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

‘ [414] have forces to move on Mobile, but there were certain reasons, which I cannot now explain, which prevented such an attempt.’ The President himself had written to Grant on the subject somewhat earlier: ‘I see by a dispatch of yours that you incline strongly towards an expedition against Mobile. This would appear tempting to me also, were it not that, in view of recent events in Mexico, I am greatly impressed with the importance of reestablishing the national authority in western Texas as soon as possible. I am not making an order, however; that I leave, for the present at least, to the general-in-chief.’

As Grant's views were not accepted, he conformed to those of his superiors, and, immediately after the fall of Jackson, sent Banks a division of troops numbering four thousand men; five thousand others were ordered to Schofield, to operate against Price, in Arkansas, and the Ninth corps was returned to Burnside, in East Kentucky. Troops were also sent to Natchez, and that place was permanently occupied; large quantities of ammunition and five thousand head of cattle, for the rebel armies, here fell into possession of the national commander; the latter was a serious loss to the enemy.

The troops which had been engaged in the various operations of the campaign and siege of Vicksburg were now greatly exhausted, and ‘entirely unfit for any duty requiring much marching,’ but ‘by selecting any duty of immediate pressing importance,’ said Grant, ‘it could be done.’ He had already sent troops and transports to Banks, with which that officer ‘could find no difficulty in keeping the river open from Port Hudson down. Above that,’ said Grant, ‘I will take care of the river.’ Various expeditions