The bottom at that point is higher than most of the low land in the valley of the Mississippi, and a good road leads to the bluff.

It was natural to expect the garrison from Grand Gulf to come out to meet us and prevent, if they could, our reaching this solid base.

Bayou Pierre enters the Mississippi just above Bruinsburg and, as it is a navigable stream and was high at the time, in order to intercept us they had to go by Port Gibson, the nearest point where there was a bridge to cross upon.

This more than doubled the distance from Grand Gulf to the high land back of Bruinsburg.

No time was to be lost in securing this foothold.