Yesterday morning
the brigade left Canton, heading northwest. We made twenty miles and encamped
for the night in a grove convenient to water, badly broken down by the march.
Our division is now composed of five or six brigades of infantry and cavalry,
under acting Major General Walker, and it is in fine fighting spirits. Nothing
of interest on the route yesterday, except the crossing of the Big Black on a
pontoon at 3 o'clock, P. M. To-day we have made about eight miles, and are now
halted in a hot lane awaiting orders. The Forty-first Tennessee is the advance
guard for the division. We have passed the little town of Benton, and are in
eight miles of Yazoo City; by day after to-morrow we expect to meet the enemy.
Besides our own, there are two other columns marching on the enemy, each said
to be fourteen thousand strong, the whole under command of General Joseph E.
Johnston. It is thought to be his intention to fall upon the enemy's rear at
three points, while the Vicksburg garrison assails from the front. I expect
some bloody work, but we are confident of the result.
SOURCE: Edwin L. Drake, Editor, The Annals of the Army of Tennessee and Early Western History, Vol. 1, p. 214-5