Adam Badeau, Military history of Ulysses S. Grant from April 1861 to April 1865. Volume 1

General Halleck to General Grant.—(letter.)

Yours of March 29th is just received. Your explanation in regard to sending back steamers is satisfactory. I hope you will keep in mind the great importance of not unnecessarily detaining them, on account of the great entanglement it causes the quartermaster department in supplying our Western armies.

In regard to your dispatches, it is very probable that many fail to reach here in time. It is exceedingly important that General Banks should be kept advised of every thing that is done in your vicinity, and the only way he can get this information is through these headquarters.

You are too well advised of the anxiety of the Government for your success, and its disappointment at the delay, to render it necessary to urge upon you the importance of early action. I am confident that you will do every thing possible to open the Mississippi river. In my opinion this is the most important operation of the war, and nothing must be neglected to insure success.

General Grant to General Halleck.—(Cipher telegram.)

The Yazoo expedition has reached the Mississippi. My forces in a few days will be all concentrated here. Grand Gulf is the point at which I expect to strike, and send an army corps to Port Hudson, to cooperate with Banks. Will reach the Mississippi at New Carthage, now in my possession, with wagon road, and canal, and bayous navigable for tugs and barges, between here and there

General Grant to General Halleck.—(letter)

There is nothing in the way now of my throwing troops into Grand Gulf, and destroying the works there, and then sending them on to Port Hudson to cooperate with General Banks in