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summer in this balmy clime.
Japan plums and fig-trees grew in the open air, and groves of magnolia and oleander bloomed.
The softness of the atmosphere, redolent with unfamiliar fragrance, and the aspect of the landscape, brilliant with blossoms and verdure, enchanted the soldiers.
‘Here, at last,’ they cried, ‘we have found the sunny South.’
But desolation and destruction fell like a storm-cloud over the scene.
In a few hours a blackened pile was all that remained of the stately mansion; the broad plantation became a camping-ground; the venerable trees in which it was embosomed were hewn down for firewood, and the secluded fields were speedily transformed into a confused and bustling bivouac.1
Grant's orders to McClernand had been explicit and urgent, to seize and occupy Grand Gulf.
In order to appease the unappeasable ambition and conceit of his subordinate, he had given him command of the advance, and charged him with an operation, which, if successful, would have rendered McClernand famous at once.
On the 12th of April, he wrote to that officer: ‘It is my desire that you should get possession of Grand Gulf at the earliest practicable moment. . . . I wanted particularly to see you about the facilities for getting troops from Smith's ’
The movement of troops from Milliken's bend to New Carthage will be so conducted as to allow the transportation of ten days supply of rations, and one-half the allowance of ordnance required by previous orders. Commanders are authorized and enjoined to collect all the beef cattle, corn, and other necessary supplies for the army, on the line of march, but wanton destruction of property, taking of articles useless for military purposes, insulting citizens, going into and searching houses without proper orders from division commanders, are positively prohibited. All such irregularities must be summarily punished. Extract from Grant's General Order for this movement. (See Appendix for order, entire.)
New York Appleton 1885.
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