ment to Natchez, reporting for further instructions at department headquarters on arrival at Vicksburg. Every officer and soldier belonging to this regiment on detached or special service in this command will at once join the regiment, so that not a man may be left behind. By order of Maj. Gen. W. T. Sherman : Brigadier-General ASBOTH, R. M. SAWYER, Assistant Adjutant-General. UNION CITY, August 12, 1863. Commanding District: The rumors about Chalmers being in West Tennessee are all vague, but I hear them from other sources than Mr. Benton. He is said to have six pieces of artillery. I am not disposed to believe 4,000 rebel troops are being spared from Bragg's army for the less important work here; yet Morgan's taking away 8,000, at a time when Bragg was in danger, is equally difficult to understand. It is said he came in between Corinth and the Tennessee River, and that Biffle or Newsom went out that way. Do you know whether General Dodge's dispositions would leave this possible? I have four parties out; one of 60 infantry down the railroad, one of 25 cavalry via Troy, one of 25 cavalry via Dresden, and one of 20 mounted infantry via Gardner's Station; all to unite at daybreak to-morrow near Kenton Station to capture a guerrilla party, encamped about there, of 40 or 50. These parties will be a good picket against Chalmers' advance until to-morrow. Mr. Logan reports that there have been 300 barrels of salt smuggled out of Hickman within the past two days, and he says that smuggling from there is constantly going on. Shall I, if I deem it necessary to retire and communication with you is interrupted, go to Hickman or Moscow ? Either would be more defensible than this place; Hickman probably the best, and Moscow very good. GEO. E. WARING, JR., Colonel, Commanding Brigade. HEADQUARTERS POST OF FORT PILLOW, Capt. THOMAS H. HARRIS, Assistant Adjutant-General: SIR: Special Orders, No. 181 (extract 2), from Major-General Hurlbut, of date August 7, 1863, in reference to movement of Second Regiment Illinois Cavalry, arrived at my headquarters last evening, together with the order of general commanding division. This morning the commanding officer of the Second Regiment Illinois Cavalry received an order from Brigadier-General Grierson, chief of cavalry, of which inclosed please find copy, suspending the movement to Vicksburg until further orders. Respectfully, your obedient servant, E. H. WOLFE, Colonel 52d Regiment Indiana Infantry Vols., Commanding. [Inclosure.] HDQRS. CAVALRY DIVISION, SIXTEENTH ARMY CORPS, Comdg. Officer Second Illinois Cavalry, Fort Pillow, Tenn.: SIR In pursuance of instructions from Major-General Hurlbut, you will suspend your movement to Vicksburg until further orders. By order of Brig. Gen. B. H. Grierson: S. L. WOODWARD, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. LA GRANGE, August 12, 1863. Major-General HURLBUT, Commanding Sixteenth Army Corps: In my opinion it will be impossible for the force named to bring away the stock. Shall I not order them to destroy it? The whole mounted force of the Left Wing is ready to start if the importance of expedition will warrant our moving it this warm weather. Shall I go with it or send the number designated? J. K. MIZNER, Colonel and Chief of Cavalry. CORINTH, August 12, 1863. Colonel MERSY : Have 50 of the Engineer Regiment-to be selected by Major Fladaccompany the Ninth Illinois. Have them start as soon as possible, with six days' rations. They will go via Ripley to Oxford, where they will join column from La Grange. By order of Brig. Gen. G. M. Dodge: J. W. BARNES, Lieutenant and Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. CORINTH, August 12, 1863. Colonel MERSY : If no better method can be devised, mount 50 of the Engineer Regiment on mules of the Ninth and have them start as soon as possible. By order of General Dodge : J. W. BARNES, Colonel MERSY: CORINTH, August 12, 1863. Start Lieutenant-Colonel Phillips immediately. He will move via Ripley to Oxford, where he will form a junction with column from La Grange. If the detachment of the Engineer Regiment cannot be mounted, have the Ninth move without them. By order of Brigadier-General Dodge: J. W. BARNES, Lieutenant and Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS SECOND BRIGADE, SECOND DIVISION, Col. J. I. RINAKER, One Hundred and Twenty-second Illinois: COLONEL: Your letter of the 11th instant was received. Captain King had not to wait for instructions. His instructions are to fight, and I expect that the next time he will clean guerrillas out without waiting for orders. You should have sent out immediately some cavalry after receiving the first information, without waiting. Sol. Street was badly whipped yesterday by some cavalry sent out from this post. He lost 4 men killed, 6 or 8 wounded of his command, and was himself severely wounded and had his horse captured. In regard to those rations for prisoners, I wish to inform you that every ten days ten extra rations can be drawn. I am, very respectfully, AUG. MERSY, Colonel Ninth Illinois, Commanding Brigade. WINCHESTER, TENN., August 12, 1863-10 p. m. ADJUTANT-GENERAL : Report has not reached me of the cavalry advance. First Division of the Fourteenth Corps has reached its position near Stevenson. Cavalry horses of left wing were sent up to-day. No other report to make. Pontoons go forward as soon as forage is furnished. Rebels expect us above Chattanooga. W. S. ROSECRANS. WINCHESTER, TENN., Col. WILLIAM J. PALMER, Commanding Anderson Cavalry: COLONEL: In obedience to your order, I herewith transmit a sketch* of the country lying adjacent to the road leading from this place to Larkin's Fork via Salem. As your chief object, according to my interpretation of the order, seemed to be to ascertain the character of the road beyond Salem, it will be unnecessary to speak at length concerning the road to that place. I beg leave to remark, however, that it is now in excellent condition; good roads are cut through the fields wherever standing pools of water render the main highway impassable. The facilities for * Not found. watering stock are poor, as there are no streams of running water in the vicinity of the road. At Salem the road leading to Larkin's Fork, and thence to Bellefonte and Larkinsville, strikes off nearly at right angles with the former road, running generally in a direction somewhat east of south to the base of the mountains, near 5 miles from Salem. The land in this valley is extremely fertile and well watered, the road crossing both branches of Bean's Creek. There is also near the base of the mountain to the right of the road an artificial water basin, filled at the present time with good, pure water. From this road, leading in a northeasterly direction, to the Salem road, are several settlement roads and bridle paths, which, if passable, would be much the nearer way from this place (Winchester) to the mountain base; but the recent heavy rains have washed these paths so badly that it is doubtful whether they could be used to advantage for military purposes. The prevailing opinions among the residents were that time and trouble would be saved by adhering to the main road, by way of Salem. At the foot of the mountain the road makes a turn to the right, and after running for a short distance in a southwesterly course, makes by a long curve a turn to the left (as you will perceive by the map), and the ascent of the mountain commences. Immediately after making the second turn the road for a hundred yards, probably, is steep, and a very heavily laden wagon could scarcely be drawn up it. I think, however, that this hill could be easily avoided by cutting a road through the field to the left for a short distance. The balance of the road to the summit of the mountain is by no means steep, and, although in many places quite rough and stony, there is no obstacle that can seriously impede the passage of either artillery or baggage-wagons. Near the mountain top to the right of the road there is a second water basin, containing good water. From this point there is no water, excepting in wells until the mountain is entirely crossed. The mountain top at this crossing is quite narrow, probably not more than a mile in width. On it are several spots of cultivated ground and some few scattering dwellings, most of which are deserted. The timber on the mountain is quite fine, and consists mostly of chestnut and the several species of oak. The descent of the mountain is quite gradual. The road, which is very good, winds over a high ridge or spur, upon each side of which is a deep ravine. These ravines unite at Larkin's Fork, the roads at this place turning suddenly to the left and running for more than a mile in an easterly direction, thence in a southeasterly course toward Bellefonte. The road for some distance beyond Larkin's Fork follows a deep ravine. It is, although stony, quite level. I failed to ascertain anything reliable_concerning the roads running in a northeasterly direction from Bellefonte. I have not attempted, therefore, to delineate them on my sketch. I was informed that water was very plenty beyond the mountains. Altogether, this road over the mountain is good. None of the curves (which are few in number) are too short to allow a team to draw to advantage. There are no places over the whole route where wagons could be readily overturned, or where careful and skilled driving would be an indispensable requisite to their safety. I am, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant, HENRY MCALLESTER, JR., Captain, Commanding Company G, Anderson Cavalry. HDQRS. FIRST DIVISION, FOURTEENTH ARMY CORPS, Lieut. Col. GEORGE E. FLYNT, Asst. Adjt. Gen. and Chief of Staff: COLONEL: I have the honor to report the following: The First and Second Brigades of my command left camp near Tantalon Station yesterday at 8 a. m., and arrived at this point at 5 o'clock last evening; are now encamped at Blue Springs, on the railroad and creek, 4 miles below Anderson, and where there are good camping grounds and an abundance of good water. The transportation of the command is nearly all up and is in good condition. The loss of wagons will not exceed four or five in number. Supplies of this command have been unloaded at Anderson. I respectfully suggest that in future supplies for the First and Second Brigades, coming by railroad, be unloaded at this point, and that if the supplies for the entire division must be unloaded at one place that they be unloaded here, as it will be easier to haul the supplies of the First Brigade from here to Anderson than to haul the supplies of the other two brigades from there here. Will it not be better also to have the telegraph office at the headquarters of the division? As there is no topographical engineer on staff of Major-General Rousseau, I have instructed the topographical engineer of the Second Brigade to make map of the road and country over which the command passed, giving all desirable information, and as soon as same is completed will forward to you. In compliment to Major Dawson, commanding Third Brigade, I have ordered that this camp be called Camp Dawson. I am, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant, JOHN C. STARKWEATHER, ORDERS.] HDQRS. FIRST DIVISION, 14TH ARMY CORPS, Commanding Officers First, Second, and Third Brigades: 1. The numerous orders heretofore issued from these headquarters in regard to the burning of rails by this command seem to be greatly disregarded. Commanding officers of regiments, battalions, companies, and detachments are directed to at once put a stop to the burning of rails; and the destruction of fences by any part of this command is prohibited. 2. No forage will be taken by any part of this command without proper authority obtained from these headquarters, and then when taken proper vouchers must be given. By command of Brig. Gen. J. C. Starkweather: E. CARY, Captain and Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. |