J. H. Hammond to Ulysses S. Grant, June 28, 1862

General GRANT, Memphis:

mene letter by Gould received this a. m.; telegraphed its contents to alleck.

I sent the Railroad Regiment to Germantown, intending it to make a junction, before starting, with the Fifty-sixth Ohio, but the latter did not wait for it. I hope both regiments are at Germantown.

I can hear nothing definite from Holly Springs. No spy can get in and out since Gould went. I don’t like to risk him too much; he has already exposed his life some half dozen times. I want to move with our forces on Holly Springs, for as long as an enemy occupies that point there can be no safety in running cars on this road. I am sending a messenger to La Grange to find out if there be any news of Rosecrans, who is moving on Holly Springs from Corinth via Ripley. I don’t know the strength of his forces, but we should act in concert. Talleck’s reiterated orders to me are, “Move not a mile west, unless it be absolutely necessary.”

W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General.

Hpgrs. FIFTH DIVISION, ARMY OF THE, TENNESSEE, Moscow, Tenn., June 28, 1862. Brigadier-General HURLBUT, Commanding La Grange:

GENERAL: I am directed by General Sherman to say that situated as we are, cut off from communication with Memphis, you cannot depend on our train for supplies. He therefore wishes you to collect from the surrounding country supplies of meat, meal, and forage; such supplies as you can find and need.

There is a hand-car here that you can have by sending 6 men after it. It will be in repair by to-morrow, and as there are shops at La Grange you can easily keep it going.

There is nothing new here. I send you two papers, the 23d and 27th.

The general further wishes, and indeed the purpose of this letter is, that you send him notice as soon as possible when you hear anything of where General Rosecrans is, or any news of any kind of him.

A letter from General Grant came through this morning by courier. He says that he has no force and cannot assist us at all.

Has any train arrived or any mails? The orderly will await an anSwer.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,