We had no sure place of refuge except the narrow levee, and such steamboats as remained abreast of our camps.

My two divisions furnished alternately a detail of five hundred men a day, to work on the canal.

So high was the water in the beginning of March, that McClernand's corps was moved to higher ground, at Milliken's Bend, but I remained at Young's plantation, laid off a due proportion of the levee for each subdivision of my command, and assigned other parts to such steamboats as lay at the levee.

My own headquarters were in Mrs.
Grove's house, which had the water all around it, and could only be reached by a plank-walk from the levee, built on posts.

General Frederick Steele commanded the first division, and General D.Smart the second; this latter division had been reenforced by General Hugh Ewing's brigade, which had arrived from West Virginia.
At the time of its date I received the following note from General Grant: MILLIKEN'S BEND, March 16, 1863 General SHERMAN.
DEAR SIR: I have just returned from a reconnoissance up Steele's Bayou, with the admiral (Porter), and five of his gunboats.