I had directed Sherman to send a force to the right, and to reconnoitre as far as to the Pearl River.

This force, Tuttle's division, not returning I rode to the right with my staff, and soon found that the enemy had left that part of the line.

Tuttle's movement or McPherson's pressure had no doubt led Johnston to order a retreat, leaving only the men at the guns to retard us while he was getting away.

Tuttle had seen this and, passing through the lines without resistance, came up in the rear of the artillerists confronting Sherman and captured them with ten pieces of artillery.

I rode immediately to the State House, where I was soon followed by Sherman.
About the same time McPherson discovered that the enemy was leaving his front, and advanced Crocker, who was so close upon the enemy that they could not move their guns or destroy them.