There were forces under other generals scattered along the river, including eight thousand commanded by Bowen, who held Grand Gulf, but concert of action did not exist among them.
This knowledge was not Dick's alone.

It extended to every man in the regiment, and when the colonel urged them to greater speed they responded gladly.
"If we don't ride faster," he said, "we won't be up in time for the taking of Grand Gulf." No greater spur was needed and the Winchester regiment went forward as fast as horses could carry them.
"I take it that Grant means to scoop in the Johnnies in detail," said Warner.
"It seems so," said Pennington.

"This is a big country down here, and we can fight one Confederate army while another is mired up a hundred miles away.
"That's General Grant's plan.

He doesn't look like any hero of romance, but he acts like one.

He plunges into the middle of the enemy, and if he gets licked he's up and at 'em again right away." Night closed in, and they stopped at an abandoned plantation--it seemed to Dick that the houses were abandoned everywhere--where they spent the night.