> As to Sherman being repulsed, I assume you mean at Chickasaw Bluffs. I
> believe the correspondence shows that he would have never made the assault
> if he had been in contact with Grant.

I disagree. Sherman had orders to attempt a lodgement that were essentially issued by Linoln via Halleck. At the time of Sherman's assault on the bluffs, Pemberton was still being successfully held on the Grenada line; as I pointed out earlier, there were only two units from Grenada that made it to Chickasaw Bayou in time to participate. Both units were detached before Pemberton was aware that Grant was moving back to Memphis, and both participated only peripherally.

Sherman would have had no reason to call off the assault.