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d across during the 7th of May； and marched out to Hankiuson's Ferry （eighteen miles）； relieving General Crocker's division of McPherson's corps。 McClernand's corps and McPherson's were still ahead； and had fought the battle of Port Gibson； on the 11th。 I overtook General Grant in person at Auburn； and he accompanied my corps all the way into Jackson； which we reached May 14th。 McClernand's corps had been left in observation toward Edwards's Ferry。 McPherson had fought at Raymond； and taken the left…hand road toward Jackson； via Clinton； while my troops were ordered by General Grant in person to take the right…hand road leading through Mississippi Springs。 We reached Jackson at the same time； McPherson fighting on the Clinton road； and my troops fighting just outside the town； on the Raymond road； where we captured three entire field…batteries； and about two hundred prisoners of war。 The rebels； under General Joe Johnston； had retreated through the town northward on the Canton road。 Generals Grant； McPherson； and I； met in the large hotel facing the State…House； where the former explained to us that he had intercepted dispatches from Pemberton to Johnston； which made it important for us to work smart to prevent a junction of their respective forces。 McPherson was ordered to march back early the next day on the Clinton road to make junction with McClernand； and I was ordered to remain one day to break up railroads； to destroy the arsenal； a foundery； the cotton…factory of the Messrs。 Green； etc。； etc。； and then to follow McPherson。
McPherson left Jackson early on the 15th； and General Grant during the same day。 I kept my troops busy in tearing up railroad…tracks； etc。； but early on the morning of the 16th received notice from General Grant that a battle was imminent near Edwards's Depot； that he wanted me to dispatch one of my divisions immediately； and to follow with the other as soon as I had completed the work of destruction。 Steele's division started immediately； and later in the day I followed with the other division （Tuttle's）。 Just as I was leaving Jackson； a very fat man came to see me； to inquire if his hotel； a large； frame building near the depot； were doomed to be burned。 I told him we had no intention to burn it； or any other house； except the machine…shops； and such buildings as could easily be converted to hostile uses。 He professed to be a law…abiding Union man； and I remember to have said that this fact was manifest from the sign of his hotel； which was the 〃Confederate Hotel；〃 the sign 〃United States〃 being faintly painted out； and 〃Confederate〃 painted over it！ I remembered that hotel； as it was the supper…station for the New Orleans trains when I used to travel the road before the war。 I had not the least purpose； however； of burning it； but； just as we were leaving the town； it burst out in flames and was burned to the ground。 I never found out exactly who set it on fire； but was told that in one of our batteries were some officers and men who had been made prisoners at Shiloh； with Prentiss's division； and had been carried past Jackson in a railroad…train； they had been permitted by the guard to go to this very hotel for supper； and had nothing to pay but greenbacks； which were refused； with insult； by this same law…abiding landlord。 These men； it was said； had quietly and stealthily applied the fire underneath the hotel just as we were leaving the town。
About dark we met General Grant's staff…officer near Bolton Station； who turned us to the right； with orders to push on to Vicksburg by what was known as the upper Jackson Road； which crossed the Big Black at Bridgeport。 During that day （May 16th） the battle of Champion Hills had been fought and won by McClernand's and McPherson's corps； aided by one division of mine （Blairs）； under the immediate command of General Grant； and McPherson was then following the mass of Pemberton's army； disordered and retreating toward Vicksburg by the Edwards's Ferry road。 General Blair's division had come up from the rear； was temporarily attached to McClernand's corps； taking part with it in the battle of Champion Hills； but on the 17th it was ordered by General Grant across to Bridgeport； to join me there。
Just beyond Bolton there was a small hewn…log house； standing back in a yard； in which was a well； at this some of our soldiers were drawing water。 I rode in to get a drink； and； seeing a book on the ground； asked some soldier to hand it to me。 It was a volume of the Constitution of the United States； and on the title…page was written the name of Jefferson Davis。 On inquiry of a negro； I learned that the place belonged to the then President of the Southern Confederation。 His brother Joe Davis's plantation was not far off； one of my staff…officers went there； with a few soldiers； and took a pair of carriage…horses； without my knowledge at the time。 He found Joe Davis at home； an old man； attended by a young and affectionate niece； but they were overwhelmed with grief to see their country overran and swarming with Federal troops。
We pushed on； and reached the Big Black early； Blair's troops having preceded us by an hour or so。 I found General Blair in person； and he reported that there was no bridge across the Big Black； that it was swimming…deep； and that there was a rebel force on the opposite side； intrenched。 He had ordered a detachment of the Thirteenth United States Regulars； under Captain Charles Ewing； to strip some artillery…horses； mount the men； and swim the river above the ferry； to attack and drive away the party on the opposite bank。 I did not approve of this risky attempt； but crept down close to the brink of the river… bank； behind a corn…crib belonging to a plantation house near by； and saw the parapet on the opposite bank。 Ordering a section of guns to be brought forward by hand behind this corn…crib； a few well…directed shells brought out of their holes the little party that was covering the crossing； viz。； a lieutenant and ten men； who came down to the river…bank and surrendered。 Blair's pon… toon…train was brought up； consisting of India…rubber boats； one of which was inflated； used as a boat； and brought over the prisoners。 A pontoon…bridge was at once begun； finished by night； and the troops began the passage。 After dark； the whole scene was lit up with fires of pitch…pine。 General Grant joined me there； and we sat on a log； looking at the passage of the troops by the light of those fires； the bridge swayed to and fro under the passing feet； and made a fine war…picture。 At daybreak we moved on； ascending the ridge； and by 10 a。m。 the head of my column； long drawn out； reached the Benton road； and gave us command of the peninsula between the Yazoo and Big Black。 I dispatched Colonel Swan； of the Fourth Iowa Cavalry； to Haines's Bluff； to capture that battery from the rear； and he afterward reported that he found it abandoned； its garrison having hastily retreated into Vicksburg； leaving their guns partially disabled； a magazine full of ammunition； and a hospital full of wounded and sick men。 Colonel Swan saw one of our gunboats lying about two miles below in the Yazoo； to which he signaled。 She steamed up； and to its commander the cavalry turned over the battery at Haines's Bluff； and rejoined me in front of Vicksburg。 Allowing a couple of hours for rest and to close up the column； I resumed the march straight on Vicksburg。 About two miles before reaching the forts； the road forked； the left was the main Jackson road； and the right was the 〃graveyard〃 road； which entered Vicksburg near a large cemetery。 General Grant in person directed me to take the right…hand road； but； as McPherson had not yet got up from the direction of the railroad…bridge at Big Black； I sent the Eighth Missouri on the main Jackson road； to push the rebel skirmishers into town； and to remain until relieved by McPherson's advance； which happened late that evening； May 18th。 The battalion of the Thirteenth United States Regulars； commanded by Captain Washington； was at the head of the column on the right…hand road； and pushed the rebels close behind their parapets； one of my staff； Captain Pitzman； receiving a dangerous wound in the hip； w