Comte de Paris, History of the Civil War in America. Vol. 3.
Henry Coppee , LL.D., Ed.

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[312] to him, ‘Concentrate all your forces to beat Grant: success will restore you what you have sacrificed to obtain it.’ If Pemberton had followed this advice, the issue of the campaign would probably have been different. At the same time Johnston received the tardy instructions of Mr. Davis, ordering him to proceed in person and direct the campaign against Grant; but, being still sick, he was not able to reach Jackson until the 13th of May, too late to join Pemberton. In this city he found Bragg and Walker, who had arrived from Raymond during the night with six thousand men. These troops, worn out by a hard-fought battle in which they had borne a most honorable part, were alone within reach at this moment for defending the important position of Jackson. But Maxey's brigade was expected on the following day from Port Hudson; Gist's brigade, from the east, sent by Beauregard, was within only one day's march. Their arrival would place eleven thousand men at Johnston's disposal to occupy the works surrounding Jackson: other reinforcements were shortly expected. An order from President Davis had detached the infantry brigades of Ector and McNair from Bragg's army, and to Pemberton had restored Jackson's division of cavalry, which Van Dorn had recently brought with him. All these forces had been directed toward the capital of Mississippi. If Grant allowed him time, Johnston could therefore very soon place this city in a condition to resist all attacks. On his arrival he learned that Pemberton was waiting for the enemy at Edwards' Station with the larger portion of his troops, and shortly before the interruption of telegraphic communication he received a despatch from this general, dated the day previous, announcing that Grant was before him and preparing to force the passage of Baker's Creek with almost his entire army. The news received from Clinton informed him at the same time of the occupation of this point by a Federal corps, said to consist of four divisions, which he believed to be Sherman's corps, whereas in reality there were only two divisions from McPherson's corps. He understood at once that Pemberton, by persisting in linking the fate of his soldiers with that of Vicksburg, would eventually be cut to pieces and driven back into that place. Even if the latter had to be sacrificed, it was above all essential to save these thirty thousand combatants, whose