(*12) On the 27th McClernand's corps was all at Hard Times, and McPherson's was following closely.

I had determined to make the attempt to effect a landing on the east side of the river as soon as possible.

Accordingly, on the morning of the 29th, McClernand was directed to embark all the troops from his corps that our transports and barges could carry.

About 10,000 men were so embarked.

The plan was to have the navy silence the guns at Grand Gulf, and to have as many men as possible ready to debark in the shortest possible time under cover of the fire of the navy and carry the works by storm.