CORRESPONDENCE, ORDERS, AND RETURNS RELATING TO OPERATIONS IN KENTUCKY, SOUTHWESTERN VIRGINIA, TENNESSEE, NORTHERN AND CENTRAL GEORGIA, MISSISSIPPI, ALABAMA, AND WEST FLORIDA, FROM MARCH 16 TO JUNE 30, 1865.*

UNION CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.

[MARCH 16, 1865.- For Grant to Sherman, referring to operations of forces under General Thomas, see Vol. XLVII, Part II, p. 859.]

KNOXVILLE, March 16, 1865-9 p. m.

(Received 2.10 a. m. 19th.)

Major-General HALLECK:

Major-General Canby has ordered, under date of March 4, through Major-General Dana, nearly all the effective cavalry force in West Tennessee to report to General Grierson, at New Orleans. Under orders from the War Department, General Canby is authorized to give orders for the movement of troops in West Tennessee and see to and protect the navigation of the Mississippi River. It can protect itself, as it overflowed its banks from Memhpis to new Orleans and is still rising. For months no boats have been interrupted, and at present no enemy can approach the river. This cavalry cannot be used in Missisippi or in swamps of Gulf Department till the water subsides, and can be used in West Tennessee to advantage. I would request that the troops in West Tennessee be placed entirely under my command and General Canby's order countermanded.

GEO. H. THOMAS,

Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS FOURTH ARMY CORPS,
Huntsville, Ala., March 16, 1865.

General ELLIOTT:

GENERAL: The Second Division of this corps will remain at Huntsville until ordered by Major-General Thomas to proceed to Knoxville. The transportation of this division will be shipped to said place as hereinafter mentioned. In the absence of the major-general commanding, Brigadier-General Elliott, commanding Second Division, Fourth Army Corps, will have charge of shipping the transportation of the corps and

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*For Correspondence, etc., from January 1 to March 15, see Part I. For correspondence, etc., relating to operations in Kentucky, Southwestern Virginia, Tennessee, Mississippi, Northern Alabama, and Northern Georgia from January 1 to 23, 1865, see Vol. XLV, Part II.

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