Jas. B. McPherson to Ulysses S. Grant, January 16, 1863
La Grange, Tenn., January 16, 1863.
Commanding Department of the Tennessee, Memphis :
GENERAL: I am just in receipt of orders assigning me to the command of a portion of the forces to operate against Vicksburg. I cannot express to you the gratification it gives me, and I shall most assuredly do my utmost to merit your confidence.
1 shall leave here as soon as General Loganâs division is on the march, probably to-morrow, as General Lauman was ordered last night to move forthwith. The roads, however, are in a horrible condition and the movements will necessarily be slow. But as Logan and his whole division are keen to go they will moye to Memphis as rapidly as circumstances will admit.
I intend to send out a cavalry expedition this morning to try and break up the guerrillas in north and west of Somerville,as they could be tracked to their place of rendezvous, but the roads are so very bad and the horses ball up so badly with snow that they cannot travel. I was forced to abandon it for the present.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JAS. B. McPHERSON,
Major-General.