asy one, nor unopposed. A place of landing on the east side was to be
sought. The navy failed to silence the Confederate batteries at Grand
Gulf, twenty miles below Vicksburg, so that a landing could be effected
there, and the fleet ran past it, as it had run by Vicksburg. Ten miles
farther down the river a landing place was found at Bruinsburg. By
daylight, on the 1st of May, McClernand's corps and part of McPherson's
had been ferried across, leaving behind all impedimenta, even the
officers' horses, and fighting had already begun in rear of Port Gibson,
about eight miles from the landing. The enemy made a desperate stand,
but was defeated with heavy loss. Grand Gulf was evacuated that night,
and the place became thenceforth a base of operations. Grant had
defeated the enemy's calculation by the celerity with which he had
transferred a large force. He slept on the ground with his soldiers,
without a tent or even an overcoat for covering.

General Joseph E. Johnston had superseded General Beauregard in command
of all the Confederate forces of the Southwest. His business was to
succor General Pemberton and drive Grant back into the river. Sherman
with his corps joined Grant on the 8th. Jackson, the capital of
Mississippi, a Confederate railroad centre and depot of supplies, was
captured on the 14th, the defense being made by Johnston himself. Then
Pemberton's whole army from Vicksburg, 25,000 men, was encountered,
defeated, and forced to retire into the fortress, after losing nearly
5000 men and 18 guns. On the 18th of May Grant's army reached Vicksburg
and the actual siege began.

Since May 1, Grant had won five hard battles, killed and wounded 5200 of
the enemy, captured 40 field guns, nearly 5000 prisoners, and a
fortified city, compelled the abandonment of Grand Gulf and Haines's
Bluff, with their 20 heavy guns, destroyed all the railroads and bridges
available by the enemy, separated their armies, which altogether
numbered 60,000 men, while his own numbered but 45,000, and had
completely invested Vicksburg. It was an astonishing exhibition of
courage, energy, and military genius, calculated to confound his critics
and reestablish him in the confidence of the people. It has been said
that there is nothing in history since Hannibal invaded Italy that is
comparable with it.

The incidents of the siege, abounding in difficult and heroic action,
including an early unsuccessful assault, must be passed over.
Preparation