Henry W. Halleck to Halleok, June 20, 1862

General HALLEOK, Corinth, Miss. : I am afraid of being caught on the question of rations. My orders were for twenty days’ from Chewalla. This may prove a little short, but must last till the 30th. I have, say, 14,000 men, including Hurlbut, who eat near 20 wagon loads a day. It is 50 miles to Memphis direct and 65 around by Somerville, the only safe way for a small escort. It will take seven days at the best for a wagon train to make the round trip. I think I can get the track through in all next week, but it is a blind chance, too uncertain to risk, as my facilities for work and progress are of the commonest kind. If you would send me a telegraphic order to the commanding officer at Memphis to work out to meet us our progress would bedouble. Ican send such an order through by courier. _ Might it not be well for me to move the bulk of my division half way a ee establish our system of supplies, and return to this neighbor00: You know that Holly Springs is some 10 miles nearer Memphis than the Junction, and all roads to and from North Mississippi center in Holly Springs. We should either hold Holly Springs or select a point whence it could not threaten our road. We can never expect to be advised of the movements of our enemy, because all the people are with them in heart; we can only endeavor to anticipate them. I don’t think there are 5U organized secesh within 30 miles, but there will be, and this is not the point where the whole road can be guarded. Am I to understand your telegram of to-day that I hold the bulk of my division in front of the Junction, or merely take it as one of the points under my protection ? The bridges here, and I suppose at Moscow, are done, and my working parties must push west, and the want of provisions may also compel me to move the bulk of the forces westward within reach of supplies. I could leave one regiment at the Junction, one at Moscow, and halt the main army, say 10 miles west of Moscow, whence it would be comparatively safe to dispatch wagons. Would this meet your approval? W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General. CoRINTH, June 20, 1862. Your forces will guard the road at Grand Junction, while Wallace’s division will probably take position near Hernando. If possible, avoid destroying mills and road bridges. I hope soon to be able to cut the railroads as far south as the Tallahatchie River. The forces of McClernand and Quinby have met and are working on the last bridge. Road to Columbus will be open to Columbus by Wednesday next; McClernand’s division will then be available for other duty. Deserters and contrabands report the main force of the enemy at Tupelo, Okolona, Aberdeen, and Fulton—headquarters at Tupelo. They have been taking up the rails between Baldwyn and Tupelo and transporting them south, probably to complete road from Meridian to Uniontown. Telegraph line east still down, and nothing from Washington since 17th.

H. W. HALLECK,