south of the river, at or near Rocky Ford, so as to defend the crossings in that vicinity. You will probably find forage between Rocky Ford and Goodman's Ford. You will throw out scouting parties in your front, so as to give you timely notice of any advance, and will forward immediately to these headquarters any information that you may obtain. If the enemy should advance, you will harass them as much as possible, and if they should retreat or move so as to give you an opportunity to attack them on the flank or to annoy them by picking up stragglers, &c., you will give them as much trouble as possible. If you find that they are advancing toward this place in force without attempting to cross the river in your front, you will fall back to join the main body here.

The furloughs granted to your men to harvest their wheat will expire in the course of the next sir or seven days, and the general directs that you collect them as rapidly as possible, and, if the enemy do not advance by that time, you move with your command to this place.

I am, &c., your obedient servant,

W. A. GOODMAN,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

PANOLA, MISS., June 3, 1863.

General RUGGLES, Columbus, MISS.:

My scouts report that the enemy will advance on me in two columns,

one in front and the other by Oxford. Will you arrange to assist me? I was instructed by General Johnston to call on you if necessary.

JAMES R. CHALMERS.

Abstract from return of the forces in and around Jackson, MISS., Major General John C. Breckinridge, C. S. Army, commanding, for June 3, 1863.

Present for duty

Command. Officer Men. Effecti Aggrega Aggrega

s. ve te te

total present present

. and

absent.

Adams' brigade 153 1,984 1,939 2,372 3,522

Evans' brigade 191 1,860 1,835 2,375 3,932

Helm's brigade 156 1,862 1,815 2,168 3,022

Stovall's brigade 113 1,304 1,284 1,557 2,463

47th Georgia 27 460 455 532 778

Waties' South 5 79 79 84 84

Carolina battery

Total 645 7,549 7,407 9,088 13,801

HDQRS. DEPT. Mississippi AND EASTERN LOUISIANA, Vicksburg, June 4, 1863.

Major General MARTIN L. SMITH, Commanding DIVISION:

GENERAL: I am directed by the lieutenant general commanding to say that you will have prepared by tour ordnance officer, as soon as possible, a number, say four dozen. "thunder-barrels," petards, &c., for this purpose shall be as far as possible such as cannot be used with the

60 R R-VOL. XXIV, PT. III