69, from Adjutant-General's Office, Washington, of date March 20, 1863.
By order of MAJOR-GENERAL U.S.

GRANT.
McClernand was already below on the Mississippi.

Two of McPherson's divisions were put upon the march immediately.

The third had not yet arrived from Lake Providence; it was on its way to Milliken's Bend and was to follow on arrival.
Sherman was to follow McPherson.

Two of his divisions were at Duckport and Young's Point, and the third under Steele was under orders to return from Greenville, Mississippi, where it had been sent to expel a rebel battery that had been annoying our transports.
It had now become evident that the army could not be rationed by a wagon train over the single narrow and almost impassable road between Milliken's Bend and Perkins' plantation.