Description:

JOHN A. MCCLERNAND
(1812-1900) Union major general who led a division at Shiloh, and later led a corps at Vicksburg and Red River. Close friend of Abraham Lincoln. SIX TRANSPORTS WILL RUN THE BLOCKADE TONIGHT Superb content, war date L.S. as major general, 1p. 4to., 'Smith's Plantation', April 20, 1863, to Admiral David D. Porter (1813-1891) concerning a plan to run the blockade of Vicksburg. In part: '...Please accept my thanks for your kindness in sending the barge. Others remain at James' Plantation. If you can send them also, you will add to my obligations...General Grant has probably advised you that six transports will run the blockade tonight. I venture to suggest that should any of them be disabled it would be important that you should send one or more of your boats to bring them to the transport 'Forest Queen' [which] I will cause to be kept in readiness for the same purpose...' Small chip to the left margin, else very fine. In the opening months of the Vicksburg Campaign, Grant conducted a series of initiatives termed 'bayou operations' with the purpose of building alternate waterways, so troops could be positioned around Vicksburg without being subject to Confederate artillery. All the attempts failed however, and he initially planned on marching his army across the river south of the city, while gunboats under the command of David Porter would sneak past the blockade to support the assault. After a road was constructed to move the Union forces, Admiral Porter made his first run of the bluff on April 16, successfully sending seven gunboats and three transports with minimal damage. A second group of six transports (the ones mentioned in this letter) were sent on April 22, and all but one made it through. The next step of Grant's plan was to divert Confederate attention from the river crossing through a feint by Sherman against Snyder's Bluff, and a cavalry raid, however they were both inconclusive. Forces were eventually deployed elsewhere for other engagements and the Union would settle in for a siege of the city. McClernand would be relieved from command by Grant two weeks prior to the fall of Vicksburg for intemperate and unauthorized communications with the press about on-going campaigns.

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August 25, 2021 10:00 AM EDT
Elkton, MD, US

Alexander Historical Auctions LLC

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