Sunday, March 22, 1863

Two months had now been wasted on efforts to find a way to get the Union army to a point below or in the rear of Vicksburg.  Although disappointed, General Grant was not totally discouraged.  He and his advisors carefully considered the situation again and three new plans were developed:  first, a direct assault on the Confederate works; second, to return to Memphis and reopen a campaign in the rear of of Vicksburg; or third, to find a way through the bayous and swamps on the western side of the Mississippi River and then cross the river and attack Vicksburg from the south.

The idea of a direct assault was rejected as too hazardous, with defeat being almost certain.  General Sherman urged the adoption of the second method as the most feasible, but the newspapers and the public in the North wanted aggressive action.  Grant was being characterized as failure in the newspaers, and many were urging the president to relieve him of his command.  And so, Grant ruled out a return to Memphis, as it would look like a retreat.

Grant knew the third option was full of risk, but it was his only real option.