aight line against Grant, turned at first to the south,
with the view of breaking the latter's line of communication. This was
not a success, for, as Grant says, with grim humor, "I had no line of
communication to break"; and, moreover, it delayed Pemberton when delay
was of value to Grant in finishing Johnston. After this useless turn to
the southward Pemberton resumed his march to the east, as he should have
done in the beginning, in accordance with Johnston's orders; but Grant
was now more than ready. He did not wait the coming of Pemberton.
Leaving Jackson as soon as he heard of the enemy's advance from
Vicksburg, he marched rapidly westward and struck Pemberton at Champion
Hills. The forces were at this time very nearly matched, and the
severest battle of the campaign ensued, lasting four hours. Grant,
however, defeated Pemberton completely, and came very near capturing
his entire force. With a broken army, Pemberton fell back on Vicksburg.
Grant pursued without a moment's delay, and came up with the rear guard
at Big Black River. A sharp engagement followed, and the Confederates
were again defeated. Grant then crossed the Big Black and the next day
was before Vicksburg, with his enemy inside the works.

When Grant crossed the Mississippi at Bruinsburg and struck into the
interior, he, of course, passed out of communication with Washington,
and he did not hear from there again until May 11, when, just as his
troops were engaging in the battle of Black River Bridge, an officer
appeared from Port Hudson with an order from General Halleck to return
to Grand Gulf and thence cooperate with Banks against Port Hudson.
Grant replied that the order came too late. "The bearer of the despatch
insisted that I ought to obey the order, and was giving arguments to
support the position, when I heard a great cheering to the right of our
line, and looking in that direction, saw Lawler, in his shirt-sleeves,
leading a charge on the enemy. I immediately mounted my horse and rode
in the direction of the charge, and saw no more of the officer who had
delivered the message; I think not even to this day." When Grant reached
Vicksburg, there was no further talk of recalling him to Grand Gulf or
Port Hudson. The authorities at Washington then saw plainly enough what
had been done in the interior of Mississippi, far from the reach of
telegraphs or mail.

As soon as the National troops reached Vicksburg an assault was
attempted, but the plac