Aie ; P. E. Burke to Fourteenth Missouri Voluateers, December 18, 1862

Oxford, Miss., December 18, 1862.

Maj. Gen. JoHN A. MCCLERNAND:

GENERAL: I have been directed this moment by telegraph from the General-in-Chief of the Army to divide the forces of this department into four army corps, one of which is to be commanded by yourself, and that to form a part of the expedition on Vicksburg.*

I have draughted the order and will forward it to you as soon as printed. The divisions now commanded by Brig. Gen. George W. Morgan and Brig. Gen. A. J. Smith will compose all of it that will accompany you on the expedition, and the divisions of Brig. Gen. F. Steele and Brig. Gen. M. L. Smith will accompany you, and will be commanded directly by Maj. Gen. W. T. Sherman, who will command the army corps of which they are a part. Written and verbal instructions have been given General Sherman, which will be turned over to you on your arrival at Memphis.

I hope you will find all the preliminary preparations completed on your arrival and the expedition ready to move.

I will co-operate with the river expedition from here, commanding this portion of the army in person.

Major-General Hurlbut will have command of the Third Army Corps, most of which is here with me. He will therefore be directed to report unmediately to these headquarters for orders.

The instructions now with General Sherman provide for the garrison of Memphis, and forms part of the Second Army Corps.

The District of Columbus is attached to your command, but for the present will report direct to these headquarters and will receive orders direct also.

It is desirable that there should be no delay in starting. If unforeseen obstacles should be in yout way, however, intorm me of it by messenger to Columbus and by telegraph from there. Also send me a field return of your entire command—that is, of the river expedition—before

starting. eZ U. 8S. GRANT, Major-General.

OxFORD, Miss., December 18, 1862. Brig. Gen. THomas A. DAVIES, Columbus, Ky.: Please send the following dispatch to General Sherman, at Memphis: WASHINGTON, December 18, 1862—10.30 a. m. Maj. Gen. U. S. GRANT:

The troops in your department, including those from Curtis’ command which join down-river expedition, will be divided into four army corps. It is the wish of the President that General McClernand’s corps shall constitute a part of the river expedition, and that he shall have the immediate command, under your direction.

H. W. HALLECK, General-in-Chief. Inform General Sherman that his army corps will be composed of Steele’s forces and General Morgan L. Smith’s division, and General McClernand’s of the divisions of Generals A. J. Smith and Morgan, and that General McClernand and he will descend the river. U. 8. GRANT, Major-General.

Hpgkgs. RIGHT WING, THIRTEENTH ARMY CORPS, Memphis, December 18, 1862. Col. JoHN A. RAWLINS, Assistant Adjutant-General, Oxford, Miss. :

Siz: Capt. H. S. Fitch arrived last night with your dispatches of December 15 and 16. Allright. Iam now in full receipt of letters from Colonel Parsons, General Allen’s agent for chartering boats, who assures me plenty of boats will be here to-day. 1am promised the names of some sixty boats. I have some fifteen here now loading, and have at Helena about ten, and am momentarily looking for the whole fleet. As soon as they arrive I will be aboard and off for Helena.

Admiral Porter is just in from above, having been detained four days by low water, but his letters are all we could ask. I am also informed that there is a rise in the water above, so that the fleet of boats ought not to be longer delayed. Every possible preparation has been made, so that no moment should be lost. If the fleet comes to-day all shall be on board to-morrow, and I hope to be at Helena the 20th and at Milliken’s Bend, where we shall first begin to act, by the 23d or 24th. Nothing is wanting but the boats, and I feel every assurance they will be here to-day. I was all ready, so that even the loss of one day must not be charged to me. Generals Gorman and Steele both write me most satisfactorily from Helena, and indeed we must admit they have fulfilled their parts handsomely. I give Steele full command of the division at Helena, which, by the addition of Blair’s brigade, part of which (three regiments) have passed and two more reported near at hand, will reach near 13,000 men, so that I hope to have 33,000 men. Such a force operating at Vicksburg in concert with the gunboats will make something yield and prepare your way. You will have heard that our ironclad gunboat Cairo was sunk in the Yazoo by the explosion of one of the infernal machines.

The weather is fine, and I repeat that I only await the fleet of gunboats to be off.

Yours, truly, W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General.

OXFORD, MIss., December 18, 1862. Admiral PORTER, Cairo, Ill.: I am informed there is now four feet of water in the Tennessee. Gunboats there would be of immense value. Forrest and Napier are now on this side of the river with from 5,000 to 10,000 men and have got near to Jackson. I hope my force will be able to drive to the river. I have been concentrating troops all day to meet them. U. 8. GRANT, Major-General.

OarIRo, December 18, 1862. Major-General GRANT: Five light-draught gunboats left Ohio River for Tennessee River on 15th instant. They draw about 3 feet and have orders to go up with the rise. They are only musket-proof, A. M. PENNOCK, Fleet Captain and Commandant of Station.

(mae, KXIX.) CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.—UNION. 427

Ox¥ORD, Miss., December 18, 1862. Brig. Geu. GRENVILLE M. DopGu, Corinth, Miss. :

General Sullivan is directed to collect forces and attack the enemy, who are now west of the Tennessee River. Send forces from your command either to hold Bethel and relieve that garrison to join him or send direct to Jackson.

Ox¥FORD, Miss., December 18, 1862. Brig. Gen. GRENVILLE M. DopG#, Corinth, Miss. : If safe, leave your post to a reliable officer and take such forces as can

be spared and with the troops at Jackson attack Forrest and drive him east of the Tennessee. U. 8. GRANT,

Ox¥orD, Miss., December 18, 1862. Brig. Gen. GRENVILLE M. DopGE, Corinth, Miss. :

Move to-night with all the forces you can spare from Corinth to Jackson, if you can get there; if not, strike them in the flank or rear. Be governed by your own judgment when you get near them.

U. 8. GKANT, Major-General.

ConmntH, December 18, 1862. General SULLIVAN:

I shall leave here myself at daylight, go by cars to Bethel and join my command at Purdy. Keep me well posted of movements, so that I can judge when to strike. What road did they come on? My troops

have just left. G. M. DODGE, Brigadier-General.

Hnoges. UNITED STATES FORCES ON THE TUSCUMBIA, Oamp Dawies, December 18, 1862.

Col. Aue. Mzgsy, Commanding Pxpedition:

COLONEL: Inclosed please find telegram from General Dodge. I presume it is requisite you should move the cavalry to-night, and, if possible, your whole force. All my cavalry is ordered and gone out from Corinth. Each order and movement denotes present emergency. Bragg is reported crossing the Tennessee River, near Clifton or Chalk Binge and may march either on Jackson or Aarts

I am, colonel, very respectfaolly,

your obedient servant,

‘ aie ; P. E. BURKE,
Colonel Fourteenth Missouri Voluateers, Commanding.

[Inclosure.]
CoRinTH, December 18, 1862—5 p. m.
Col. P. E. BURKE:
Send a messenger to Colonel Mersy aud tell him to hurry back with
his column and to push his cavalry on immediately. He will return on