Move troops by the most direct road from wherever they may be on the receipt of this order." And to Blair I wrote: "Their design is evidently to cross the Big Black and pass down the peninsula between the Big Black and Yazoo rivers.

We must beat them.

Turn your troops immediately to Bolton; take all the trains with you.

Smith's division, and any other troops now with you, will go to the same place.

If practicable, take parallel roads, so as to divide your troops and train." Johnston stopped on the Canton road only six miles north of Jackson, the night of the 14th.