John, A. Moclernand to West Tenn. And Northern Miss. (char. Xx1x, January 16, 1863

Post Arkansas, January 16, 1863.

GENERAL: Your dispatch of the 16th [13th] instant came to hand at 6 o’clock p. m. this day, and I hasten at the same moment to answer it.

I take the responsibility of the expedition against Post Arkansas, and had anticipated your approval of the complete and signal success which crowned it rather than your condemnation.

In saying that I could not have effected the reduction of Vicksburg with the limited force under my command, after its repulse near that place under General Sherman, I only repeat what was contained ina previous dispatch to you. From the moment you fell back from Oxford, and the purpose of a front attack upon the enemy’s works near Vicksburg was thus deprived of co-operation, the Mississippi River Expedition was doomed to eventuate in a failure.

T had heard nothing of General Banks when I left Milliken’s Bend on the 4th instant, and if, as you say, Port Hudson has been made “very strong,” it will be some time before he will be in a situation to receive the co-operation of the Mississippi River Expedition, unless he should prove more successful than the latter.

Had I remained idle and inactive at Milliken’s Bend with the army under my command until now I should have felt myself guilty of a great crime. Rather had I accept the consequences of the imputed guilt of using it profitably and successfully upon my own responsibility.

The officer who, in the present strait of the country, will not assume a proper responsibility to save it is unworthy of public trust. :

Having successfully accomplished the object of this expedition I will return to Milliken’s Bend, according to my intention communicated to you in a previous dispatch, unless otherwise ordered by you.

your obedient servant,

JOHN, A. MoCLERNAND,

Major-General, Commanding.