Adam Badeau, Military history of Ulysses S. Grant from April 1861 to April 1865. Volume 1

On Blair's return, Grant sent a brigade of troops under Brigadier-General Mower, and nearly twelve hundred cavalry, up the Yazoo to Mechanicsburg, to watch the crossings of the Big Black, from Bridgeport, and obstruct the roads. On the 3d of June, one division from Hurlbut arrived, under Brigadier-General Kimball, and was sent at once after Mower to Mechanicsburg, with the same instructions that Mower had already received. Grant himself went up to Satartia, on the 8th of June, to inspect the condition of affairs there, and became still further convinced that the enemy was collecting a large force at Canton, of course with a view to raise the siege. To Kimball, he said: ‘It is important that the country be left so that it cannot subsist an army passing over it. Wagons, horses, and mules should be taken from the citizens, to keep them from being used with the Southern army.’

On the 7th, the enemy, nearly three thousand strong, attacked Milliken's bend, which, however, was successfully defended by black and white troops under Brigadier-General Dennis, ably assisted by the gunboats Choctaw and Lexington. Grant at once ordered Mower's brigade to reenforce Dennis, with instructions to drive the rebels beyond the Tensas river. ‘Every vestige of an enemy's camp ought to be shoved back of that point’ (Richmond).

On the 8th of June, another division of troops, under Brigadier-General Sooy Smith, arrived from Memphis, and was ordered to Haine's bluff, where Washburne was now placed in command. This place had again become of vital importance; for, if the national forces should be compelled to raise the siege, and yet