March 17, 1863, The Charleston Mercury
PANOLA, MISS., Match 14. – A gentleman direct from Coldwater says that the enemy’s force in the Yazoo consists of two formidable gunboats, the Chillicothe and De Kalb, two rams, with cotton defences, three gunboats not deemed formidable, three batteries, three hundred cavalry, and 10,000 infantry. Some boats not loaded accompany the expedition, it is thought for the purpose of stealing cotton. They left Panola with one day’s rations and plenty of meat, bread and other supplies. They rely upon the country for meat, which they are everywhere stealing.
A gentleman who witnessed the fight at Fort Pemberton says that our troops waded to their waists to get a chance at the enemy. The attacking fleet consists of six gunboats and rams, and an infantry force of from five to eighteen thousand. The enemy’s movements indicated a landing higher up the river, on the opposite bank. Our officers were preparing to frustrate the enemy at all points.