Pope's army moved at once in pursuit along the roads leading south--Rosecrans in front, Hamilton following, and Granger with the cavalry keeping in advance. Two divisions from Thomas' command, Davies and T.W. Sherman, were added to the pursuing column. The pursuit developed the fact that Beauregard, or a large part of his force, halted at Baldwin, fifty miles south of Corinth, in an inaccessible position behind swamp and jungle, while his line extended to the northwest, to Blackland, an approachable point west of the railroad. Pope had made all preparations to attack at Blackland and issued the order, when Buell arrived at the front and suspended the attack. Beauregard retreated farther and the pursuing force returned to Corinth. General Pope, while detained a few days at Danville, by illness, was continually receiving despatches from his officers at the front, and telegraphing them or their substance to General Halleck, at Corinth, a few miles off. General Granger said in one despatch there were ten thousand stragglers from the retreating army in the woods, all of whom would come in and surrender. All knew the woods were full of stragglers, and it was generally believed that General Granger's estimate of their number and intentions was reasonable. Pope, condensing into one, despatches received from Rosecrans, Hamilton, and Granger, telegraphed to Halleck, "The two divisions in the advance under Rosecrans are slowly and cautiously advancing on Baldwin this morning, with the cavalry on both flanks. Hamilton, with two divisions, is at Rienzi, and between there and Booneville, ready to move forward, should they be needed. One brigade from the reserve occupies Danville. Rosecrans reports this morning that the enemy has retreated from Baldwin, but he is advancing cautiously. The woods, for miles, are full of stragglers from the enemy, who are coming in in squads. Not less than ten thousand men are thus scattered about, who will come in within a day or two." General Halleck despatched to the War Department "General Pope, with 40,000 men, is thirty miles south of Corinth, pushing the enemy hard. He already reports 10,000 prisoners and deserters from the enemy, and 15,000 stand of arms captured." This despatch of General Halleck's made a great sensation. The expectation that the stragglers would come into the National camp was disappointed; the prisoners taken were few, and Pope was censured for making a statement of fact which he neither made nor authorized.