General Grant to General Halleck.—(Cipher telegram.)
Vicksburg, July 18, 1863.
Johnston evacuated Jackson the night of the 16th inst. He is now in full retreat east.
Sherman says most of his army must perish from the heat, lack of water, and general discouragement.
The army parolled here has to a great extent deserted, and are scattered over the country in every direction.
Learning that Yazoo City was being fortified, I sent General Herron there.
Five guns were captured, many stores and about three hundred prisoners.
General Ransom was sent to Natchez, to stop the crossing of cattle for the eastern army.
On arrival he found that a large number had been driven out of the city, to be pastured.
Also, that munitions of war had recently been crossed over to the west for Kirby Smith.
He mounted about two thousand of his men and sent them in both directions.
They captured a number of prisoners and five thousand head of Texas cattle, two thousand head of which were sent to Banks.
The balance have been and will be brought here.
In Louisiana they captured more prisoners, and a number of teams loaded with ammunition.
Over two hundred thousand rounds of musket ammunition were brought back to Natchez, with the teams captured, and two hundred and sixty-eight thousand rounds, besides artillery ammunition, destroyed.
It seems to me now that Mobile should be captured, the expedition starting from some point on Lake Pontchartrain.
There is much sickness in my command now, from long and excessive marching and labor.
I will cooperate with General Schofield as soon as possible, so as to give him possession of the line of the Arkansas.
Shall I retain or send back the Ninth army corps?