A bridge was then made with these trees to support the roadway.

Lumber was taken from buildings, cotton gins and wherever found, for this purpose.

By eight o'clock in the morning of the 18th all three bridges were complete and the troops were crossing.
Sherman reached Bridgeport about noon of the 17th and found Blair with the pontoon train already there.

A few of the enemy were intrenched on the west bank, but they made little resistance and soon surrendered.
Two divisions were crossed that night and the third the following morning.
On the 18th I moved along the Vicksburg road in advance of the troops and as soon as possible joined Sherman.

My first anxiety was to secure a base of supplies on the Yazoo River above Vicksburg.