Jno. A. Rawlins to Alvan C. Gorman, December 23, 1862
Helena, December 23, 1862.
I will start 2,000 cavalry to the Tallahatchie to-morrow; will be at mouth of Coldwater the 25th. If they can cross they will come to Oxford ; if not, will wait a day or two to hear from you. But if it comes on rain we must return to the Mississippi River, as they cannot cross the river bottom and would be cut off by mire and overflow. (General Sherman will be at the mouth of Yazoo on the 24th.
I have infantry at Friarâs Point.
Brigadier-General, Commanding.
DECEMBER 23, 1862.âFor Gorman to Curtis, see Series I, Vol. LI, Part I, p. 858.]
HOLLY SPRINGS, December 23, 1862. COMMANDING OFFICER GRAND JUNCTION, TENN:
Arrest and return to this place all officers and men who may find their way to your post claiming to be paroled, and permit no one connected with the army under any pretext to pass north without written authority from these headquarters, sending back under guard all who do not properly belong to your post.
By order of Maj. Gen. U. 8. Grant:
Assistant Adjutant- General.
JACKSON, December 23, 1862â11 a. m.
Major-General GRANT :
An order was issued for the troops at Grand Junction and La Grange
to fall back to Bolivar. They were unable to obey on account of the
enemy being in their rear. Shall I reissue the order? No news of the
rebels. I will be able to reach Trenton to-day with cars.