taken position on the left, the enemy hoisted a white flag, and surrendered, with all their arms, wagons, baggage, and equipments....I refer you to official report of killed and wounded on our side, which is very small indeed. The enemy lost about 15 killed and 30 wounded and 800 prisoners....Respectfully submitted. N. B. FORREST, Brigadier-General.

Confusion and a lack of an adequate number of light draft transports are plaguing General Quimby's efforts to mount an attack on Fort Pemberton, but General Halleck is emphatic. "I must again call...attention to the importance of your not retaining so many steamers...It is absolutely necessary that a part of these boats be returned." The expedition is also threatened by Naval commander Lieutenant Foster's orders to return "with his whole fleet" by the end of the month. Quimby relates, "Should he act on this determination, the land forces would be left here in a very precarious position, with nearly 200 miles of unguarded water communications between them and the Mississippi. I shall do my best to induce him to leave behind the five light-draught gunboats now in the Tallahatchee, but I scarcely hope to change his determination." Quimby issues orders for six of his transports to return to Helena and must crowd his infantrymen into the remaining ships.

LEBANON NO. 2, Tallahatchee River, Miss., March 25, 1863. - Brigadier-General Ross, Commanding Division: - GENERAL: In obedience to orders...the steamers Citizen and Lebanon have been placed in readiness to get under way for Helena....My command now crowd the transports assigned me, and the sickness in my brigade is fearfully increasing. It would be simply murdering my men to crowd them....It seems to me that every foot of transportation now here should be retained until our situation is better known....Nearly two hundred new-made [graves] at Helena contain the bodies of men of my command who were murdered outright by crowding them into dirty, rotten transports, as closely as slaves in the "middle passage...." You will, therefore, excuse me, general, if I earnestly protest against any probable repetition of such an outrage upon the gallant men who confidently believe that I will do all I can to insure their comfort and safety....I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, CLINTON B. FISK.


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Mar 26 1863 (Thursday)

President Lincoln continues to press his military leaders for the formation of additional Black regiments. To that end, Edwin Stanton orders Brigadier-General Lorenzo Thomas to make a tour of U.S. Grant's department. "The President desires that you should confer freely with Major-General Grant...and explain...the importance attached by the Government to the use of the colored population...particularly for the organization of their labor and military strength." Thomas is directed to find "military officers...willing to take command of colored troops" and is given authorization "to issue...letters of appointment for field and company officers, and to organize such troops for military service...[as] can be obtained." General Ullmann is sent on a similar mission to Nathaniel Banks' department and Banks is informed that, "It is the desire of the Department that a large military force from the colored population of Louisiana should be raised immediately." Lincoln also takes a personal hand in the endeavor by writing to Andrew Johnson, the military governor of Tennessee and former slave-holder, about the possibility of raising Black troops in his state.

PRIVATE. - EXECUTIVE MANSION, Washington, March 26, 1863. - Hon. ANDREW JOHNSON: - MY DEAR SIR: I am told you have at least thought of raising a negro military force. In my opinion the country now needs no specific thing so much as some man of your ability and position to go to this work. When I speak of your position, I mean that of an eminent citizen of a slave State, and himself a slave-holder. The colored population is the great available, and yet unavailed of, force for restoring the Union. The bare sight of 50,000 armed and drilled black soldiers upon the banks of the Mississippi would end the rebellion at once. And who doubts that we can present that sight if we but take hold in earnest? If you have been thinking of it, please do not dismiss the thought. Yours, very truly, A. LINCOLN.

Lincoln's proclamation, suspending the writ of habeas corpus and subjecting to martial law "all person...resisting militia drafts," is held to be constitutional in an unanimous decision by the United States Supreme Court. The original case resulted from a decision by the Wisconsin Supreme Court which ruled that the President did not have the right to suspend the writ in that state. The decision is especially important with a national draft looming in the near future. War Department Special Counsel T.O. Howe sends the good news to Edwin Stanton. "The supreme court has just decided unanimously the draft of last fall to be valid, and has denied the writ of habeas corpus."

WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington City, March 26, 1863. - Hon. T. O. HOWE, U.S. Senate, Madison, Wis.: I thank you with exceeding great joy for your telegram....It will do much to correct the evil occasioned by the action of your supreme court last fall. Accounts from all parts of the country show that the national spirit is growing stronger and stronger. EDWIN M. STANTON.

John S. Mosby is rewarded for his fine achievements with a promotion to captain. The appointment is sent to him by Jeb Stuart who advises the new captain, "By all means ignore the term "Partisan Ranger." It is in bad repute. Call your command "Mosby's Regulars," and it will give it a tone of meaning and solid worth which all the world will soon recognize." Stuart also writes, "I was greatly obliged to you for the saddle of [General] Stoughton....We must have that unprincipled scoundrel [Colonel Percy] Wyndham. Can you catch him...?" Mosby celebrates by conducting another successful raid.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, March 26, 1863. - General S. COOPER, Adjutant and Inspector General, Richmond, Va. - GENERAL: Capt. John S. Mosby attacked and routed a body of the enemy's cavalry on the Little River turnpike, near Chantilly. He reports 10 killed and wounded, and a lieutenant and 30 men, with their horses, arms, and equipments captured. He sustained no loss. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, R. E. LEE, General.


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Mar 27 1863 (Friday)

The supplies that Longstreet's men are gathering in North Carolina are of vital importance to the Army of Northern Virginia. Lee describes the condition of his men to James Seddon. "The troops...have for some time been confined to reduced rations, consisting of 18 ounces of flour, 4 ounces of bacon of indifferent quality, with occasionally supplies of rice, sugar, or molasses....I do not think it is enough to continue them in health and vigor, and I fear they will be unable to endure the hardships of the approaching campaign. Symptoms of scurvy are appearing among them, and to supply the place of vegetables each regiment is directed to...gather sassafras buds, wild onions, garlic, lamb's quarter, and poke sprouts." Despite his reliance upon the success of Longstreet's mission, Lee is unwilling to comply with "Old Pete's" request for more troops.

HEADQUARTERS, Fredericksburg, Va., March 27, 1863. - Gen. JAMES LONGSTREET, Commanding, &c.: - GENERAL: I consider it of the first importance to draw from the invaded districts every pound of provision and forage we can. It will lighten the draught from other sections and give relief to our citizens....You have about 40,000 effective men; the enemy can bring out no more. I feel assured that with equal numbers you can go where you choose. If this army is further weakened we must retire to the line of the Annas and trust to a battle nearer Richmond....I am, with great esteem, very truly, yours, R. E. LEE, General.

"Cump" Sherman reports back to General Grant at Milliken's Bend, marking the end of the Steele's Bayou expedition. Says Sherman, "At noon...[the] pickets were drawn in, [and] all the men and working parties were embarked on the gunboats and transports, and we returned to our original camps." Confirming the fact that Sherman's men and Porter's boats have indeed left the Delta are two escaped prisoners who inform General Maury that "Sherman's expedition returned to the fleet a failure."

HEADQUARTERS MAURY'S DIVISION, Vicksburg, March 27, 1863. - Major [J. J.] REEVE, Assistant Adjutant-General. - MAJOR: The expedition under General Sherman and Admiral Porter, which endeavored to penetrate, by way of Steele's Bayou, Black Bayou, Deer Creek, Roiling Fork, and Sunflower River, into Yazoo River, has been defeated and driven back. Colonel Ferguson now occupies Black Bayou, and has established communication with General Lee at Lower Deer Creek....I cannot too highly commend Colonel Ferguson's energy and daring. To his prompt soldiership we are indebted for the arrest of the progress of the expedition until such re enforcements came to him as have enabled us to defeat it....Very respectfully, major, your obedient servant, DABNEY H. MAURY, Major-General.

In Charleston, Francis D. Lee reports that "work on the torpedo ram has nearly come to a stand for the want of iron." Lee has "exhausted every private source" for iron and he asserts that "unless the Government comes to my assistance the work must stop." Lee is backed in his belief that a torpedo ram, "strongly iron-plated, modeled for great speed, and with enormous motive power," would be a "terrible weapon of offense" by General Beauregard. "I fully coincide in the views expressed by Captain Lee....I can but express my regret again that the one being constructed here cannot be finished..., as I consider it much superior for offensive purposes than the two iron-clad gunboats we have now in this harbor." Beauregard's expectation of an imminent attack is heightened by General Ripley's report of a "landing of the enemy on James Island." Ripley states, "I have no doubt that they are making a reconnaissance in some force, with a view of determining the best base of operations against Charleston by land as well as sea." The Union forces, discovered by Ripley's scouts, belong to General David Hunter who is busy preparing his troops for the impending assault on Charleston.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH, Hilton Head, S.C., March 27, 1863. - Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK, General-in-Chief U. S Army, Washington, D.C.: - GENERAL: The last of the iron-clads (the Keokuk) has arrived, and...I have sent a brigade of troops to occupy North Edisto; also a regiment to occupy Cole's Island, at the mouth of Stono Inlet. All the troops destined to take part in the expedition are in complete readiness to move whenever the necessary repairs and additions to the iron-clads shall have been made....I have ordered up here all the troops who were temporarily occupying Jacksonville, Fla.; also five companies of the Seventh Regiment Connecticut Volunteers from Fernandina, and five companies Seventh Regiment New Hampshire Volunteers from Saint Augustine....I have the honor to be, general, with the highest esteem, your very obedient servant, D. HUNTER, Major-General, Commanding.


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Mar 28 1863 (Saturday)

Convinced that the Rebel fortifications at Port Hudson are unassailable, Nathaniel Banks withdraws his command. General Gardner reports, "Enemy has gone back to Baton Rouge....Two gunboats and Essex are all that remain." Banks' new plan is to return his command to western Louisiana for another advance up Bayou Teche and the Atchafalaya, and he informs Henry Halleck of the change. "I went to Bayou Bœuff in person...for the purpose of examining the situation of affairs there and conferring with General Weitzel in regard to our future operations." In preparation of the new campaign, General Weitzel sends the gunboat Diana on a reconnaissance mission and it is not long before Wietzel is informed that Diana has been captured by the enemy. According to Weitzel, "I ordered the Diana by the Grand Lake route to make a reconnaissance....Instead of taking the route I ordered...they went by the Atchafalaya, right in the teeth of the enemy. I believe she and all on board are gone."

HEADQUARTERS, Near Berwick Bay, La., March 28, 1863. - I have the honor to report the capture of the Federal gunboat Diana at this point to-day. She incubated five heavy guns. Boat not seriously injured, and will be immediately put in service. Enemy's loss in killed, wounded, and prisoners, 150. R. TAYLOR, Major-General.

General Quimby struggles to find a way to get at Fort Pemberton and asks that "material for constructing a pontoon bridge 300 feet long" be sent to him. "When the rest of my division arrives, I shall be ready to use such a bridge. The rebels are straining every nerve to hold their position at Fort Pemberton, and every reconnaissance I make is answered by the construction of additional field works." In the Rebel fort, General Loring prepares to meet the new Union attack force and is sent another regiment, the 37th Mississippi, to strengthen his defenses. Loring reports, "Enemy increasing in men and material....There can be no question but that a most formidable expedition is coming down at all hazards through the Pass." However, the efforts of Quimby and Loring are rendered moot when General Grant decides to recall all of Quimby's troops, thus ending the Yazoo Pass expedition.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE, Before Vicksburg, March 28, 1863. - Maj. Gen. B. M. PRENTISS, Comdg. Dist. Eastern Arkansas: - GENERAL: The troops that have gone down Yazoo Pass are now ordered back. On their return to Helena, debark them, and send Hovey's division immediately down to join General McClernand at Milliken's Bend....I do not much like taking troops that have been so long on board steamers, as General Ross' command has, immediately into the field, but it is a necessity. I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, U.S. GRANT.

Allegations that some Confederate officers are paroling prisoners without following proper procedures results in another hit for the shaky prisoner exchange cartel. When Edwin Stanton orders that such paroles will no longer be accepted as valid, new regulations are distributed to the Southern armies. "No more paroles will be accepted. All prisoners of war or deserters...will be sent under guard...to Richmond." In addition, pressure is increasing to free captured Union officers, currently being held in Libby Prison. Colonel Ludlow writes, "It is very necessary to get our officers out of prison. They are suffering." The Union "governor" of Virginia has his own ideas on how to induce the release of the captured Federal officers.

EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT, Wheeling, Va., March 28, 1863. - Colonel HOFFMAN, Commissary-General of Prisoners. - SIR: I want two majors, four captains and ten lieutenants, rebel officers, prisoners of war, belonging to the Virginia rebel army. I desire them to be sent here immediately to be placed at my disposal. I desire to put them in a chain-gang and put them to breaking stone on the national road in this county. I desire to keep them there at hard labor until some Virginia officers are released from hard labor in the penitentiary at Richmond....There is now a wicked devil named Keaton at Camp Chase who shot a Union man in cold blood and threw his little child in the fire in Putnam County, Va. I want him among them. I am, yours, &c., F. H. PEIRPOINT, Governor of Virginia.

Confederate fortunes in Florida begin to rise with the evacuation of the hated Black troops from Jacksonville. In addition, two small skirmishes result in Rebel victories and the capture of two Union battle flags. In Ocklockonee Bay, a Union scouting party is prevented from capturing a blockade runner that has run aground. Captain Scott reports, "I reached...Ocklockonnee Bay, where the schooner Onward, a prize in the hands of the enemy, was aground....I advanced the command at a double-quick...to the beach and opened on the enemy with Maynard rifles at a distance of about 300 yards....After a spirited engagement, which was maintained for an hour and ten minutes, the enemy abandoned the prize and succeeded in making their escape in small boats."

HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF MIDDLE FLORIDA, Quincy, Fla., March 28, 1863. - General THOMAS JORDAN, Chief of Staff, Charleston, S.C. - GENERAL: I have the honor of inclosing to you reports of two skirmishes in this district--the one at Saint Andrew's Bay...; the other at Ocklockonnee Bay....The first was a party of foraging Yankees who had come ashore to steal and plunder; all but 3 of them were killed. The second was a Yankee party sent up the Ocklockonnee Bay to capture a schooner (Onward) which had lately run the blockade....The prompt movements of Captain Scott and...his men enabled them to reach the place before the Yankees could succeed; and...the Yankees were compelled to abandon and burn it....In both cases the flag of the Abolitionists was captured, and I now have them, subject to the order of the commanding general. We sustained no loss in either affair....I am, general, very respectfully, yours, HOWELL COBB, Brigadier-General, Commanding District.

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