th, entering the place May 30th,
Beauregard having evacuated it May 29th. A few Quaker guns--logs mounted
on wagon-wheels--were the only trophies. Halleck now had 110,000
effectives, Beauregard less than 60,000. Halleck lay inactive at Corinth
for six weeks, when he was summoned to Washington as General-in-Chief.

[Illustration: Portrait.]
Farragut in the Main-Rigging.
From the original by William Page.

Grant once more took command of the forces about Corinth, which
re-enforcements to Eastern Tennessee soon reduced to 42,000. With these
he was expected to guard 200 miles of railroad, from Memphis to Decatur
in Northern Alabama. The Confederates under Van Dorn and Price attempted
to regain Corinth, but in the battles of Iuka, September 19th, and
Corinth, October 3d and 4th, were repulsed with heavy losses. Grant then
took the offensive. Vicksburg, about half-way from north to south on
Mississippi's western boundary, was the only stronghold left to the
Confederates on the great river. Its capture would ideally complete the
western campaign. Grant's plan was for Sherman to descend the river from
Memphis, while he himself simultaneously attacked Vicksburg by land.

[Illustration: Portrait.]
General Henry W. Halleck.

[1863]

So long as the stout-hearted general continued his march south all his
supplies had to be brought over the Mississippi Central Railroad from
Holly Springs, near the Tennessee border. A troop of 3,500 Confederate
cavalry, making a long detour around his army, swooped down upon Holly
Springs, December 20th, captured the garrison of 1,300 men, and
destroyed all the stores, valued at $2,000,000. For two weeks the Union
army had to live from the enemy's country, and then after all to fall
back to Holly Springs. Meanwhile Sherman, ignorant of his superior's ill
fortune, descended the Mississippi, and with a force of 30,000 made
during the last days of the year an unsuccessful attack upon Vicksburg.

Very early in January, 1863, McClernand arrived near Vicksburg with
re-enforcements. The last of the month, Grant, who had given up the land
expedition, took command in person. Sherman's repulse had shown that
Vicksburg could not be taken from the water side. A position must be
gained in the rear. This seemed, and indeed proved, an almost impossible
task. The Mississippi was unusually high, and the surrounding country a
vast network of bayous and swamps. The winter passed away in fruitless
labors