In organizing and conducting this expedition I have been admirably seconded by my personal staff, viz, Major McCoy and Captains Dayton and Audenried. I hardly know how to reward them substantially, further than to commend them to the favorable notice of our Government. To Lieutenant-Colonel Bingham, my chief quartermaster, the only member of my general staff that I took from department headquarters, I am greatly indebted. Through him were obtained the steamboats and means by which these troops were so rapidly assembled and concentrated at great distances promptly on time. When Colonel Coates makes me the official report of his operations up the Yazoo, I will indorse it according to my judgment at the time. Accompanying this I send a complete file of orders and letters of instruction issued during the expedition. I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Major-General. [Inclosure No. 1.] HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE, Maj. Gen. S. A. HURLBUT, Commanding Sixteenth Army Corps: SIR: The time is now for the execution of a design long contemplated, which must be improved, else we may lose a step in the natural development of events. You know what I refer to, and therefore I need not repeat it. Everything must give way to the execution of our purpose. You will therefore at once organize out of the Sixteenth Army Corps two strong divisions of infantry, at least 5,000 strong each, with proportionate artillery, and one of cavalry of same strength; in all 15,000 men exclusive of the cavalry force recently arrived under General W. Sooy Smith. To enable you to effect this combination, I hereby direct the force at Paducah to be reduced to three companies, Cairo to seven, Columbus to one white and one negro regiment, Memphis to two black and two white regiments. All the Memphis and Charleston road to be abandoned save so much of it as can be safely held with the remainder of the troops not herein embraced. Abandon Corinth and Fort Pillow absolutely, removing all public property to Cairo or Memphis ; also leave all black troops and such of the local Tennessee regiments as can be employed, with minute instructions to the commanders of posts at Paducah, Columbus, Cairo, Memphis, and such others as you judge best to have fixed to organize and arm the loyal citizens for self-defense. Citizens who volunteer to defend their towns, counties, and neighborhoods against the enemy from without or within, should be protected and encouraged in their laudable efforts; and if you will devise a system applicable to West Tennessee and Kentucky and North Mississippi I will ratify and approve it, making it uniform throughout the sphere of this command. Troops held too long in a city like Memphis, or even at a fixed post with barracks, become enervated. I wish, therefore, a general change to take place, and all the men put into camp or bivouac as remote from towns as possible. The present garrison of Memphis, save the negro regiment, should form the nucleus of one of the infantry divisions named and encamp, say, at Germantown, where they can march inland or into Memphis for embarkation on one day's notice. Make the civil authorities guard their own towns, and hold them responsible that they preserve good order and government. Let the agents of the U. S. Treasury Department manage exclusively all matters of trade and internal intercourse. This is clearly the law of Congress, and if it be wise or unwise it is not for us to say. This will manifest itself in due time, and in the mean time it sets free the hosts of local guards and officers whose time has heretofore been absorbed in civil matters. I expect you to take command of the two divisions of infantry in the field. In assigning and transferring regiments under this order, I advise you to organize Dodge's command into two divisions, adding to his present command say two or three more regiments, which can by him be reported detached. You might send to Dodge one or more brigadiers. Please report to me to-morrow, or next day at furthest, your action under this order, as I will go to Vicksburg and return before we actually move, but all must be complete in ten days at furthest. I am, &c., W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General, Commanding. [Inclosure No. 2.] HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE, Maj. Gen. JAMES B. MCPHERSON, Comdg. Seventeenth Army Corps, Vicksburg, Miss.: DEAR GENERAL: I have the statement showing the number of troops at the different posts and stations in your command, and am well satisfied with the aggregate. I believe we now have at our disposal here and at Memphis an available force adequate to break the enemy's railroad communication with the State of Mississippi. I mean to break up the railroad at Meridian and as far east as Demopolis. I propose to go back to Memphis, and about the 24th or 25th instant to start a force of cavalry of about 7,000, under command of Brig. Gen. William Sooy Smith, to move from La Grange, via Ripley, Pontotoc, and Columbus, down to Meridian, following substantially the Mobile and Ohio Road, breaking it at numerous points. At the same time I will embark two divisions of infantry of the Sixteenth Corps, under Major-General Hurlbut, and hasten to Vicksburg, where they will disembark and march, via Messinger's, Jackson, Brandon, &c., to Meridian, timing our march so as to co-operate with the cavalry. I want you to make up two divisions of infantry, artillery, and cavalry to march at the same time via Big Black bridge, Champion's Hill, Jackson, &c. I will command in person. I will depend on you to provide pontoons and bridge material for crossing General Hurlbut's command at Messinger's, and also a bridge near the old railroad bridge for your own command, so that no delay may occur there. On arrival at Jackson, we can make a bridge over the Pearl out of material there. I want your command to be about 10,000 aggregate, and your artillery to embrace at least two 20-pounder Parrotts and a battery of either 10-pounder Parrotts or 3 inch Rodman guns. We must leave Vicksburg safe in any contingency and a guard at Big Black and at Haynes' Bluff, and to enable you to do this you can abandon the posts at Skipwith's and Goodrich's. In the present condition of water I do not think the danger of molestation to boats at those points enough to warrant the force now there. On passing Skipwith's I will see Captain Owen, of the Navy, and ask him to send you a light-draught gunboat to go to Haynes' Bluff, and I wish you to send her up with a couple of transports carrying a couple of regiments to reconnoiter the Yazoo above Yazoo City, and to obtain forage on the Sunflower or on the Yazoo. If the Yazoo be found in a fair stage I will, at the same time with our movement inland, make a feint up that river, it may be, as high as Greenwood. Knowing the objects of the movement, I will rely on your making all the preparations possible between this and the 25th instant, by which time you may expect my return. I am, with respect, your obedient servant, W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General, Commanding. [Inclosure No. 3.] HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE, Brig. Gen. WILLIAM SOOY SMITH, Commanding Cavalry, &c., present: DEAR GENERAL: By an order issued this day I have placed all the cavalry of this department subject to your command. I estimate you can make a force of full 7,000 men, which I believe to be superior and better in all respects than the combined cavalry which the enemy has in all the State of Mississippi. I will in person start for Vicksburg to-day, and with four divisions of infantry, artillery, and cavalry move out for Jackson, Brandon, and Meridian, aiming to reach the latter place by February 10. General Banks will feign on Pascagoula, and General Logan on Rome. I want you with your cavalry to move from Collierville on Pontotoc and Okolona; thence sweeping down near the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, disable that road as much as possible, consume or destroy the resources of the enemy along that road, break up the connection with Columbus, Miss., and finally reach me at or near Meridian as near the date I have mentioned as possible. This will call for great energy of action on your part, but I believe you are equal to it, and you have the best and most experienced troops in the service, and they will do anything that is possible. General Grierson is with you, and is familiar with the whole country. I will send up from Haynes' Bluff an expedition of gun-boats and transports combined to feel up the Yazoo as far as the present stage of water will permit. This will disconcert the enemy. My movement on Jackson will also divide the enemy, so that by no combination can he reach you with but a part of his force. I wish you to attack any force of cavalry you meet and follow them southward, but in no event be drawn into the forks of the streams that make up the Yazoo nor over into Alabama. Do not let the enemy draw you into minor affairs, but look solely to the greater object, to destroy his communication from Okolona to Meridian and thence eastward to Selma. From Okolona south you will find abundance of forage collected along the railroad, and the farms have standing corn in the fields. Take liberally of all these, as well as horses, mules, cattle, &c. As a rule respect dwellings and .families as something too sacred to be disturbed by soldiers, but mills, barns, sheds, stables, and such like things use for the benefit and convenience of your command. If convenient, send into Columbus and destroy all the machinery there and the bridge across the Tombigbee, which enables the enemy to draw the resources of the east side of the valley, but this is not of sufficient importance to delay your movement. Try and communicate with me by scouts and spies from the time you reach Pontotoc. Avoid any large force of infantry, leaving them to me. We have talked over this matter so much that the above covers all points not provided for in my published orders of to-day. I am, yours, &c., SPECIAL FIELD ORDERS, No. 11. W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General, Commanding. [Inclosure No. 4.] HDQRS. DEPT. OF THE TENNESSEE, I. Major-General Hurlbut will, with the command recently organized here, proceed with all dispatch to Vicksburg, and move out on the upper Jackson road to the Big Black near Messinger's, and prepare a bridge to cross his command to the east. He will then await the arrival of the general commanding. II. Major-General McPherson will move his command, as heretofore ordered, to the Big Black railroad bridge, and there prepare to cross to the east. He will leave a covering force at Vicksburg, Haynes' Bluff, and the bridge, and will be prepared to move from Big Black eastward at an hour's notice. Ten III. The command designated for the field will be lightly equipped -no tents or luggage save what is carried by the officers, men, and horses. Wagons must be reserved for food and ammunition. Cartridge-boxes must be filled full of fresh ammunition, and a hundred rounds extra carried along in wagons or on pack animals. days' meat and bread and thirty days' of salt, sugar, and coffee will be carried in wagons; beef-cattle driven along, and pack animals, at the rate of one per company, when practicable, in lieu of wagons. IV. Artillery will be cut down one-half, and that double-teamed, and 200 rounds of ammunition for each gun will suffice, but must be carried in caissons belonging to each battery. Artillery carriages must not be loaded down with men and packs, nor must imperfect ammunition be carried along, nor shots wasted at imaginary objects. Chiefs of artillery will see that each box is inspected, and the heavy artillery wagons and forges left at the depots. V. The expedition is one of celerity, and all things must tend to that. Corps commanders and staff officers will see that our movements are not embarrassed by wheeled vehicles improperly loaded. Not a tent will be carried, from the commander-in-chief down. The sick must be left behind, and the surgeons can find houses and sheds for all hospital purposes. VI. All cavalry in the department is placed under the orders and command of Brig. Gen. W. S. Smith, who will receive special instructions. [Inclosure No. 5.] HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE, Major-General MCPHERSON, Comdg. Seventeenth Ármy Corps, Vicksburg : GENERAL: Pursuant to my verbal instructions of to-day you have designated the Eleventh Illinois and Eighth Louisiana Regiments to make the expedition up the Yazoo. I wish you would instruct the commanding officer as follows: To act in perfect concert with Captain Owen, U. S. Navy, who acts under my orders by instructions from Admiral Porter. He is instructed simultaneously with our movement inland to explore and scout the Yazoo and Sunflower, to make the planters along those rivers feel that they are to be held responsible for the safety of the navigation of so much of the Mississippi as lays parallel with the Yazoo. Instruct the officer in command to collect a thousand bales of cotton to be delivered to the agents of the U. S. Treasury, to be converted into money with which to indemnify the owners of the steamer Allen Collier, burned in the Mississippi River opposite Bolivar County; for the cotton and gins of Dr. Duncan, recently burned by guerrillas on his plantation near Skipwith's, and other minor depredations on our lawful commerce. Let these boats also collect corn and forage, giving receipts only to the quiet and loyal people, but not to the disloyal. Let the commanding officer impress on the people that we shall periodically visit that country and destroy property or take it, as long as parties of Confederate troops or guerrillas infest the river banks. If, on the contrary, the inhabitants will organize for their own self-defense and for protecting their country from the acts of unfriendly parties, we will gradually open to them a friendly intercourse and trade. All bands of guerrillas or Confederates must be engaged, and if possible punished. This expedition should be up the Yazoo two or three weeks, and should visit every navigable part of the Yazoo and its tributaries as far up as Fort Pemberton, Greenwood, or Sidon. The commanding officer should act in concert with Captain Owen, and if the expedition reaches its destination in a less time than herein indicated, and if an opportunity offers, he may disembark and visit Grenada, or some point on the Central Mississippi Road, breaking it so effectually that it cannot be used by the enemy. Great discretion should be left to the officer in charge, the chief object being to show a force up in those waters while we are occupied in a different quarter, and while General Sooy Smith is sweeping down from Memphis toward Okolona and Meridian. The enemy must not be allowed to flee and seek shelter from this party near the Yazoo. I am, with respect, &c., W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General, Commanding. [Inclosure No. 6.] HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE, Admiral D. D. PORTER, Vicksburg, January 30, 1864. Comdg. Mississippi Squadron, Cairo, Ill. : DEAR ADMIRAL: I arrived here last night in the Juliet. I saw Captain Owen in passing Skipwith's, and he was ready to follow to |