Panola, August 15, 1863.1 General Chalmers: Major Chalmers reports 3 o’clock: The Federal column that crossed at Rocky Ford, 1,200 strong, went into Oxford 10 a .m. The column by Abbeville, 800 and seven pieces artillery, crossed at 9 o’clock, bound for Water Valley and Grenada. He will camp at Leeter’s Mill to-night. Colonel Slemons [...]

Panola, August 15, 1863.1 General Chalmers: Scout Carman just in; reports Abbeville and Rocky Ford forces united and in Oxford this evening at 2 o’clock. THOS. HENDERSON, Captain, &c. War of the Rebellion: Serial 053 Page 0500 KY.,SW.VA.,TENN.,MISS.,N.ALA., AND N.GA. Chapter XLII. The reports and dispatches of Henderson’s Cavalry Scouts: Unlike many of the independent [...]

Grenada, August 14, 1863. Colonel W. C. Falkner, Commanding First Regiment Mississippi Partisans: Colonel: Information has just been received that a column of the enemy, 600 strong, with four pieces of artillery, passed through Byhalia yesterday for Wyatt, and another of the same strength—no artillery reported—passed through Salem for Water Valley. You will move up [...]

Panola, August 14, 1863.1 General Chalmers: Scout Givens reports from Byhalia, August 13, 4 o’clock p.m., enemy passed 600 strong, four pieces of artillery, eight ambulances, six wagons, with eight days’ rations, a number of spades, shovels, picks, and axes, and one pontoon bridge. They took the road to Wyatt and Cox’s Cross-Roads. Three car-loads [...]

Panola, August 14, 1863.1 General Chalmers: Scout near La Grange reports 600 Yankees passed through Salem, taking Beck’s Springs road 3 o’clock yesterday evening. Have four wagons, two ambulances; have six days’ rations, and bound for Water Valley. THOS. HENDERSON, Captain Independent Scouts. War of the Rebellion: Serial 053 Page 0497 KY.,SW.VA.,TENN.,MISS.,N.ALA., AND N.GA. Chapter [...]

CANTON, June 5, 1863.1 Major-General WALKER, Yazoo City: Captain [Thomas] Henderson, at Scott’s Ferry, reported Brigadier-General [John] Adams at Pritchard’s Cross-Roads last night. I suppose that the general has reported to you. I cannot suspect that he will neglect the Valley road. I have desired Jackson to send you a squadron. Send information to Loring [...]

CAMP, Between Livingston and Brownsville, May 17, 1863. [Received, May 18, in Vicksburg.] Lieutenant-General PEMBERTON: Your dispatch of to-day, by Captain [Thomas] Henderson, was received. If Haynes’ Bluff is untenable, Vicksburg is of no value, and cannot be held. If, therefore, you are invested in Vicksburg, you must ultimately surrender. Under such circumstances, instead of [...]

Hdqrs. Dept. OF Mississippi AND Eastern Louisiana, Vicksburg, Miss., May 17, 1863.1 General Joseph E. Johnston, Commanding, &c.: General: Whilst writing my communication this morning, the enemy attacked me on my right, left, and center. My troops, although strongly posted behind breastworks and protected in rifle-pits, were forced from their positions, owing to the demoralization [...]

Camp, Between Livingston and Brownsville, May 17, 1863. Lieutenant-General PEMBERTON: Your dispatch of to-day by Captain [Thomas] Henderson was received. If Haynes’ Bluff is untenable, Vicksburg is of no value and cannot be held. If, therefore, you are invested in Vicksburg, you must ultimately surrender. Under such circumstances, instead of losing both troops and place, [...]

Wednesday, August 28.—Bright, elastic morning, with a gentle breeze from the S. E. Suspended the second lieutenant from duty for remaining out of the ship during his watch without leave and sending off a midshipman to keep it, in violation of the general orders of the ship, and justifying the act when called on in [...]

Tuesday, August 27.—Morning cloudy, clearing as the day advanced. Got sights for my chronometers, which gave me satisfactory results. Still coaling and watering. We hear a report that there are two ships of war off the entrance, keeping themselves out of sight, hoping to waylay us. A fisherman is said to have supplied one of [...]

Monday, August 26.— Morning cloudy, clearing off about 9 o’clock. Coaling and receiving wood and water. Little breeze and warm. The governor sends me an apology by the paymaster for not being able to show me some official civility and hopes that I will return at some future period under different circumstances. The dunce! His [...]

Sunday, August 25.— Cloudy in the morning. Went on shore to church at half past 8. The good old mother has her churches and clergymen , even in this remote Dutch colony. It is estimated that there [are] 10,000 Catholics in the colony. The church was a neat, well-arranged building, the congregation full and mixed, [...]

Saturday, August 24.—Clear and pleasant; some passing clouds and in the evening slight squalls and rain. The Dutch steamer with the mail arrived to-day from Demerara. We were looking anxiously for news from home, as at last accounts ( July 20, from New York) a battle near Manassas Junction seemed imminent. Demerara papers to the [...]

Friday, August 23.—Weather clear; squally, with some rain at night. Our coal comes off very slowly, a little work going a great way with the negroes here. The French steamer of war Vulture went to sea to-day.

Thursday, August 22.—Clear and pleasant. Landed with Mr. Smith and my cockswain and took a walk, stopping at the hotel and reading such of the Yankee newspapers as I could ?nd. The privateer Sumter made some ?gure111 these lying sheets. Have received in the last two days just 18 tons of coal. The Yankee consul [...]

Wednesday, August 21.—Clear; temperature, pleasant. Returned the visit of the commander of the Abeille. He is a clever man, with pro-slavery sympathies, and seemed to understand well the cause of our quarrel with the North, but is a Frenchman all over and seemed to think we had not treated the pavillon Français with due respect [...]

Tuesday, August 20.—Weather clear and temperature, out of the sun, quite cool and pleasant. Called on the governor and had an agreeable interview with him. Returned the calls also of the Dutch and French commanders. Received the visits of two Dutch commanders and several citizens. Made arrangements for receiving a supply of coal. The French [...]

Monday, August 19.—Day broke clear, had all hands at quarters at 5:30 a.m., daylight. The strange steamer got up steam and ran toward us. Got our anchor and stood down for her. Hoisted the French colors. Soon afterwards the stranger hoisted French colors also. Hauled down the French colors and hoisted our own, and continued [...]

Sunday, August 18.—Weather clear, with a light breeze from the eastward, which freshened as the day advanced, and gave us a fresh breeze toward nightfall. After passing Port Orange we ran over another 3-fathom bank, the water deepening beyond, enabling us to head in toward the coast as we approached Bram Point, off which we [...]

Saturday, August 17.—Morning clear, with a fresh breeze (from) the southward and eastward. Running along the coast in 10 fathoms water, the soundings very regular. Observed in latitude 5° 56′. Passed the mouth of the Maroni at about noon, and at 4 p.m. ran across a sand bank in very muddy water some 15 miles [...]

Friday, August 16.— Morning clear, with passing trade clouds and a fresh wind from E. S. E., which has continued all the past night. At 5 a.m. dispatched the junior lieutenant and the paymaster to pay my respects to the governor, and ascertain whether I could be supplied with coal. These officers having proceeded to [...]

Thursday, August 15.—During the past night made the Great Constable, a small island off the coast some 40 miles to the eastward of Cayenne. Anchored at midnight in 141 fathoms water, the island bearing west, distant about 6 miles. At daylight this morning, after waiting for the passage of a rain squall, we got underway [...]

Wednesday, August 14.—Morning beautiful, with fleecy trade clouds, promising a fine breeze, but the breeze never came; the clouds passed on sluggishly and changed their forms and positions, but no wind. A livelong, calm day, with nothing but cat’s paws and currents, the latter setting about W. N. W. We have lessened our soundings somewhat, [...]