General Grant to General Halleck.—(letter.
before Vicksburg, February 6, 1863.
Enclosed I send you report by Lieutenant-Colonel Wilson, of the prospect of effecting a safe passage into the Yazoo river by the way of Yazoo pass. Admiral Porter will have this pass thoroughly explored by light-draught gunboats, upon which I am putting six hundred riflemen from the army.
It is to be hoped that this expedition will be able to capture all the transports in the Yazoo and tributaries, and destroy two gunboats said to be in course of construction.
They will also attempt to ascend the Yallabusha to Grenada, and if possible destroy the railroad bridges.
The ram that ran the blockade on the 2d inst. has returned to the lower end of the peninsula, opposite Vicksburg.
She went as far as Red river, and some miles up it, capturing and destroying three steamboats loaded with commissary stores, and about sixty prisoners.
I send dispatches every day or two, to be telegraphed from Memphis, but as I do not know that they get through, think it necessary to notify you of the fact.General Grant to General Halleck.-(Cipher telegram.)
before Vicksburg, February 9, 1863.
The continuous rise in the river has kept the army busy to keep out of the water, and much retarded work on the canal.
I hope to be able to say something definite, in a day or so, of the practicability of the other routes mentioned in previous dispatches.General Halleck to General Grant.—(telegram.)
Washington, D. C., February 13, 1863.
Cannot dredge-boats be used with advantage in the canal?
There are four lying idle at Louisville, belonging to Barton, Robinson & Co., canal contractors.