only from their water-batteries which
line the shore, but from the batteries that crown the hills,
while the enemy would be protected from the range of our fire.

By examining the map I enclose, you will at once perceive why a
place of so little apparent strength has been enabled to resist
the combined fleets of the Upper and Lower Mississippi. The most
economical plan for the reduction of Vicksburg now, is to push a
column from Memphis or Corinth down the Mississippi Central
Railroad to Jackson, the capital of the State of Mississippi. The
occupation of Jackson, and the command of the railroad to New
Orleans, would compel the immediate evacuation of Vicksburg, as
well as the retreat of the entire rebel army east of that line;
and by another movement of our army from Jackson, Miss., or from
Corinth to Meridan, in the State of Mississippi, on the Ohio and
Mobile Railroad, especially if aided by a movement of our
gun-boats on Mobile, the Confederate forces, with all the
disloyal men and slaves, would be compelled to fly east of the
Tombigbee. Mobile being then in our possession, with 100,000 men
at Meridan, would redeem the entire country from Memphis to the
Tombigbee River. Of course I would have the gun-boats with a
small force at Vicksburg, as auxiliary to this movement. With
regard to the canal, Vicksburg can be rendered useless to the
Confederate army upon the very first rise of the river; but I do
not advise this, because Vicksburg belongs to the United States,
and we desire to hold and fortify it, for the Mississippi River
at Vicksburg and the Vicksburg and Jackson Railroad will become
necessary as a base for our future operations. Vicksburg might
have been reduced eight months ago, as I advised after the fall
of Fort Henry, and with much more ease than it can be done
to-day.

It will be recollected that after a month's attack upon Vicksburg,
commencing June 28, 1862, by the combined Farragut fleet, Porter
mortar flotilla and the gun-boat fleet under Capt. C. H. Davis, the
bombardment of the city was suspended, it being found impossible to
capture and hold it with the forces at command.

In October, 1862, Grant was appointed to the command of the forces
from New Orleans to Vicksburg under the name of the "Department of
Tennessee," and the capture of this "Gibraltar of t