His rear guard did not get in until two A.M.the 17th, but renewed their march by daylight.

He paroled his prisoners at Jackson, and was forced to leave his own wounded in care of surgeons and attendants.

At Bolton he was informed of our victory.

He was directed to commence the march early next day, and to diverge from the road he was on to Bridgeport on the Big Black River, some eleven miles above the point where we expected to find the enemy.

Blair was ordered to join him there with the pontoon train as early as possible.
This movement brought Sherman's corps together, and at a point where I hoped a crossing of the Big Black might be effected and Sherman's corps used to flank the enemy out of his position in our front, thus opening a crossing for the remainder of the army.