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forces there — giving to those in the field, as far as practicable, the encouragement and benefit of your personal direction.”
It is thus seen that neither my orders nor my health permitted me to visit the Mississippi after the twelfth of March until the time when I took direct charge of that department.
From the time of my arrival at Tullahoma until the fourteenth of April, General Pemberton's reports, all by telegraph, indicated that the efforts of the enemy would be against General Bragg rather than himself, and looked to the advancement of his attempt on Vicksburg.
In that of April thirteenth, he says: “I am satisfied Rosecrans will be reinforced from Grant's army.
Shall I order troops to Tullahoma?”
On the seventeenth of April General Pemberton telegraphed the return of Grant and the resumption of the operations against Vicksburg.
On the twenty-ninth of April he telegraphed: “The enemy is at Hard Times, in large force, with barges and transports, indicating a purpose to attack Grand Gulf with a view to Vicksburg.”
He also reported “heavy firing at Grand Gulf.
The enemy is shelling our batteries, both above and below.”
On the first of May he telegraphed: “A furious battle has been going on since daylight, just below Port Hudson. * * * The enemy can cross all his army from Hard Times to Bruinsburg.
I should have large reinforcements.
The enemy's movements threaten Jackson, and, if successful, will cut off Vicksburg and Port Hudson.”
I at once urged him to concentrate, and to attack Grant immediately on his landing; on the next day I sent the following dispatch to him: “If Grant crosses unite all your troops to beat him; success will give back what was abandoned to win it.”
I telegraphed to you on the first: “General Pemberton calls for large reinforcements.
They cannot be sent from here without giving up Tennessee.
Can one or two brigades be sent from the east?”
On the seventh I again asked for reinforcements for Mississippi.
I received no further report of the battle of Port Gibson, and on the fifth I asked General Pemberton: “What is the result, and where is Grant's army?”
I received no answer and gained no additional information in relation to either subject until I reached the Department of the Mississippi, in obedience to my orders of May ninth.
There, on May thirteenth, I received a dispatch from General Pemberton, dated Vicksburg, May twelfth, asking for reinforcements, as the enemy, in large force, was moving from the Mississippi, south of the Big Black, apparently toward Edwards' Depot, “which will be the battle field if I can forward sufficient force, leaving troops enough to secure the safety of this place.”
Before my arrival at Jackson, Grant had beaten General Bowen at Port Gibson; made good the landing of his army-occupied Grand Gulf, and was marching upon the Jackson and Vicksburg Railroad.
On reaching Jackson, on the night of the thirteenth of May, I found there the brigades of Gregg and Walker, reported at six hundred.
I learned from General Gregg that Maxcey's brigade was expected.
to arrive from Port Hudson the next day; that General Pemberton's forces, except the garrison of Port Hudson, (five thousand) and of Vicksburg, was at Edwards' Depot — the general headquarters at Bovina; that four divisions of the enemy, under Sherman, occupied Clinton, ten miles west of Jackson, between Edwards' Depot and ourselves.
I was aware that reinforcements were on their way from the east, and that the advance of these, under General Gist, would probably arrive the next day, and with Maxcey's brigade, swell my force to about eleven thousand.
Upon this information I sent to General Pemberton, on the same night, the thirteenth, a dispatch informing him of my arrival, and of the occupation of Clinton by a portion of Grant's army; urging the importance of re-establishing communications, and ordering him to come up, if practicable, on Sherman's rear at once; and adding, “to beat such a detachment would be of immense value — the troops here could co-operate.
All the strength you can quickly assemble should be brought — time is all important.”
On Thursday, May fourteenth, the enemy advanced, by the Raymond and Clinton roads, upon Jackson.
The resistance made by the brigades of Gregg and Walker gave sufficient time for the removal of the public stores, and at two P. M., we retreated by the Canton road, from which alone we could form a junction with General Pemberton.
After marching six miles the troops encamped.
From this point I sent to General Pemberton the dispatch of May fourteenth, of which the following is a copy:
General: The body of troops mentioned in my note of last night, compelled Brigadier-General Gregg and his command to evacuate Jackson about noon to-day. The necessity of taking the. Canton road, at right angles to that upon which the enemy approached, prevented an obstinate defence. A body of troops, reported this morning to have reached Raymond last night, advanced at the same time from that direction. Prisoners say that it was McPherson's corps (four divisions), which marched from Clinton. I have no certain information of the other. Both skirmished very cautiously. Telegrams were dispatched when the enemy was near, directing General Gist to assemble the approaching troops at a point forty or fifty miles from Jackson, and General Maxcey to return to his wagons, and provide for the security of his brigade — for instance, by joining General Gist. That body of troops will be able, I hope, to prevent the enemy in Jackson from drawing provisions from the east, and this one may be able
