Download and read  "A Birds Eye View of Our Civil War" by Dodge Theodore Ayrault

...would have come much nearer to compass the end than these two isolated 1863. ] SHERMAN S FAILURE AGAltfST VWESZURG. 101 attempts by land and water. A division of forces requires a background of good luck. It can not face bad fortune or accidents. McClernand now joined the army on the Yazoo and sissumed command under his general orders January*, 1863. To that effect. An attack on Arkansas Post had already been planned by Sherman and Porter, and McClernand as commanding officer having assented, they now proceeded to put it into effect. Fort Hindman, as the Confederates called it, lay some distance up the Arkansas river, and was a constant threat to the rear of any force operating against Vicksburg. It was at this time garrisoned by some seven thousand men, under command of General Churchill. The troops embark and in a few days reach the scene of action. A landing is effected below, and next January 11. Day the heavy guns of the fleet, after a few hours bombardment, silence the artillery...