DEAR GENERAL:
Dispatches just received from General Banks announces the good news of the
surrender of Port Hudson, with 5,000 prisoners and all the armament of the
place. News came from the East of the defeat of Lee and his precipitate
retreat, with Meade in full pursuit. I have nothing definite from you since the
morning of the 9th, but, not hearing, suppose all is right. Is there any
probability that Johnston may be receiving re-enforcements and intends
standing? I have just learned from Yazoo City that all the steamers from above
have just come down there, and that Johnston sent orders to press all the
negroes that can be got, to prosecute the work of fortifying with all vigor.
More than 1,000 negroes are said to be at work now. I immediately ordered a division
from here to break them up. The well prisoners have been paroled and about out
of town. The number reached near 25,000. There are still those in hospital,
near 6,000, yet to parole, besides many escaped without paroling.
Hoping to hear of
your giving Johnston a good thrashing and driving him beyond Pearl River, with
the loss of artillery, transportation, and munitions of war, I remain, yours
truly,
U.S. GRANT.
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