Miss., via Aberdeen, Pontotoc, and Hudsonville, report cavalry moving west from Okolona, and hear that Ferguson was at New Albany. Neither party encountered pickets at the Tallahatchie or saw any soldiers north of there, except 15 or 20 at Holly Springs. The party from Montgomery left Oxford Tuesday morning.

J. K. MIZNER,

Colonel, Commanding Brigade.

MEMPHIS, TENN., January 8, 1864.

Colonel J. K. MIZNER,

La Grange, Tenn.:

Send patrols toward Holly Springs and Ripley.

B. H. GRIERSON,

Brigadier-General.

WASHINGTON, January 9, 1864-3.30 p.m.

Major-General THOMAS,

Chattanooga, Tenn.:

The Quartermaster-General will give orders to send on the men to work on the railroads as you desire. I deem the opening of the road from Chattanooga to Knoxville of vital importance.

H. W. HALLECK,

General-in-Chief.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND,
Chattanooga, January 9, 1864.

Major-General FOSTER,

Knoxville:

Your telegram regarding small rations received. Will do all I can to help you out, but you must remember that I have but five small steam-boats to bring supplies for my troops from Bridgeport to this place. We have to stint ourselves to send you what we do. When the railroad is completed I will have more boats for the upper part of the river.

GEO. H. THOMAS,

Major-General, U. S. Volunteers.

HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY CORPS, ARMY OF THE OHIO,
New Market, January 9, 1864.

Major General JOHN G. PARKE,

Commanding Troops in Field, Strawberry Plains:

GENERAL: From information received to-day, Martin's division is encamped 4 miles above Dandridge on north side the river. Dibrell's brigade at mouth of Nola Chucky, and I believe Armstrong's division, or part of it, near Panther Springs. The rebels have accumulated supplies of various kinds along the south side the French Broad, and are only waiting an opportunity of getting it away. The river is fordable at various points, and Colonel Palmer is on the