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

[396] to evacuate the place. All night, Sherman heard the sound of wagons, but nothing that indicated evacuation, for the picks and shovels were at work till midnight; but, at dawn of day, it became evident that the enemy had withdrawn across the Pearl river. The rebels had burned all the bridges in retreating, and placed loaded shells and torpedoes on the roads leading out from the river. All the material of war had been removed, in advance of the retreat, by means of the railroad running east.

Sherman was convinced that pursuit across a country ninety miles in extent, destitute of water, and under the intense heat of a July sun, would be more destructive to his own command than fruitful in results; he therefore determined not to follow Johnston any farther. He remained two or three days completing the work of destruction, and on the 20th, sent part of his force back to Vicksburg. Two days more were spent in attempting to relieve the condition of the inhabitants, whose homes had been ruined by the war, and whose supplies were utterly exhausted by the demands of two hostile armies. Sherman shared his stock of provisions freely with them; and, with Grant's approval, issued orders for the distribution of two hundred barrels of flour and one hundred barrels of pork. On the 23d, he moved to Clinton, where again the utter exhaustion of the provisions of the country compelled him to supply the hospitals of the enemy, as well as the country people. Supplies for five hundred people for thirty days were left here, in charge of responsible citizens, who pledged themselves that these provisions should be kept sacred to the use of the impoverished inhabitants. On the 24th, he moved to Champion's hill,