The Engineers at Vicksburg, Part 12: Duckport Canal and the march on Vicksburg
Union Maj. Gen. John A. McClernand, commander of the XIII Corps, was a Kentucky native and the only one of Grant’s corps commanders who was not a professional soldier. McClernand, however, demonstrated that he was a man of great personal bravery and a capable combat officer. He was selected by Grant to spearhead the army’s march through Louisiana.