Before writing this letter I surmised what the trouble with Halleck was: inconsistency, vanity, cowardice,--one or all. I had determined that he should find no refuge in the fact that he supposed I would not give him aid. But knowing of the retreat of Beauregard's
[463]
There was no rise in the river, but on the contrary a great fall, so that it was reported to be impossible without three months labor to make a canal deep enough for the naval vessels.
Therefore I left General Williams to co-operate with the fleet in the proposed capture of Vicksburg, although I had learned that it was in the department of Major-General Halleck.
That Halleck might have no delicacy in calling for the co-operation of General Williams I addressed to him the following letter:--
1 War Records, Vol. XV., p. 530.
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