“HEADQUARTERS RIGHT WING ARMY OF TENNESSEE, } STEAMER FOREST QUEEN, MILLIKEN’S BEND, _January 4, 1863_. } “Pursuant to the terms of General Orders No. 1, made this day by General McClernand, the title of our army ceases to exist, and constitutes in the future the Army of the Mississippi, composed of two ‘army corps,’ one to be commanded by General G. W. Morgan and the other by myself. In relinquishing the command of the Army of the Tennessee, and restricting my authority to my own corps, I desire to express to all commanders, to soldiers and officers recently operating before Vicksburg, my hearty thanks for their zeal, alacrity, and courage manifested by them on all occasions. We failed in accomplishing one purpose of our movement, the capture of Vicksburg; but we were part of a whole. _Ours was but part of a combined movement, in which others were to assist. We were on time; unforeseen contingencies must have delayed the others._ We have destroyed the Shreveport road, we have attacked the defences of Vicksburg, and pushed the attack as far as prudence would justify; and having found it too strong for our single column, we have drawn off in good order and good spirits, ready for any new move. _A new commander is now here to lead you._ He is chosen by the President of the United States, who is charged by the Constitution to maintain and defend it, and he has the undoubted right to select his own agents. _I know that all good officers and soldiers will give him the same hearty support and cheerful obedience they have hitherto given me._ There are honors enough in reserve for all, and work enough too. Let each do his appropriate part, and our nation must in the end emerge from this dire conflict purified and ennobled by the fires which now test its strength and purity. All officers of the general staff now attached to my person will hereafter report in person and by letter to Major-General McClernand, commanding the Army of the Mississippi, on board the steamer _Tigress_, at our rendezvous at Gaines’ Landing and at Montgomery Point. “By order of Major-General W. T. SHERMAN. “J. H. HAMMOND, A. A.-G.” The morning light of January the 9th, 1864, fell upon the _White Cloud_, carrying the mail with tidings of disaster, death, and suffering, bound for St. Louis, and the _City of Memphis_, bearing the sick and wounded. In the Army of the Mississippi, under General McClernand, acting for the time independent of General Grant’s command, the late chief acted a subordinate part. The fleet was again in motion, steaming up the broad current for Arkansas Post, whose fortress was the object of the expedition. It lies nearly north of Vicksburg, as a glance at the map will show you. On the 11th the transports and gunboats appeared before the fort.