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that direction.
Colonel Adams's force was, however, very inadequate to this purpose.
During the night of the 17th nothing of importance occurred.
Most of the artillery was speedily placed in position on the lines, and immediately measures were taken to arm all men who had either unavoidably lost or who had thrown away their arms on the retreat.
General Johnston was notified, on the 17th, of the result of the battles of Baker's Creek and Big Black, and informed that I had, in consequence, been compelled to evacuate Snyder's Mills.
About noon of the 18th of May, while engaged in an inspection of the intrenchments with Major Lockett, my chief-engineer, and several of my general officers, the enemy was reported to be advancing by the Jackson road.
Just at this moment the following communication was received by courier:
The evacuation of Vicksburg! It meant the loss of the valuable stores and munitions of war collected for its defense, the fall of Port Hudson, the surrender of the Mississippi River, and the severance of the Confederacy. These were mighty interests, which, had I deemed the evacuation practicable in the sense in which I interpreted General Johnston's instructions, might well have made me hesitate to execute them. I believed it to be in my power to hold
Your dispatch of to-day, by Captain Henderson was received.
If Haines's Bluff is untenable, Vicksburg is of no value, and cannot be held.
If, therefore, you are invested in Vicksburg, you must ultimately surrender.
Under such circumstances, instead of losing both troops and place, we must, if possible, save the troops.
If it is not too late, evacuate Vicksburg and its dependencies, and march to the northeast.
Most respectfully, Your obedient servant, J. E. Johnston, General.
The evacuation of Vicksburg! It meant the loss of the valuable stores and munitions of war collected for its defense, the fall of Port Hudson, the surrender of the Mississippi River, and the severance of the Confederacy. These were mighty interests, which, had I deemed the evacuation practicable in the sense in which I interpreted General Johnston's instructions, might well have made me hesitate to execute them. I believed it to be in my power to hold
