CAMP NELSON, August 13, 1863. L. RICHMOND, Assistant Adjutant-General: General Potter's division will not be turned off at Seymour, but will proceed to Cincinnati to remain there till it can be sent here over Covington and Lexington Railroad. I have notified Ohio and Mississippi Railroad. A., E. BURNSIDE. CIRCULAR.] HEADQUARTERS FIFTEENTH ARMY CORPS, Camp near Black River, August 13, 1863. Such cotton marked C. S. A. as may be in the vicinity of the camps of this command will be collected under the direction of the division commanders and forwarded through the quartermaster's department, invoiced to Mr. Montrose, special agent of the Treasury Department, at Vicksburg. By order of Maj. Gen. W. T. Sherman : R. M. SAWYER, Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE, Brig. Gen. L. THOMAS, Adjutant-General of the Army: GENERAL: Inclosed I send you a letter directed to General Ransom from A. T. Bowie. This is but one of numerous complaints made of the conduct of the Marine Brigade under General Ellet. I think it highly probable the charges brought against the Marine Brigade are exaggerated. But that this conduct is bad, and their services but very slight in comparison to the great expense they are to Government and the injury they do, I do not doubt. Seven of the finest boats on the Mississippi River are kept for the use of this brigade the brigade, I understand, not numbering over 800 effective men. They live on board their boats, keeping cavalry horses and all with them, I should think very much to the prejudice of their effectiveness and the good of the service. These boats, in charge of the department commander, might be made very useful in transporting troops from one place to another within the department, and in carrying troops to operate against guerrillas. But then the troops should be selected with reference to their commanding officer, and the numbers necessary with reference to the service to be performed. If there is nothing in the terms of enlistment of the Marine Brigade to prevent it, I would earnestly recommend that they be transferred to the land service and their boats to the quartermaster's department, to be used as suggested above. If they cannot be so transferred, I would as earnestly recommend that the whole brigade be mustered out of service and the boats be taken for general use. I am fully satisfied the boats are worth much more to the service than the boats and men. I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, [Inclosure.] NATCHEZ, August 4, 1863. Brigadier-General RANSOM : As requested, I give the information obtained here in reference to Mr. John Routh and his grandson, Mr. Andrew S. Routh. Dr. J. Y. Hollingsworth, from Hard Times Landing, La., 3 miles above Grand Gulf, brought the following information here on Sunday week last: That on or about the 21st of July a company of marine cavalry (styling themselves "Ellet's marines," saying they were a corps of cavalry independent of the authority of the United States, and whose pay was their booty) landed at Judge Perkins', or Ashwood Landing, La., dashed around Lake St. Joseph, inquiring for Mr. John Routh. On reaching his plantation demanded from him, first, his arms, which were given them. They then burst open a barrel of whisky, made all of the negroes drunk, and in that way learned where his valuables were, consisting of silver-ware, liquors, meats, clothes, table and house linen, and even scuffled with him for his purse. They took the amount of $25,000 worth of property$15,000 of silver-ware, and perhaps the largest and most valuable private collection of table and house linen in the southern country. Mr. Routh is an old man of nearly seventy years; had his house, gin, barn, stables, and everything burned last spring at the [time the] others on the lake had lost their property. These marines also threatened to take him prisoner; did take his grandson, Mr. Andrew S. Routh, prisoner, who is now, it is said, in jail at Vicksburg. Andrew had not been in the army since last April; has been with his grandfather assisting him in taking care of his property. He had been ordered back to Colonel Harrison's regiment, but determined to put in a substitute, in order that he might remain with his grandfather, and this was his position at the time he was taken off by Ellet's marines. Mr. Routh is all alone, and wishes Andrew to live with him. Very respectfully, yours, VICKSBURG, MISS., (Via Louisville, Ky., 23d. Hon. E. M. STANTON: A. T. BOWIE. August 14, 1863. SIR: Major-General Grant is very desirous of having transferred to him Brigadier-General Ellet's command, which is in accordance with the wishes of Admiral Porter. General Ellet has seven of the largest and finest boats on the western waters for a command not exceeding 800 effective men. General Grant constantly requires transports for troops, and if this transfer is made he will land General Ellet's command, and thus be enabled fully to avail himself of the transports; besides, he can give General Ellet, when on shore, a command more suitable to his rank. L. THOMAS, HEADQUARTERS FIFTEENTH ARMY CORPS, Capt. C. B. COMSTOCK, Chief Engineer, Department of the Tennessee: Captain Jenney has just shown me your dispatch. The pontoon train will be immediately started for Vicksburg. The men who have been overhauling it are not engineer troops. They are simply soldiers who have been detailed out of companies and belong to one of my divisions, and should never be separated from their regiments. They know no more about laying the pontoons than any other soldiers, and if detached now will be lost to their proper division. Lochbihler's company of engineer troops, which we left in Vicksburg, always laid the pontoons. Any other division squad of pioneers are as well qualified to manage this train as the one now overhauling it. I therefore ask that the train be sent to Vicksburg and Natchez, to be managed by the division that is to use it. W. T. SHERMAN, HEADQUARTERS SEVENTEENTH ARMY CORPS, Commanding Officer Second Wisconsin Cavalry: SIR: You will, until further orders, select a good position for your regiment and go into camp in the vicinity of Red Bone Church. It will be your special duty to guard the line of Black River from Baldwin's Ferry to its mouth, watching particularly the different ferries across the river within these limits, and prevent the crossing of parties of rebel cavalry for the purpose of picking up stragglers from our army or carrying off conscripts. You will keep up a vigilant system of scouts and ascertain all you can about the movements of rebel cavalry on the east and south side of the Big Black. You will instruct your men to preserve the most perfect order, to refrain from molesting any of the citizens who are disposed to remain quietly at their homes and pursue their ordinary, peaceful avocations, but, on the contrary, to extend to them such protection as you can consistently with your duty, without placing guards at their houses. You will arrest all soldiers found straggling through the country, no matter whose command they belong to, and send them in to me for punishment. All negroes with arms in their possession and all able-bodied negroes who are found doing nothing will be arrested and sent in here, to work on the fortifications. Report to me anything important which you may find out, and send your reports and returns of regiment to these headquarters. Your supplies, &c., will be drawn from here. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, JAS. B. MCPHERSON, Major-General. HEADQUARTERS FORTY-NINTH ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS, Lieut. H. C. HEMENWAY, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General: SIR: I have the honor to make the following report: On the afternoon of the 13th, while my patrol, consisting of Captain Krughoff and 6 men, were returning from White's Station, they were fired into by a squad of guerrillas near Ridgeway Station, at a distance of 10 yards. The guerrillas were secreted behind a fence closely covered by briers thickly grown around. There were wounded by this fire, Captain Alexander, Company I, who received three bullets; Captain Berz, Company E, bone fractured just below the knee; William Meiersieck, Company C, in three places, probably mortally; Frederick Roettger, slightly, and a citizen of La Fayette County, who happened to be with them. Captain Alexander, after having fallen and surrendered, was again shot and immediately killed by the guerrillas. Captain Krughoff and the balance of his men escaped. Captain Alexander has, with his company, for the past month been stationed at White's Station and was relieved by Company K on the 12th instant. He (Captain A.) was permitted to go to White's Station with the patrol for the purpose of getting a horse which he had receipted for, for the purpose of communicating with these headquarters while stationed at White's Station. Captain Berrey, wishing to see Captain Laur, who is at present stationed at White's Station, was permitted to go with the patrol. On receiving information I immediately sent out Lieutenant Sondag, in command of 40 men, to intercept the guerrillas, who left immediately after having robbed those they had killed and wounded. I also mounted what infantry I could on mules and horses, directing them to take the Hernando road, to cut off their retreat. Colonel McCrillis also mounted what scattering cavalry he had in camp, who followed them with my mounted infantry until the darkness of night caused them to return without success in capturing. This being the third time that guerrillas have committed depredations in the vicinity of Ridgeway Station, I have given the citizens living north of Nonconnah Creek, and in the vicinity of the railroad at Ridgeway Station, notice that they must guard the fords and immediately notify me of the crossing of guerrillas, in order that these depredations and murderous acts may not again be repeated. I remain, yours, truly, P. PEASE, Colonel Forty-ninth Illinois Volunteers, Commanding. [Indorsement.] HEADQUARTERS THIRD BRIGADE, Respectfully forwarded, with recommendation that some severe means be used to prevent a repetition of such conduct. JAMES M. TRUE, Colonel Sixty-second Illinois Volunteers, Comdg. Brigade. Brig. Gen. J. W. RIPLEY, WINCHESTER, August 14, 1863. Chief of Ordnance, Washington, D. C.: Our cavalry and mounted infantry need 2,000 saddles, with horse equipments, at present. The worn-out saddles are ruining the horses' backs. As horses are much more expensive and hard to replace, I beg you will send us a supply at once, and order something ahead of present wants to supply wear and tear. W. S. ROSECRANS, HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Maj. Gen. GEORGE H. THOMAS, Commanding Fourteenth Corps: GENERAL: The general commanding directs me to inquire if you are ready to move with your command, and how many days' rations and forage you have now on hand. He further directs that preparatory to moving you provide for your sick, and see that they are supplied with rations, hospital stores, &c. I have the honor to be, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, C. GODDARD, Lieutenant-Colonel and Assistant Adjutant-General. (Same to Major-General McCook, commanding Twentieth Army Corps; Maj. Gen. J. M. Palmer, commanding Twenty-first Army Corps; Maj. Gen. D. S. Stanley, commanding cavalry, and to Capt. P. O'Connell, commanding Pioneer Brigade.) Lieut. Col. C. GODDARD, ELK RIVER, August 14, 1863-6 p. m. Assistant Adjutant-General: My command is ready to move. Have ten days' rations and three days' forage. Can get no more forage until to-morrow. The sick have been provided for. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, P. O'CONNELL, Captain, Commanding Pioneers. HEADQUARTERS FOURTEENTH ARMY CORPS, Lieut. Col. C. GODDARD, Assistant Adjutant-General : Decherd, August 14, 1863. I have the honor to state, in reply to your note, that my command has five days' forage and eight days' rations on hand, and is ready to move. I have just heard from Captain Blair, who is now at Stevenson, that there are no rations at that place. Convalescents from my command have been ordered into camp temporarily at Cowan, under proper officers. Very respectfully, GEO. H. THOMAS, Major-General, U. S. Volunteers, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS TWENTIETH ARMY CORPS, [General W. S. ROSECRANS :] Winchester, August 14, 1863. GENERAL: I have the honor to make the following report as to the condition of my command as to rations, forage, &c. The corps |