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was too heavy for his, and composed of well-disciplined and hardy men, who know no defeat and are not willing to learn what it is.
This army is in the finest health and spirits.
Since leaving Milliken's bend they have marched as much by night as by day, through mud and rain, without tents or much other baggage, and on irregular rations, without a complaint, and with less straggling than I have ever before witnessed.
Where all have done so well, it would be out of place to make invidious distinction.
The country will supply all the forage required for any thing like an active campaign, and the necessary fresh beef; other supplies will have to be drawn from Milliken's bend.
This is a long and precarious route, but I have every confidence in succeeding in doing it.
Admiral Porter left here this morning for the mouth of Red river.
A letter from Admiral Farragut says that Banks has defeated Taylor, and captured about two thousand prisoners.
Colonel Grierson's raid from La Grange through Mississippi has been the most successful thing of the kind since the breaking out of the rebellion.
He was five miles south of Pontotoc on the 19th of April.
The next place he turned up at was Newton, about thirty miles east of Jackson.
From there he has gone south, touching at Hazlehurst, Bahala, and various places.
The Southern papers and Southern people regard it as one of the most daring exploits of the war. I am told the whole state is full of men paroled by Grierson.
General Grant to General Halleck.—(telegram.)
Grand Gulf, Miss., May 3, 1863.
We landed at Bruinsburg, April 30th, moved immediately on Port Gibson, met the enemy, eleven thousand strong, four miles south of Port Gibson at two A. M., and engaged him all day, entirely routing him, with the loss of many killed and about five hundred prisoners, besides the wounded.
Our loss about one hundred killed and five hundred wounded. The enemy retreated towards Vicksburg, destroying the bridges over the two forks of Bayou Pierre.
These were rebuilt, and pursuit continued till the present time.
Besides the heavy 