David D. Porter to United States Mississippi Squadron, February 1, 1863

Near Vicksburg, February 1, 1863.

Admiral Davip D. PORTER, Commanding Mississippi Squadron :

DEAR Sim: The Northern press, stimulated by parties here, have sown broadcast over our country the most malicious charges and insinuations against me personally, in consequence of my failure to reduce Vicksburg. I have some friends that will, 1 know, be sadly troubled by these reports. You observed the embarkation of my troops, their movement to the point of attack, ana their re-embarkation; you know whether I took all possible means to gain information, and whether I acted with promptness or otherwise.

For the satisfaction of my brother, John Sherman, in the Senate, I would solicit a few lines from you on the matter generally, whether to your knowledge I brought my forces in good condition and well supplied to Young’s Point; whether I delayed unnecessarily ; whether the point of disembarkation was not the best and only one afforded me, and whether I did hot meet all difficulties promptly as they arose; whether I did not propose to you the attack on the Post of Arkansas, as the best possible use we could make of time whilst awaiting the arrival of Grant and Banks, and generally whether I acted the part of an intelligent officer or that of an insane fool.

With the utmost confidence in your judgment, I will ever remain, your friend and servant,

UNITED STATES MISSISSIPPI SQUADEON, Yazoo River, February 3, 1863. Maj. Gen. W. T. SHERMAN:

GENERAL : I have received your letter of February 1. I have read with much indignation and surprise the malicious attacks of the Northern press. The same indignation is felt by all under my command. We understand perfectly the motives by which newspaper reporters are actuated in these matters, viz, your order to prevent any improper and unauthorized agents of the press following the army and furnishing the enemy with accounts of our anticipated movement. I recognize in your order the wisdom of a military leader. I take the liberty of inclosing some reports* I made to the honorable Secretary of the Navy. If I have made any mistake therein in relation to the assault at Vicksburg, it was owing to information I received from several quarters, and from my desire that you should have full credit for your untiring efforts to take Vicksburg.- From the day I became acquainted with you at Memphis until our embarkation at Yazoo River for Arkansas Post, 1 have to remark that I never saw anything more promptly or better conducted, and I do not believe that any expedition of such magnitude was ever conducted with more order or system. It was the remark of my“The accompanying inclosures, taken from the Annual Report of the Secretary of the Navy, are pichanhy the documents referred to. f ae

self and all those about me, and we predicted the best results at Vicksburg from. seeing things commence so auspiciously. The landing at Johnson’s place, and the taking position under the hills of Vicksburg, are all matters you will find mentioned in my report, and as it was all written previous to any attack on you by the press, and merely in accordance with my duties, no one can suppose me influenced by what has since taken place.

As to the Arkansas Post affair, it originated with yourself entirely, and you proposed it to me on the night you embarked the troops, and before it was known you had been relieved and that General McClernand had arrived. Whatever disposition was made of the troops after landing, your plans, at least, were carried out, as far as the state of the woods and country would admit of, and the position you took so promptly, under adverse circumstances, and without any knowledge of the country, would have enabled you to cut off five times the number of the enemy bad they been there.

In conclusion, general, permit me to say that I feel as indignant as you can be at the attacks made on you. They would hardly be worth notice, except for the satisfaction of your friends. As I am sure you have no political aspirations, you can well afford to pass without notice what is said by the press, which is not in all cases the most loyal. You possess in an eminent degree the confidence and love of your soldiers, who will follow you anywhere, and in saying that, I pay you the highest compliment that can be paid a general.

I have the honor to remain, very respectfully, your obedieut servant,

Acting Rear-Admiral.
[Inclosure No. 1.]

Yazoo River, December 27, 1862.
Hon. GIDEON WELLES,
Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. 0.:
Sirk: This morning we commenced early the work of removing the