When this was effected I felt a degree of relief scarcely ever equalled since.  Vicksburg was not yet taken it is true, nor were its defenders demoralized by any of our previous moves.  I was now in the enemy’s country, with a vast river and the stronghold of Vicksburg between me and my base of supplies.  But I was on dry ground on the same side of the river with the enemy.  All the campaigns, labors, hardships and exposures from the month of December previous to this time that had been made and endured, were for the accomplishment of this one object.

I had with me the 13th corps, General McClernand commanding, and two brigades of Logan’s division of the 17th corps, General McPherson commanding—­in all not more than twenty thousand men to commence the campaign with.  These were soon reinforced by the remaining brigade of Logan’s division and Crocker’s division of the 17th corps.  On the 7th of May I was further reinforced by Sherman with two divisions of his, the 15th corps.  My total force was then about thirty-three thousand men.

The enemy occupied Grand Gulf, Haines’ Bluff and Jackson with a force of nearly sixty thousand men.  Jackson is fifty miles east of Vicksburg and is connected with it by a railroad.  My first problem was to capture Grand Gulf to use as a base.

Bruinsburg is two miles from high ground.  The bottom at that point is higher than most of the low land in the valley of the Mississippi, and a good road leads to the bluff.  It was natural to expect the garrison from Grand Gulf to come out to meet us and prevent, if they could, our reaching this solid base.  Bayou Pierre enters the Mississippi just above Bruinsburg and, as it is a navigable stream and was high at the time, in order to intercept us they had to go by Port Gibson, the nearest point where there was a bridge to cross upon.  This more than doubled the distance from Grand Gulf to the high land back of Bruinsburg.  No time was to be lost in securing this foothold.  Our transportation was not sufficient to move all the army across the river at one trip, or even two; but the landing of the 13th corps and one division of the 17th was effected during the day, April 30th, and early evening.  McClernand was advanced as soon as ammunition and two days’ rations (to last five) could be issued to his men.  The bluffs were reached an hour before sunset and McClernand was pushed on, hoping to reach Port Gibson and save the bridge spanning the Bayou Pierre before the enemy could get there; for crossing a stream in the presence of an enemy is always difficult.  Port Gibson, too, is the starting point of roads to Grand Gulf, Vicksburg and Jackson.