CORRESPONDENCE, ORDERS, AND RETURNS RELATING TO OPERATIONS IN KENTUCKY, SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA, TENNESSEE, MISSISSIPPI, NORTH ALABAMA, AND NORTH GEORGIA, FROM OCTOBER 20, 1863, TO OCTOBER 31, 1863.*

UNION CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.

WAR DEPARTMENT,

Washington, October 20, 1863-10.20 a. m.

Brigadier Gen. R. ALLEN,

Saint Louis, Mo.:

Admiral Porter telegraphs from Cairo that gunboats are ready to convoy steamers up the Cumberland and Tennessee Rivers. Cannot you send supplies to Sherman, at Eastport, by water?

H. W. HALLECK,

General-in Chief.

WASHINGTON,

October 20, 1863-10.20 a. m.

Major-General ROSECRANS:

Burnside telegraphs on the 17th that ha had a cavalry brigade at Post Oak Springs and pickets extending to your left, and another brigade on south side of the river picketing down to the Hiwassee. Your wings are, therefore, in communication and should be able to co-operate at any moment against the enemy.

H. W. HALLECK,

General-in-Chief.

LOUISVILLE, KY., October 20, 1863-3 p. m.

(Received 6.10 p. m.)

Major General H. W. HALLECK,

General-in-Chief:

Sunday night General Grant issued his orders taking command. General Burnside, Rosecrans, and Thomas reported last night. General Grant has gone forward with General Meigs, and will reach Chattanooga to-night or to-morrow. Thomas says if the supply wagons now on the road arrive safety they will be all right till November 1, at least. General Grant ordered him to hold Chattanooga at all hazards. He replied: "I will hold the town till we starve."General Meigs has taken with him a large supply of tools, for blasting and opening the road across the mountains, and everything possible has been done for railroad transportation.

EDWIN M. STANTON,

Secretary of War.

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*The Union Correspondence, etc., from November 1, 1863, to December 31, 1863, and the Confederate Correspondence, etc., from October 20, 1863, to December 31, 1863, to appear in Part III.

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