concentrate. The enemy clearly see the importance of dislodging me at all hazards. General Joe Johnston is now at Canton, organizing his forces and making his dispositions to attack me. His present strength is estimated at 40,000, and is known to be at least 20,000. The force he took from Jackson was 8,000; Loring's division, which has joined him since the battle of Champion's Hill, 3,000; General Gist, from South Carolina, 6,000; stragglers from Pemberton, 2,000; troops from Mobile, number not known. Besides this, Major-General Hurlbut writes me he is reliably informed that Bragg has detached three divisions from his army to report to Johnston. Pemberton has himself 18,000 effective men. I have ample means to defend my present position, and effect the reduction of Vicksburg within twenty days, if the relation of affairs which now obtains remains unchanged. But detach 10,000 men from my command, and I cannot answer for the result. With activity on the part of the enemy, and any increase of his present force, it becomes necessary for me to press my operations with all possible dispatch. I need not describe the severity of the labor to which my command must necessarily be subjected in an operation of such magnitude as that in which it is now engaged. Weakened by the detachment of 10,000 men, or even half that number, with the circumstances entirely changed, I should be crippled beyond redemption. My arrangements for supplies are ample, and can be expanded to meet any exigency. All I want now is men.

U. S. GRANT,

Major-General.

Abstract from return of the Department of the Gulf (Nineteenth Army Corps), Major General, Nathaniel P. Banks, U. S. Army, commanding, for the month of May, 1863; headquarters, before Port Hudson, La.

Present for duty.

Command. Officers. Men. Aggregate

present.

Department 28 ...... 28

staff...

First Division

(Augur):

Staff... 9 ...... 9

Infantry... 222 4,365 5,724

First, Third, 70 2,022 2,252

and Fourth

Louisiana

Native Guards.

Cavalry... 27 468 549

Artillery... 30 609 679

Total First 358 7,464 9,213

Division...

Second

Division (T.

W. Sherman):

Staff... 7 ...... 9

Infantry... 283 5,974 8,478

Artillery.... 6 201 256

Other troops 62 2,622 3,143

in this

command...

Total Second 358 8,797 11,886

Division...

Third Division

(Emory):

Staff... 10 ...... 10

Infantry... 293 6,213 8,170

Artillery... 4 106 124

Total Third 307 6,319 8,304

Division...

Command. Aggregat Aggregate Pieces of Remarks.

e last artillery

present return. .

and

absent.

Department 29 39 ...... Port

staff... Hudson, La.

First Division

(Augur):

Staff... 9 9 ...... Port

Hudson,

La.

Infantry... 6,769 6,769 ..... Do.

First, Third, 2,338 2,338 ..... Do.

and Fourth

Louisiana

Native Guards.

Cavalry... 816 816 ..... Do.

Artillery... 797 797 32 Do.

Total First 10,729 10,729 32

Division...

Second

Division (T.

W. Sherman):

Staff... 9 9 ....... Port

Hudson,

La.

Infantry... 10,024 10,024 ....... Do.

Artillery.... 429 429 16 Do.

Other troops 3,419 3,419 ...... New

in this Orleans,

command... La.

Total Second 13,881 13,881 16

Division...

Third Division

(Emory):

Staff... 10 10 ...... Port

Hudson,

La.

Infantry... 10,045 10,045 ...... Do.

Artillery... 136 136 ..... Do.

Total Third 10, 1910 10,191 18

Division...