Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. III.djvu/66

 40 LIVES OF THE PRESIDENTS boats attacked the works at Grand Gulf, but made little impression, and that night ran the batteries to a point below. On April 30 the advance of the army was ferried across to Bruinsburg, below Grand Gulf and 30 miles south of Vicksburg, and marched out in the direction of Port Gibson. Everything was made subordinate to the celerity of the movement. The men had no supplies except such as they carried on their persons. Grant him self crossed the river with no personal baggage, and without even a horse; but obtained one raggedly equipped horse on the east side. The advance en countered the enemy, under Gen. Bowen, number ing between 7,000 and 8,000, on May 1, near Port Gibson, routed him, and drove him in full retreat till nightfall. Grant s loss was 131 killed and 719 wounded. The Confederates reported their loss at 448 killed and wounded, and 384 missing; but it was somewhat larger, as Grant captured 650 pris oners. At Port Gibson he learned of the success of Grierson, whom he had despatched from La Grange, April 17, and who had moved southward with 1,000 cavalry, torn up many miles of railroad, destroyed large amounts of supplies, and arrived, with but slight loss, at Baton Rouge, La., May 2. On May 3 Grant entered Grand Gulf, which had been evacuated. He was now opposed by two armies one com manded by Gen. John C. Pemberton at Vicksburg,