Major General Ulysses S. Grant
For the Union, the spring of 1863 signaled the beginning of the final and successful phase of the Vicksburg Campaign as General Grant initiated the march of his Army of the Tennessee down the west side of the Mississippi River, from Milliken's Bend to Hard Times, Louisiana. Leaving their encampments on March 29, Federal soldiers took up the line of march and slogged southward over muddy terrain, building bridges and corduroy roads as they went. Grant's column pushed first to New Carthage, then to Hard Times, where the infantrymen rendezvoused with the Union navy. Next, the Union would turn their attention to the US Navy, and plan for a daring passing of the Vicksburg batteries.
