General Grant's plan was to march his troops through Louisiana, to a point below the Vicksburg guns. Then he would ferry the troops across the Mississippi River and march overland to the rear of Vicksburg.A route was laid out from Milliken's Bend and Young’s Point via Richmond, LA to New Carthage, about 30 miles below Vicksburg. (Click on the map from the Library of Congress. It will be a useful reference tool for th e next 30 days)
Before the march began there was yet another attempt to make use of a canal. By excavating a 2 mile long canal a short distance below Duckport, the Mississippi could be connected with the Walnut Bayou. This would open up a passage for small, shallow draft boats to transport troops and supplies from Duckport, along the Walnut Bayou, then along the Roundaway Bayou to New Carthage.
However, the gunboats and heavy transports would have to run the gauntlet of the Vicksburg batteries.
The canal was opened and one steamboat and several barges passed through the channel. But when the river level began to fall rapidly, the route became useless. However, it really wasn't needed, as the receding waters made it possible to march across the countryside.
