CHATTANOOGA, March 9, 1863. (Received Richmond, March 9.)

General S. COOPER:

Pemberton telegraphs:

My scouts report on the 4th 12,000 to 15,000 troops left Corinth by land for Florence, and one iron-clad and six transports had landed troops. Other reports say they will go to Bridgeport with 25,000 men, two transports [gunboats?], and several transports in Tennessee River.

J. E. JOHNSTON.

WAR DEPARTMENT, C. S. A.,

Richmond, March 9, 1863.

General JOSEPH E. JOHNSTON,

Chattanooga, Tenn.:

Order General Bragg to report to the War Department here for conference. Assume yourself direct charge of the army in Middle Tennessee.

J. A. SEDDON,

Secretary of War.

WAR DEPARTMENT, C. S. A.,

Richmond, March 9, 1863.

General JOSEPH E. JOHNSTON,

Chattanooga:

Do you consider General Pemberton's dispatch of the advance of the enemy from Corinth in such force reliable? If so, have you any resources in your department to meet the advance? Can troops be called from Mobile or Mississippi, or can you spare you spare any from Middle Tennessee? Might not Van Dorn's cavalry, at least, return?

J. A. SEDDON,

Secretary of War.

OXFORD, ALA., March 9, 1863.

Colonel B. S. EWELL,

Assistant Adjutant-General, Chattanooga, Tenn.:

COLONEL: In pursuance of Special Orders, Tullahoma, February 10, 1863, from General Johnston, I have established a depot of subsistence at this place, it being the nearest point on the Tennessee and Alabama River Railroad at which storage could be obtained to navigation on the Coosa River to Roma, Ga. As yet I have been able to make but little progress in the collection of stores, owing to the fact that nearly all the leading articles are rating above the schedule of prices fixed by the Secretary of War. I find, however, a considerable surplus of corn in this vicinity and in the vicinity of Uniontown and Demopolis, and hope to be able to buy several thousand bushels. I also hear of several lots of bacon, some in the hands of speculators and some in the hands of wealthy planters, who, like the speculators, are holding it up for prices much above the maximum established by the Secretary of War in his schedule; and perceiving from order which I have seen coming from Richmond that impressments in this kind of cases are being authorized and urged, I have addressed an application to the Commissary-General for authority to make them. Should it be conferred, as I have