SPECIAL ORDERS, HEADQUARTERS, No. 123.
Port Hudson, La., May 1, 1863.

I. The Fourth Louisiana Volunteers, Fifty-fifth Tennessee Volunteers, and Fenner's battery will proceed to Williams' Bridge, on special service, with as little delay as practicable.

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III. Brigadier-General Gregg, with his brigade, will proceed to Jackson, Miss., with as little delay as practicable, according to instructions from Department Headquarters. Quatermaster will furnish transportation.

IV. The Ninth Louisiana Battalion Infantry, commanded by Captain Chinn, temporarily attached to General Gregg's brigade, is transferred to General Maxey's brigade.

By command of Major General Frank. Gardner:

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,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

VICKSBURG, May 1, 1863.

Major-General GARDNER, Port Hudson:

Bowen is hard pressed. Should he fall back, the communication with Port Hudson will be cut off.

J. C. PEMBERTON,

Lieutenant-General, Commanding.

VICKSBURG, May 1, 1863.

General GARDNER, Port Hudson:

You must now make arrangements to get supplies from other side of river at every opportunity. Send and recall Wilbourn's cavalry. Send with Gregg only cooking utensils and ammunition. He must have tent and baggage. Any communication with me you must make at once, as most probably the wires will soon be cut.

J. C. PEMBERTON,

Lieutenant-General, Commanding.

PORT HUDSON, May 2, 1863.

Lieutenant-General PEMBERTON:

Enemy's raid has successfully passed to Baton Rouge.* I need more cavalry and a good commander. Can I break up the post at Ponchatoula?

FRANK. GARDNER,

Major-General.

MOBILE, May 2, 1863.

General S. COOPER,

Adjutant and Inspector General:

I have filled requisitions from neighboring commanders until this department id nearly stripped of troops. I sent nearly a thousand cavalry

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* Reference is to Grierson's raid, reported in chapter covering operations January 20-July 4, 1863, against Vicksburg.

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