General Grant to General Halleck.—(Cipher telegram.)
before Vicksburg, March 24, 1863.
At last accounts Yazoo pass expedition was yet at Greenwood.
Porter and Sherman are attempting to get into the Yazoo below Yazoo City.
No news from there for several days.
Admiral Farragut holds the river above Port Hudson.General Halleck to General Grant.—(telegram.)
Washington, D. C., March 24, 1863.
I must again call your attention to the importance of your not retaining so many steamers in the Mississippi river.
It is absolutely necessary that some of those boats be returned.
We cannot otherwise supply our armies in Tennessee and Kentucky.
This matter must be attended to at once.General Grant to General Halleck.—(Cipher telegram.)
before Vicksburg, March 25, 1863.
Two rams attempted to run the blockade this morning; one succeeded in a damaged condition.
They were intended to strengthen Admiral Farragut, Admiral Porter is returning.
Did not succeed in reaching the Yazoo.General Grant to General Halleck.—(letter.)
before Vicksburg, March 27, 1863.
All work, excepting repairing the crevasse in the canal levee, has been suspended for several days, the enemy having driven the dredges entirely out. The canal may be useful in passing boats through at night, to be used below, but nothing further.
Admiral Porter has returned from his attempt to reach the Yazoo river below Yazoo City.
The difficult navigation of the bayous from the Yazoo river, through Black bayou and Deer creek, caused so much time to be consumed, that the enemy got wind of the movement in time to blockade the creek just 