Isaac N. Brown to Tupelo, June 20, 1862, June 19, 1862

June 19, 1862.

No. 118. } Priceville, June 19, 1862. I. Forrest’s cavalry command will prepare to march immediately with ten days’ rations. The commanding officer will report in person at these headquartars for orders.

II. Brig. Gen. W. N. RB. Beall, having reported for duty with the Army of the West, will report for duty to General D. H. Maury, commanding division.

@ * * & ® a * f Maj. Gen. Earl Van Dorn :

Major and Assistant Adjutant-General.

GRENADA, June 20, 1862. Brigadier-General VILLEPIGUE, Tallahatchie Bridge:

You will retain your present advanced position. Colonel Jackson has been ordered to report to you for orders. When shall you want rations ? DANIEL RUGGLES, Brigadier-General, Commanding.

RICHMOND, VA., June 20, 1862. General BRAXTON BRAGG, Tupelo, Miss.:

Your dispatch informing me that General Beauregard had turned over the command to you and left for Mobile on surgeon’s certificate was duly received. You are assigned permanently to the command of the department, as will be more formally notified to you by the Secretary of War. You will correspond directly and receive orders and instructions from the Government in relation to your future operations.

GRENADA, MISs., June 20, 1862. General BRAGG, Tupelo, Miss. :

Shall I hold the line of the Tallahatchie? I have directed General Villepigue to remain at Tallahatchie. I shall send additional force to cover Panola. Government stores and many millions of property are involved in the protection of this line. Governor Pettus will give me minute-men and militia—some 3,000. Answer.

DANIEL RUGGLES, Brigadier-General, Commanding.

TUPELO, MIss., June 20, 1862.

(Received 5.30 p. m.) General RUGGLES:

Not only hold line but take offensive. General Villepigue will have force enough to take Memphis; and, if he can, ought to do it. Canton is in General Lovell’s department (now General Van Dorn’s), who is authorized to call upon you at his discretion for troops. Defend with all available means at all hazards. Inform and confer with General Van Dorn, now en route for Jackson.

Cuar XXIX. CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.—CONFEDERATE.

Yazoo Orry, Miss., June 20, 1862.

Sim: May I, with reference to the common defense, venture to call your attention to that portion of the Mississippi River from Helena toward Vicksburg, on the left bank, as suitable for the operations of light guns against the contemplated commerce of the enemy? There are many deep bends on this portion of the river, across which light batteries might pass and compel an enemy’s boat to sustain double attacks from the same guns. The roads from now until December will be good along the river, and the country between the Mississippi, Sunflower and Yazoo Rivers impenetrable to pursuit, offers safe asylum to small parties should the enemy land in force. A company of mounted men, to act in conjunction with a light battery, would, I think, make the poe of the river referred to very unsafe to any vessels except ships of war.

I am, very respectfully, yours.

LTheutenant, 0. 8S. Navy.

TUPELO, June 20, 1862.

Commanding Columbus, Miss. :

GENERAL: Your communication of the 15th instant has been laid before the commander of the forces, who instructs me to reply as follows:

Railroad agents, conductors, and other employés must not be arrested or taken away from their offices or trains under the circumstances

you report. In all such instances the name of the delinquent will be