A number of cotton speculators followed the advance of the Union army to reap rich harvest in getting possession of that staple. General Curtis, in attempting to control these rapacious speculators and use the cotton in a way to bring the greatest benefits to the Government, made enemies of many influential men of wealth, who were looking solely to personal gain. Helena and the surrounding country had a large slave population. As the negroes came into the Union lines the commanding General found another serious problem confronting him. Our Government had adopted no settled policy to govern the action of the department commanders in the matter and each had to act upon his own judgment. The Fourth Regiment remained at Helena until December, when it joined General Sherman’s expedition against Vicksburg and took a prominent part in that campaign, which terminated so disastrously to the Union cause.
BATTLE OF CHICKASAW BAYOU
On the 20th of December, 1862, General W. T. Sherman embarked with a large army on transports at Memphis, and, descending to Helena, was joined there by General Steele and his command. The army, which filled a hundred transports, then continued the journey to Milliken’s Bend, about twenty-five miles above Vicksburg. On Christmas evening orders were issued for the fleet, next day, to attack Vicksburg. The plan was for General Grant to march to the rear of the city and coöperate with Sherman in the attack. On the 20th of December, General Grant’s army was at Oxford preparing to move on Jackson and Vicksburg. He had collected at Holly Springs, arms, ammunition and provision for the army during the campaign. Colonel Murphy, of the Eight Wisconsin, with 1,000 men, was guarding them. He was surprised by Van Dorn’s cavalry early one morning and, without resistance, surrendered, with all of the army supplies. This loss of his trains and supplies compelled Grant
