MERIDIAN, February 13, 1865

Colonel WIRT ADAMS,

Jackson, Miss.

Following dispatch received from Holly Springs, dated to-day:

Twenty transports with troops landed at Memphis from above. Direct your scouts to be on alert and report.

By order of Lieutenant-General Taylor:

W. F. BULLOCK, JR.,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

(Same to General Forrest and Captain Henderson.)

MERIDIAN, February 13, 1865.

Brigadier General WIRT ADAMS,

Jackson, Miss.:

Yours of this date received. Did the transports and gun-boats referred to come from up or down the river? Where is it reported the cavalry at Baton Rouge will move? Answer immediately. It is highly important to know at the earliest moment if the enemy intends to move up Red River.

By order of Lieutenant-General Taylor:

W. F. BULLOCK, JR.,

Assistant Adjutant-General

MERIDIAN, February 13, 1865.

Brigadier General WIRT ADAMS,

Jackson, Miss.:

Did gun-boats and transports, which you report as being at mouth of Red River, appear to be rendezvousing there or simply passing there for some point on Mississippi below? In what direction is it expected the cavalry at Baton Rouge will move? Answer to-night.

By order of Lieutenant-General Taylor:

W. F. BULLOCK, JR.,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

BRISTOL, TENN., February 13, 1865

Brigadier-General ECHOLS,

Commanding Department:

GENERAL: All is quiet on our front except some bushwhacking. Gillem's men, who are dismounted are straggling up the country from Knoxville and killing whom they find. The force in East Tennessee above Knoxville is scattered about, as reported to you here on the 9th instant, only from later information they are not as strong. We still hear of preparations being made to hold the election in the upper counties on the 22nd instant and 4th of March next. Since you were here my command has killed some very bad men; among them the captain who captured the home guards in North last week. I am still of the opinion that there is not mounted force enough in the department for them to make a raid into North Carolina. The rumor that General Burbridge had crossed into East Tennessee again I con-