It was well known that the movement was against Vicksburg, but the bravest reporter feared to defy that order. As some time passed without news of Sherman’s army, the _Blue Wing_ was sent down with communications, but she was captured by the Confederates. The government finally decided to send down two gunboats and the _White Cloud_, a wooden steamer. I at once asked the privilege of loading the _White Cloud_ with sanitary supplies. Mr. Plattenburg, agent of the Sanitary Commission, who was also at Helena, had a heavy lot of supplies. As I had a pass for myself and all goods, from the Secretary of War, I had no trouble in securing a passage on the _White Cloud_. I do not recall as to how Mr. Plattenburg secured the privilege of going with the little expedition; I only know that he went, and that the boat was loaded with our supplies. Thousands of soldiers were about the landing when our little fleet moved out with banners flying. We all knew that untold dangers were before us. And our heroism created the greatest enthusiasm. When the _White Cloud_ moved out into the channel and turned her prow down stream, I stepped out “on the guards” to take a last look at Helena. My appearance was greeted with such an outburst of applause from the thousands on the wharf that I fled to the cabin, after waving my handkerchief in acknowledgment of the salute. We were fired into frequently from the banks. Whenever we reached a point of especial danger the _White Cloud was sent eight or ten miles in advance so as to draw the enemy’s fire_, and thus uncover his batteries; for it was not likely that if the gunboats were in sight we would be attacked. Every moment, night and day, we were in expectation of shot or shell from some concealed battery from the shore. But they had been forewarned that the gunboats were coming, and so did not attempt to capture the _White Cloud_. The sharpshooters on the shore fired into us again and again. No one was killed; but sleep and rest were impossible, and there were many narrow escapes. We reached Milliken’s Bend one morning about daylight, to find General Sherman’s army quartered there. There was a great fleet of boats, and the sick and wounded were on them. A tugboat was detailed to me; and I went with my supplies from boat to boat, distributing such comforts and delicacies as I had, to the men who had been wounded in the fight near Vicksburg. It was decided by the medical authorities to send a steamer up the river with a load of the wounded at once. The _City of Memphis_, the largest steamer on the Mississippi River, was selected for this purpose. A regiment and a battery were removed from the boat, and she was put in order; that is, the filth was shovelled overboard.