y, and towards night the ships
returned to their post up the river, leaving the Confederates in
possession of the batteries. But the great point had been gained; and
Grant's army was moving on Vicksburg, with nothing to interfere with
its besieging operations.

Then began that series of attacks and repulses, of building trenches,
paralleling, and advancing steadily, until the lines of the Federals
and the Confederates were so close together that the men used to shout
jokes and taunts over the breastworks. All the Confederates were known
as "Johnnies," and all Union soldiers as "Yanks." Often "Johnny" would
call out, "Well, Yank, when are you coming into town?" Sometimes the
answer was, "We propose to celebrate the Fourth of July there." The
"Johnnies" did not believe this; but it was true, nevertheless, for on
July 4 Grant's victorious army marched into Vicksburg. A day or two
later the Confederate works at Port Hudson and Grand Gulf were
surrendered to the Federals, and the Mississippi was again open for
commerce throughout its length.

When the fall of Vicksburg had thus left the river clear, Admiral
Porter was ordered to take his fleet up the Red River, and clear away
any Confederate works that he might find on the banks of that stream.
Gen. A. J. Smith, with a strong body of troops, accompanied him; while
Gen. Banks was to march his troops overland from Texas, and join the
expedition at Shreveport. For several days the gunboats pressed
forward up the crooked stream, meeting with no opposition, save from
the sharp-shooters who lined the banks on either side, and kept up a
constant fire of small-arms.

Shreveport was reached in safety; and, after a short halt, the
flotilla started again on their voyage up the river. They had
proceeded but a short distance when a courier came galloping down the
river's bank, waving a despatch, which he handed to Admiral Porter.

[Illustration: Manning the Yards.]

"The despatch read, 'Gen. Banks badly defeated; return,' Here was a
dilemma to be placed in,--a victorious army between us and our own
forces; a long, winding, shallow river wherein the vessels were
continually grounding; a long string of empty transports, with many
doubtful captains, who were constantly making excuses to lie by or to
land (in other words, who were trying to put their vessels into the
power of the Confederates); and a thousand points on the river where
we could be attacked with great advantage by the en