AT McCALL'S, June 23, 1863—11 a.m.
DEAR GENERAL: Parke, with Smith's division and one brigade
of his Yankee troops, is on the river road from Neily's to Post Oak Ridge, with
orders to feel forward to the bridge across Bear Creek, 6 miles beyond Post Oak
Ridge. My cavalry is now down at Little Bear Creek, on the Birdsong road.
Tuttle's division is close up to the cavalry, and McArthur's is near here, and
we are waiting for his troops to come up. I will put them on the Birdsong road.
Parke and I can communicate by the ridge from McCall's to Neily's. After
nooning I propose to go forward to the Big Black. I hear nothing of Johnston at
all; no trace of him or signs of his approach. The country is ill-adapted to
large masses. It is cut up by impracticable ravines, and all the roads are on
narrow ridges, where a regiment will find difficulty in forming a front. A
small force can oppose a large one, and as to getting at Johnston unless he
crosses to this side of Big Black, I think it cannot be done. If he crosses Big
Black and comes by any road, I shall, of course, meet him and oppose him,
calling for all the help I may deem necessary. If he crosses Big Black, I think
this is the place to fight him. Order Osterhaus to be certain to blockade all
roads from Big Black toward Vicksburg, between Clear Creek and this road. After
satisfying myself that there is, or is not, a purpose on his part to cross
over, I will communicate the fact; but, no matter what his strength, he must
come by narrow roads, and I have as many men as can be handled on such grounds.
If I conclude he does not design to come in by Birdsong Ferry or the ford
above, I will blockade it, so as to force him to come on the main ridge within
striking distance of Haynes' Bluff, so that we won't care if he comes or not.
Yesterday four companies of my cavalry (Fourth Iowa) had
gone to Big Black River on the road to obstruct it. They had felled many trees,
and must have been off their guard when their pickets came in from three
directions, giving notice of the approach of the enemy. Quite a fight ensued,
in which our men got the worst, and were forced to fly. As soon as the news
reached camp, Colonel Swan went to the ground with his regiment, and found 8
dead, 12 wounded, and about 20 missing. From the people he heard the attack
came from Wirt Adams' cavalry, which had gone off in the direction of
Mechanicsburg. Colonel Swan buried the dead, and brought off all the wounded
except one, who was left well cared for at a house. He could hear of but about
12 prisoners in the hands of the enemy, so that he expects some 8 more will
have gone down to Osterhaus, and will come in to-day.
The party lost that 2-pounder gun we captured at Jackson,
but before abandoning it they disabled it by taking out the breech-pin. The
fact of our coming out today is attributed by the secesh to our purpose to
punish the perpetrators of this action.
I will send you positive intelligence to-night if Johnston
be coming or not this side of Big Black River. On the best evidence now
procurable, he is not coming this way, or at this time.
I take it for granted you do not want me to attempt to
follow him across that river unless after a defeat. If he comes to this side, I
can hold him till re-enforced, and then I know we can whip him. In the mean
time look out toward Baldwin's and Hankinson's, though I do not believe he will
put himself in such a pocket.
Yours, truly,
W. T. SHERMAN,
Major-General, Commanding Expedition.
General GRANT.
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. 245-6