Gideon Welles to Cuar. Xxex,] Correspondence, Etc.union. 321, November 4, 1862
La Grange, November 4, 1862.
General C. S. HAMILTON, Commanding Left Wing, Army in the Field:
GENERAL: Please get your men in camp as comfortable as you can on the stream 24 miles south of Grand Junction. McPherson will form a line almost connecting with you, extending down Wolf River, west of this place. Seize on the bridges between you and Holly Springs if they are still standing, and, if not, upon the places where they were, and aoe working parties to rebuild them and repair the roads leading to them.
Send out to-morrow a large cavalry reconnaissance, supported by infantry, toward Holly Springs, with a lookout toward Ripley. McPherson will send from here a force to drive out some cavalry that are now in toward Somerville.
Halleck advises me that a large force is moving up from New Orleans; also that Helena force may move toward Grenada. Sherman will also -be out. They are now sending me re-enforcements as rapidly as the road can transport them. IhavesentsometoSherman. The telegraph and railroad will be complete. I hope to visit your camp some time tomorrow.
Let your teams collect all the forage they cap, butin an orderly manner; send in charge of foraging parties officers who can be relied upon to maintain order.
I will probably go around to see you to-morrow.
U. S. GRANT, Major-General.
Navy DEPARTMENT,
N b â Hon. BE. M. Stanton ovember 5, 1862.
Secretary of War:
Srr_ I havethe honor to inclose herewith a co icati dated the 29th ultimo, received from Acting Pda eedton mace i Porter, commanding the Mississippi Squadron, in which he announces his ~eadiness for co-operation with the army.
Very respectfully, your obedient ser;ant,
Secretary of the Navy.
Cuar. XXEX,] CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.âUNION. 321
[Inclosure.]
Cairo, Iil., October 29, 1862.
Hon. GIpHON WELLEs,
Secretary of the Navy, Washington, D. O. :