Adam Badeau, Military history of Ulysses S. Grant from April 1861 to April 1865. Volume 1

On the 14th, Johnston marched six miles on the Canton road, and then went into camp. He sent Gist forty or fifty miles to the east, and ordered Maxcy to ‘return to his wagons and provide for the security of his brigade, for instance, by joining Gist.’ It was hoped thus to prevent Grant from drawing supplies from the north and east.¹ From his new camp, Johnston also sent dispatches to Pemberton, announcing the loss of Jackson, and said: ‘As soon as the reenforcements are all up, they must be united to the rest of the army. I am anxious to see a force assembled that may be able to inflict a heavy blow upon the enemy.’ In the same dispatch, he inquired if Grant could ‘supply himself from the Mississippi. Can you not cut him off from it, and above all, should he be compelled to fall back for want of supplies, beat him?’ It had not occurred to either Johnston or Pemberton that Grant had cut his own communications a week before, and was at this time drawing all his supplies from the country where he moved.

It was apparent now that a concentration of the rebels was imminent, and, before dark, Grant got positive