The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union And Confederate Armies. Series 1, Volume 17, In Two Parts. Part 1, Reports. Page: 709
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mation of the operations both of our land and naval forces and of the
enemy, particularly challenges my commendation and thanks.
To Colonel Parsons, assistant quartermaster and master of transports,
I also offer my acknowledgments, not only for the successful discharge
of arduous duty in his department, but for important services as volun-
teer aide in bearing orders in the face of danger on the field; and to
Major Williams, surgeon of the Second Illinois Light Artillery, I am
also indebted for professional usefulness.
The maps and drawings herewith submitted will.illustrate the dispo-
sition of the land forces, the position of the gunboats, the defenses of
the enemy, the field of operations, and the surrounding country.
While mourning the loss of the dead and sympathizing with the
bereavement of their kindred and friends and the suffering of the
wounded, we should offer our heartfelt gratitude to Almighty God for
the complete success vouchsafed to our arms in so just a cause.
JOHN A. Mc CLERNAND,
Major-G eneral, Commanding.
Lieut. Col. JOHN A. RAWLINs,
Assistant Adjutant- General, Department of the Tennessee.
[Addenda.]
JANUARY -, 1863.
Reasons for the Arkansas River Expedition.
1st. The necessity of opening and securing communication by the
Mississippi River between a point near Vicksburg and Memphis, which
was obstructed near the mouth of the Arkansas by armed detachments
sent from the Post of Arkansas.
2d. One of these detachments a few days before the attack on the
Post had seized a Government transport, the Blue Wing, laden with
valuable munitions on their way to General Sherman, which were much
needed by this army, and which were turned against us in the engage-
ment before the Post; and numerous other transports had been fired
into.
3d. I had urged upon General Gorman, at Helena, on 28th of Decem-
ber, on my way down the river, either to reduce or invest the Post.
4th. After the Vicksburg expedition had been left unsupported by
the retirement of General Grant's army from Oxford to Holly Springs,
and particularly after the repulse of the expedition under General Sher-
man near Vicksburg, it would have been criminal to have renewed the
attack upon that place, wholly without any kind of support or co-opera-
tion.
5th. The retirement of General Grant's army left Price's army at
Grenada at liberty to re-enforce the garrison at Vicksburg, which was
done to such an extent as to give the enemy, independently of his works,
a large numerical superiority over us.
6th. General Banks had not been heard of, nor was it believed that
he could reach Port Hudson and Vicksburg before I could return from
this expedition.
7th. Had I not embarked on this expedition my forces must have
been rusting in comparative idleness at Milliken's Bend up to this time.
8th. Vicksburg cannot be reduced by a front attack, unsupported by
co-operation from the rear of the place, except by a very'large land and
naval force and after great delay. The golden moment for the reduc
tion of Vicksburg was allowed to pass unimproved.
JOHN A. McCLERNAND709
OHA, xxIx.
ARKANSAS POST.
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The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union And Confederate Armies. Additions and Corrections to Series 1, Volume 17. (Pamphlet)
Errata sheets for the Records of the War of the Rebellion include additions and corrections to the text and the index for Series 1, Volume 17.
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United States. War Department. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union And Confederate Armies. Series 1, Volume 17, In Two Parts. Part 1, Reports., book, 1886; Washington D.C.. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth154626/m1/720/?q=%221862%22: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.