DEMOPOLIS, ALA., May 11, 1864.

Major-General FORREST,

Tupelo, Miss.:

Your dispatch received; the following from General Adams, near Benton:

Enemy has remained motionless all day, apparently in readiness for attack. Cannot divine the purpose of the expedition, unless it be to detain troops here while a movement is made by his cavalry against Forrest. Such an expedition is freely spoken of in Vicksburg.

You will look to this force from Memphis at once.

S. D. LEE,

Commanding Department.

DEMOPOLIS, ALA., May 12, 1864.

Lieutenant-General POLK:

Dispatch relative to Forrest's DIVISION received. * Forrest is threatened from Moscow. Everything reported quiet at Decatur. With information now before me do not deem the move expeditious now. Answer.

S. D. LEE,

Major-General.

TUPELO, MISS., May 12, 1864.

Major General S. D. LEE:

The enemy have all returned to Memphis, cavalry and infantry passing below La Grange.

N. B. FORREST,

Major-General.

SPECIAL ORDERS,
HEADQUARTERS FORREST'S CAVALRY, Numbers 54.
Tupelo, Miss., May 12, 1864.

* * * * *

II. Captain John W. Morton is relieved temporarily from duty with his battery, and assigned as acting chief of artillery. Lieutenant Sale will assume command of Morton's battery.

* * * * *

XII. DIVISION commanders will at once proceed to form a pioneer corps, under a competent officer, consisting of forty men to the command. These men will be taken exclusively from those who are dismounted. Each corps will be provided with twenty axes, twenty spades, and picks, and when organized report made of the organization to these headquarters.

By order of Major-General Forrest:

W. H. BRAND,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

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*See May 11, Vol. XXXVIII, Part IV, p. 697.

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