J. H. Hammond to Ulysses S. Grant, November 29, 1862

Holly Springs, Miss., Saturday, November 29, 1862.

Maj. Gen. WILLIAM T. SHERMAN, Commanding Right Wing :

GENERAL: Your note to Lee I have just received. Your calendar is just one day ahead of time, but by staying where you are to-day it just brings you up to time.

Two divisions of Hamilton’s column will encamp to-night at LumpCuar. XXIX.] CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.—UNION. 367

kin’s Mill; the third on Spring Creek, and not move from there until his front is reconnoitered. The head of his column is now there. There was a little skirmishing with rebel cavalry at this place and some at Lumpkin’s Mill. Reconnoiter your front as you propose to-day, and move to-morrow to a good position near Chulahoma. To-morrow telegraphic comunication I hope will be open with the rear. The railroad will also be open to Coldwater. I have directed that the cars come up that far on Monday with 200,000 rations. From that point they will have to be teamed. There are also 800,000 rations at La Grange, from which place they can be brought in case of accident. Two train-loads of grain are also directed to be brought up on Monday and Tuesday, or the earliest day thereafter practicable. You can make your calculations for rations and forage accordingly. It is not desirable that this forage should be used until it becomes necessary.

Your letter and Steele’s were duly received. Steele’s is quite encouraging.

I have no reliable information from the enemy. A contraband just in says he left the Tallahatchie on Tuesday, and that they were then cooking rations to retreat. Opposed to this, a spy who was taken last night, and who was pumped by one of Hamilton’s scouts who was dressed in secesh uniform and put in prison with him, says that the enemy mean fight. U. 8. GRANT, Major-General.

P. 8.—Bragg’s forces were anxiously looked for. The Third Michigan Cavalry will report to you to-morrow or the day following.

HOLLY SPRINGS, MIss., November 29, 1862—8 p. m. Maj. Gen. WiLLiAM T. SHERMAN, Oommanding Right Wing:

GENERAL: Your two dispatches just received. I inclose with this one just received from Hamilton, which will give you the latest news from the front. I have directed Hamilton to move to his south and east, so as to let McPherson, who is now here with one division, in between him and you. Mac’s second division will be up by 10 a. m tomorrow, and could go on to Lumpkin’s Mill, but I will retain it until Monday. Ifyou can find water to your southeast, or rather to the southeast of Chulahoma, I would like you to move in that direction. At Chulahoma our front will be too extended. I will direct Hurlbut to send the cavalry of which you speak—sent as you desire. I donot know positively of any ford on the Tallahatchie west of the railroad except at Wyatt. To the east there are several, but I cannot now send you a sketch showing them. The crossings between Coil’s Ferry and Wyatt I believe are all ferries. Between Wyatt and the railroad I think there

is no ford. U. 8S. GRANT, Major-General.

[Inclesure.] LUMPEKIN’S MILL, Sundown, November 29, 1862.

GENERAL: Lee has pushed the enemy to within 4 miles of Tallahatchie, and will hold his position for the present. His advance was a

continual skirmish. He sends in 1 prisoner and finds 4 dead rebels on the road.

The enemy will fight on the Tallahatchie. Country in front of us stripped of forage.

Please notify me of the completion of telegraph, so that I can call in courier posts. My scoutisin from Grenada. About 7,000 troops have come up to Van Dorn in last two weeks. Mouth of Tippah Creek thoroughly fortified.

Enemy has no idea of evacuating as yet. Scout heard nothing of

movement of Steele. 0. 8S. HAMILTON, Major-General.

Hotty SPRINGS, Miss., November 29, 1862. Col. A. STAGER, Superintendent Military Telegraph, Washington :

Your insolent dispatch to telegraph operators in this department just received.* My orders must be obeyed and Mr. Van Duzer removed and some one else appointed to fill his place. I send Van Duzer out immediately.

U. S. GRANT, Major-General. SPECIAL FIELD ORDERS, ; HpqQrs. DISTRICT OF MEMPHIS, No. 2. Army in the Field, November 29, 1862.

All citizens whatsoever, except those who are employed in the army, are hereby ordered to leave this command.

It is further ordered that all women, including the wives of officers and men, shall also leave.

The major-general commanding will send a train to Holly Springs, to which place the above persons and all unauthorized hangers-on must accompany it, and hereafter not be found in any camp under any pretext whatsoever. Letters and documents should go to Holly Springs at the same time.

By order of Maj. Gen. W. T. Sherman:

Assistant Adjutant-General.
LUMPKIN’s MILL, November 30, 1862—10 a. m.
General GRANT:
1 send a little sketch of country in front. Lee camped with his cav.
alry at Ebenezer Church last night. I have supported him with a battery and four regiments infantry this morning and directed a reconnaissance to the river.
The infantry is under Deitzler. They will avoid any engagement
except with Jackson’s cavalry, and will make full report of country on