Today in History:

471 Series I Volume XVII-I Serial 24 - Corinth Part I

Page 471 Chapter XXIX. MISSISSIPPI CENTRAL RAILROAD.

termaster's department on forts, railroads, &c.; also in picking and removing cotton, on account of the Government. So far as possible, subsist then and your army on the rebel inhabitants of Mississippi.

H. W. HALLECK,

General-in-Chief.

WAR DEPARTMENT,

Washington, November 23, 1862.

Major-General GRANT, La Grange, Tenn.;

Report the approximate number of men in your command and the number that can be sent down the river to Vicksburg,reserving merely enough to hold Corinth and West Tennessee.

H. W. HALLECK,

General-in-Chief.

LA GRANGE, TENN., November 24, 1862-9 a.m.

Memphis has 18,252 men for duty. Being well fortified, 16,000 can be spared. From other portions of department troops cannot be spared, except to move south on their present lines. I have contemplated an attack upon Pemberton and given my orders accordingly. Sherman will move on Wednesday and form junction with many forces south of Holly Springs on Sunday next. Steele has been written to to threaten Grenada, and Commodore Porter has sent some gunboats to operate about the mouth of Yazoo. Must I countermand the orders for this movement? It is too late to reach Sherman or Steele before they will have moved. Within the department I have 72,000 men.

U. S. GRANT,

Major-General, Commanding.

Major General H. W. HALLECK, General-in-Chief.

WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, November 25, 1862.

Major-General GRANT, La Grange, Tenn.:

Proposed movements approved. Do not go too far.

H. W. HALLECK,

General-in-Chief.

HOLLY SPRINGS, MISS., November 29, 1862.

Troops occupy line 6 miles south of this. Cavalry 4 miles from Talahatchie. Considerable skirmishing to-day. Loss slight.

U. S. GRANT,

Major-General.

General H. W. HALLECK, General-in-Chief.

WATERFORD, MISS., December 1, 1862-7.30 a.m.

Our cavalry are now crossing Tallahatchie. Infantry will follow immediately. The rebels are evidently retreating. If so, I will follow to Oxford. Our troops will be in Abbeville to-morrow, or a battle will be fought. Sherman is up and will cross the Tallahatchie at Wyatt.

U. S. GRANT,

Major-General.

Major General H. W. HALLECK, General-in-Chief.


Page 471 Chapter XXIX. MISSISSIPPI CENTRAL RAILROAD.