ughout the war Grant was notably considerate and charitable in
respect of the mistakes and the temper of subordinates if he thought
them to be patriotic and capable. His rapid rise excited the jealousy
and personal hostility of many ambitious generals. Of this he was
conscious, but he did not suffer himself to be affected by it so long as
there was no failure in duty. The reply he made to those who asked him
to remove McClernand revealed the principle of his action: "No. I cannot
afford to quarrel with a man whom I have to command."

The Union army, having embarked at Memphis, was landed on the west bank
of the Mississippi River, and the first work undertaken was the digging
of a canal across a peninsula that would allow passage of the transports
to the Mississippi below Vicksburg, where they could be used to ferry
the army across the river, there being higher ground south of the city
from which it could be approached more easily than from any other point.
After weeks of labor, the scheme had to be abandoned as impracticable.
Then various devices for opening and connecting bayous were tried, none
of them proving useful. The army not engaged in digging or in cutting
through obstructing timbers was encamped along the narrow levee, the
only dry land available in the season of flood. Thus three months were
seemingly wasted without result. The aspect of affairs was gloomy and
desperate.

The North became impatient and began grumbling against the general,
doubting his ability, even clamoring for his removal. He made no reply,
nor suffered his friends to defend him. He simply worked on in silence.
Stories of his incapacity on account of drinking were rife, and it may
have been the case that under the dreary circumstances and intense
strain he did sometimes yield to this temptation. But he never yielded
his aim, never relaxed his grim purpose. Vicksburg must fall. As soon as
one plan failed of success another was put in operation. When every
scheme of getting the vessels through the by-ways failed, one thing
remained,--to send the gunboats and transports past Vicksburg by the
river, defying the frowning batteries and whatever impediments might be
met. Six gunboats and several steamers ran by the batteries on the night
of April 16th, under a tremendous fire, the river being lighted up by
burning houses on the shore. Barges and flatboats followed on other
nights. Then Grant's way to reach Vicksburg was found; but it was not an
e