The Programmme against Vicksburg — how Grant was sent back.
That
Gen. Grant at one time contemplated at least a temporary abandonment of operations on the river, and the transfer of a large portion of his army either to co-operate with
Rosecrans, or to operate from his old bass at
Corinth, in generally believed by the best informed friends of the
Confederacy at
Memphis.
Knowing the formidable nature of our defences fronting the river, and fearing the consequences of a direct attack, he commenced his ditch digging and the exploration of bayous and insignificant creeks, hoping to find some way of turning the position.
Finding this to be as dangerous, if not as impossible, as the more direct mode had been determined to be, he withdrew from the field as it is now understood, with the intention of making an advance else where.
On his arrival at
Memphis he was met by
Adjutant General Thomas, of the
Federal army, who it was announced by the Cincinnati press was sent to the
West with full powers to direct the movements of the armies.
From that moment a change was witnessed.
The troops going up were sent back.--
Gen Grant returned to his old position without delay — and movements have rapidly followed each other to entirely at variance with the previous place of the enemy as to leave no doubt of the fact that not only was
General Grant's backing out policy changed, but also an entirely new plan of operations adopted, and which is now being developed.
Union men at
Memphis have been heard to boastfully declare that
General Thomas was positive in his requirements on meeting
Gen. Grant.
The army of the latter, he is reported to have said, was prepared to open the
Mississippi; it had a mission to perform that must be accomplished; its failure to perform that mission would be at once fatal to the
Union cause; its commander had been furnished with all the men he had deemed necessary, and was supported by a powerful fleet;
the work must be done. If the efforts made had demonstrated that anything more was necessary it would be furnished, but the effort must not be abandoned.
Since the meeting of these officers we have witnessed increased vigilante.
Not only were the troops that
Grant sent up the river turned back, but everything has been done to increase his strength.
A gentleman who left
Memphis a week ago states that reinforcements and appliances were then going forward.
Gen. Thomas is with the army.
Unusually active movements have been in progress, in new directions, for the last few days.
Fortunately our preparations to meet this last desperate move of the enemy remain undisturbed.
