[Bull Snipe]

He took a calculated risk in not taking a supply train. His risk paid off.

[DiogenesLamp]

I don't see it as much of a risk. How far did he go away from the Mississippi? His supply train was only that far away. I'm guessing it took one of those ships about two days up the river and two days back.

Looking it up, I see that the Robert E. Lee paddle-wheel could do about 16 mph up stream, and at 800 miles from Vicksburg to Chicago, that would seem to take about 50 hours, or a little over two days. Did they sail at night? If not, then double that to four days up and four days back.