As it would
have been unwise for them to attempt to reach Grant then he kept them
with him in the march on Jackson.
Dick slept that night under the stars, but thousands of Union men were
around him and he felt neither the weight of responsibility, nor the
presence of danger. He missed Warner and Pennington, but he and the
sergeant were happy. Beyond a doubt now Grant was going to strike hard,
and all the men were full of anticipation and hope. His force in
different divisions was advancing on Jackson, leaving Vicksburg behind
him and the Southern army under Pemberton on one side.
Dick heard, too, that the redoubtable Joe Johnston was coming to take
command of the Southern garrison in Jackson, and a leader less bold than
Grant might have shrunk from such a circle of enemies, but Grant's own
courage increased the spirit of his men, and they were full of faith.
"I expect they're alarmed in Washington," said the sergeant, as they
sat on their blankets. "There ain't any telegraph station nearer than
Memphis. They've heard in the capital that the general has begun to move
toward Jackson, but they won't know for days what will happen.
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