[Inclosure.] HEADQUARTERS SIXTEENTH ARMY CORPS, Brig. Gen. W. SOOY SMITH, Chief of Cavalry, Columbia, Tenn.: If Forrest has been driven from West Tennessee and is now near. Panola with about 5,000 men. My cavalry is short about 1.800 horses, drawn for three months since, but never forwarded. This cripples me exceedingly. My whole cavalry command is wearing down and I cannot get a remount. Sherman will be here on the 6th and wants me to give him infantry to the extent of 4,000 men. he draws these away I must keep the cavalry. Your column should move on Okolona and thence west, to be joined by such force as I can send, clearing my front. Loring's division is at Canton, say 6,000 strong. French's division, at Meridian, has nearly all gone to Georgia. I wish you would consult with General Sherman before you move. I do not know what he may require. I have not heard from A. J. Smith or his troops since December 21. The enemy's total of cavalry north of Jackson is about 9,000; the bulk of them south of me at present. S. A. HURLBUT, LA GRANGE, TENN., General GRIERSON: Three conscripts who escaped from Forrest left him camped 3 miles south of Buck Snort on night of 30th. Forrest crossed at Panola next day. Chalmers joined him near Wash. Taylor's, and all left there at 10 a. m. on 29th. Forrest, after crossing Hatchie in night of 24th, remained all day Christmas at John Miller's, north of Somerville. He camped near Oakland night of 26th, and left there 1 a. m. 27th, not halting till 2 p. m. 28th at Taylor's. They had 30 wagons, 150 beef-cattle, and about 600 conscripts unarmed. He was going to Okolona. No troops or beef cattle left north of railroad. J. K. MIZNER, Colonel, Commanding Brigade. General GRIERSON: COLLIERVILLE, TENN., Patrol, just in by way of Quinn and Jackson's Mill, Olive Branch, Centre Hill, and Forest Hill, reports that nothing could be heard of the enemy except that it was the report that Forrest had crossed the Tallahatchie River and was still going south. D. E. COON, Major Second Iowa Cavalry, Commanding. Capt. S. L. WOODWARD, LA GRANGE, TENN., January 2, 1864. Assistant Adjutant-General: Tri-monthly was made out and sent to Memphis on 28th ultimo. Monthly will be sent as soon as possible. First Alabama Cavalry left for Corinth by rail at 2 p. m. Transportation will be required for our wagons and garrison equipage in the morning. Can tents be provided for Seventh Kansas? General GRIERSON: J. K. MIZNER, Colonel, Commanding. LA GRANGE, TENN., January 2, 1864. Quite a number of my men have been frost-bitten and are suffering from the intense cold. The Seventh Kansas Cavalry are without a single tent and have been unable to get any. Until the weather moderates, I must at least have all the dismounted men and sick in their quarters at Corinth, quartering the others the best I can until tents can be furnished. The change will be attended with great difficulties at the present time. General GRIERSON: J. K. MIZNER, Colonel, Commanding Brigade. I was at depot at Collierville on arrival of train yesterday, ready. I left at 5 p. m. last night and have just arrived with my infantry. The battery will be here this p. m. J. H. HOWE, Colonel, Commanding. Major Coon, MEMPHIS, TENN., January 2, 1864. Send a good battalion of the Second Iowa Cavalry with camp equipage in wagons, to start early in the morning for this place. Send the rest of the regiment as soon after as possible by road; the camp equipage to be sent by rail. You had best come in by rail today and select a camp. B. H. GRIERSON, MEMPHIS, TENN., January 2, 1864. Has Lieutenant-Colonel Trafton, with detachment of Seventh Illinois Cavalry, returned from Hudsonville? Please ascertain. I have telegraphed Colonel Prince, but have received no answer. B. H. GRIERSON, Brigadier-General. GENERAL ORDERS, HDQRS. DEPT. OF THE CUMBERLAND, No. 2. Chattanooga, Tenn., January 2, 1864. The following regulations for the organization of the ambulance corps and the management of the ambulance trains are published for the government of all concerned : 1. The ambulance corps for an army corps shall consist of a captain as commandant, one first lieutenant for each division, one second lieutenant and two sergeants for each brigade, two privates and one driver to each ambulance, and one driver to each medicine and each army wagon. 2. The allowance of ambulances and wagons will be apportioned as follows: Two ambulances to each regiment of cavalry, infantry, and each brigade of artillery reserve; two ambulances to the headquarters of each army corps, and one to each division and brigade headquarters, to remain permanently attached; two army wagons to each division, to be used for the transportation of forage, tools, and materials for repairs to ambulance train; one medicine wagon and two army wagons for transporting medical stores, camp and garrison equipage to brigade headquarters for the brigade hospital. 3. The captain, under the immediate direction of the medical director of the army corps to which the ambulance corps belongs, will be the commander of the ambulance corps and trains. He will be responsible that the ambulances, wagons, horses, harness, &c., are at all times in readiness for service; that the officers and men are properly instructed and attentive to their duties; that the water vessels are kept clean and filled with fresh water, and that the ambulances are not used for any other purpose than that for which they are designed. He will institute a drill in his corps to instruct his men in the proper service of the stretchers, and see that in all cases his men treat the sick and wounded with care and gentleness. Previous to a march he will receive from the medical director of the army corps his orders for the distribution of the ambulances, and for the disposition of the sick and wounded. He will give his sonal attention to the removal of the wounded from the field in time of action, going from place to place to ascertain what may be wanted, and to see that his subordinates (for whose conduct he will be responsible) attend faithfully to their duties. He will cause to be placed at suitable points guide-boards, to indicate the routes to the various hospitals, and will see that the ambulances reach their destination. After every battle he will make a report in detail of the operations of his corps to the medical director of the army corps, who will transmit a copy, with such remarks as he may deem proper, to the medical director of this army. He will give his personal attention to the removal of sick when they are sent to the general hospital or to other points. He will make a personal inspection, at least once a month, of everything pertaining to the ambulance corps, a report of which will be made to the medical director of the corps, who will transmit a copy to the medical director of this army. This minute and careful inspection will not supersede the constant supervision which he must exercise at all times over his corps. He will also make a weekly report, according to the prescribed form, to the same officer, who will forward a copy to the medical director of this army. per 4. The first lieutenant, under the captain and the medical director of the army corps, will have complete control over the ambulance corps and train of a division. He will be the acting assistant quartermas ter for that portion of the ambulance corps, and will receipt and be responsible for all the property belonging to it. He will have a carpenter, a blacksmith, and a saddler under his control to keep his train in order, and to perform such service as may be required of them at the division field hospital. He will also be provided with a traveling forge. His supplies will be drawn from the nearest depot quartermaster, upon requisitions approved by the captain of his corps and the commander of the army corps to which he is attached. He will exercise a constant supervision over his train, keeping it all times ready for service, and especially before a battle will be careful that everything is in order. He will make reports, upon the forms prescribed, to the captain of the corps every Saturday morning. 5. The second lieutenant will have command of the portion of the ambulance corps for a brigade. The requirements as to care and supervision prescribed for the first lieutenant are equally demanded of him in that portion under his command. 6. The sergeant will conduct the drills, inspections, &c., under the orders and supervision of the commander of the ambulances for a brigade, will enforce the orders he may receive from his superior officers, and will see that the men are attentive to their duties. 7. This corps will be designated, for sergeants, by a green band 14 inches broad, around the cap, and chevrons of the same material, with the point toward the shoulder, on each arm above the elbow; for privates, by a band the same as for sergeants, around the cap, and a half chevron, of the same material, on each arm above the elbow. The officers and non-commissioned officers will be mounted, the latter armed with revolvers. 8. When on the march one medical officer and one hospital steward will be detailed daily, according to roster, by the brigade surgeon, to accompany the ambulances for a brigade, whose duties will be to attend to the sick and wounded. Men will not be permitted by company officers to fall to the rear to ride in the ambulances, unless they have written permission from a medical officer of their regiment. These orders will be preserved by the medical officer accompanying the train, and at the close of the march be transmitted, with such remarks as he may deem necessary, to the brigade surgeon. These remarks will indicate whether the permission to ride in the ambulances was given for proper cause. No man who is sick or wounded will be denied admission to the ambulances, although he may not have the required permission; the surgeon of the regiment who has neglected to give the permission will be reported at the close of the march by the surgeon with the train to the brigade surgeon. When on a march one-half of the privates will accompany, on foot, the ambulances to which they belong, to render such assistance as may be necessary; the remainder will march in the rear of their respective commands, to conduct to the ambulances such men as may be incapable of taking care of themselves. When the case is of a serious nature, the surgeon of the regiment or his assistant will remain with the man until he can be placed in an ambulance. At all other times the privates will be with their respective trains. The medicine wagons will follow in their proper places, in the rear of the ambulances for a brigade. Upon ordinary marches the ambulances and wagons will follow immediately in the rear of the brigade to which they are assigned, but when a battle is imminent, in the rear 2 R R-VOL XXXII, PT II of the division. Officers connected with the corps must be with the train on the march, observing that no one rides in any of the ambulances except by the authority of the medical officer, and affording every necessary facility for taking care of the sick and wounded. 9. When the brigades composing a division are encamped near each other, the ambulance train will be parked at division headquarters, but otherwise at brigade headquarters. Roll-calls will be held at reveille, retreat, and tattoo, and stable duty at hours fixed by the captain of the corps, at which at least one commissioned officer will be present. During the hour of the stable duty, while the drivers are in attendance upon their animals, the privates will be employed in putting the ambulances to which they belong in order, in filling the water kegs, and in general police duties. 10. When a regimental medical officer requires an ambulance for transporting sick and wounded, he will make requisition upon the commander of ambulances for his brigade, who will comply with the requisition. In all cases when ambulances are used, the officers, non-commissioned officers, and men belonging to them will accompany them; should one ambulance only be required, a non-commissioned officer or private placed in charge, as well as the men belonging to it, will accompany it. The non-commissioned officer or private in charge will report, on his return, to the commander of the brigade train, the use to which it was applied. The officers of the ambulance corps will see that ambulances are not used for any other purpose than that for which they are designed, viz, the transportation of sick and wounded. In urgent cases only can they be used for transporting medical supplies. All officers are expressly forbidden to use them for any other purpose. 11. When a brigade or division is unassigned to an army corps, it shall have an independent ambulance corps and train, arranged upon the same basis as herein prescribed for a brigade or division of an army corps, the details of officers and men to be made by the commander of the brigade or division, and the ambulances, wagons, &c., to be procured in the same way and subjected to the same rules and regulations as are laid down in this order. Regiments unassigned to brigades, at military posts, will be allowed one ambulance. 12. Good, serviceable mules will be used for the ambulances and medicine wagons, and will not be taken for any other purpose, except by orders from these headquarters. 13. If, after the distribution of ambulances under this order, there be any remaining over, they will be turned in to the post quartermaster. 14. No person, except the proper medical officers, or the officers, non-commissioned officers, and privates of this corps, will be permitted to take or to accompany sick and wounded to the rear, either on the march or on the field of battle. 15. No officers or men will be selected for this service except those who are active and efficient, and they will be detailed and relieved by corps commanders only, except in the case provided for in paragraph 11 of this order. 16. Commanders of corps, divisions, and brigades are charged with the execution of this order in so far as it relates to their respective commands. By command of Maj. Gen. George H. Thomas: WM. D. WHIPPLE, Assistani Adjutant-General. |