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

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[395] Lauman, after passing beyond the railroad line, on which Hovey rested his right, marched directly eastward in order to reach Pearl River. During this march he struck the enemy's works, and, taking them for mere advanced intrenchments, tried to capture them. Breckinridge was there in full force waiting for him, and he was repulsed with a loss of nearly five hundred men and three stands of colors. The next day he succeeded in taking a position a little lower down on the Pearl, out of reach of the enemy's guns, whilst Parke, on the left, reached the river above Jackson almost at the same time. Grant did not forgive him for his imprudence, and deprived him of the command of his division. In the mean while, the Federal force had been increased, and a heavy fire directed upon the place since twelve o'clock in the morning. But the ammunition was beginning to fail, and it became necessary to await the trains that brought fresh supplies, which were not due until the 16th: after receiving them Sherman intended to resume operations with vigor, and, if he discovered a weak point in the enemy's line, to attack it immediately.

Johnston did not allow him time to carry out his project. He had supposed that the want of water for cooking purposes in the neighborhood would not have permitted the Federals to take a position in front of the place and make regular attacks upon it. He felt strong enough to repulse a sudden attack, but not for sustaining a siege: the works were not in a condition to resist a bombardment, his guns were of too small calibre, and the Federal batteries, posted in commanding positions, covered all the camps of his army with projectiles. Finding that, notwithstanding the difficulties of the operation, Sherman was beginning to invest him, he made immediate preparations for a retreat which had become necessary; but he would wait until the last moment. He finally learned that Sherman had received the ammunition he was expecting, and the evacuation was accomplished during the night of the 16th with that success and precision which marked all similar operations made under the direction of this skilful general. The army crossed the Pearl River over ponton-bridges which had been prepared for the passage of the Big Black River, and, proceeding eastward, it reached Brandon on the 17th. When the Federals entered Jackson on the morning of the same day, they found