HEADQUARTERS KIMBALL'S
PROVISIONAL DIVISION,
Satartia, Miss.,
June 5, 1863.
COLONEL: I find the enemy in force at Yazoo City. About 6
miles above here are 8.000, at Liverpool. The whole force on this (the Big
Black) river is 20,000 infantry and cavalry and twenty-five guns. The force
between the Yazoo and Black Rivers is under [W. H. T.] Walker. Johnston's
headquarters are still at Canton, where he is massing troops; rumor says
60,000.
My cavalry penetrated to the Big Black River yesterday, and
burned the ferries east of this place, but I find it impossible to go farther
north on the Big Black as the enemy hold the country in force.
General Mower is occupying Mechanicsburg, and I am doing
everything possible to obstruct an advance should one be made by the enemy.
Should it be desired to hold this place in such a case, more force will be
required and more artillery. Should I not be able to beat or repulse them, I
shall hold to the very last.
I have the honor to
be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
NATHAN KIMBALL,
Brigadier-General,
Commanding.
Lieut. Col. JOHN A. RAWLINS,
Assistant Adjutant-Genera1.
SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of
the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume
24, Part 2 (Serial No. 37), p. 387
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