Jno. A. Rawlins to Henry W. Halleck, September 24, 1862

Jackson, Tenn., September 24, 1862.

General H. W. HALLECK, Washington, D. O.:

Your dispatch of the 23d is received. The enemy being driven from his position in front of Bolivar by the rapid return of troops drawn from there to re-enforce Corinth, and everything now promising quiet in our front for a short time, { shall go to Saint Louis in person to confer with General Curtis.

To communicate rapidly with the gunboat fleet and General Sherman at Memphis I would have to visit Columbus, and to go to Saint Louis will keep me away but little, if any, longerfrom my post thanif I should not go. It will also save the possibility of my plan leaking out through the telegraph offices on the route. Another reason for my going is the fact that for several weeks my health has not been good, and although improving for the last few days, I feel that the trip will be of benefit to me. Hoping my course will meet with your approval, &c.,

U. S. GRANT, Major-General.

SEPTEMBER 24, 1862. General MCARTHUR :

The enemy who were before Bolivar are reported to have fallen back. Will you please organize all your available cavalry for ascout down to Hatchie to feel if the enemy are approaching Middleton or Pocahontas or are making any attempt to cross the Hatchie and approach the railroad north of us? Send word to commander at Chewalla to be on the

alert. BE. O. O. ORD, Major-General, Volunteers.

HEADQUARTERS FirtH DIVISION, Memphis, September 24, 1862. Col. O. O. WALouTT, Forty-sixth Ohio Volunteers : Sir: The object of the expedition you have been detailed for is to visit the town of Randolph, where yesterday the packet Eugene was

fired on by a party of guerrillas. Acts of this kind must be promptly punished, and it is almost impossible to reach the actors, for they come from the interior and depart as soon as the mischief is done. But the interest and well-being of the country demands that all such attacks should be followed by a punishment that will tend to prevent a repetition.

Two boats will be placed at your disposal, one, the Eugene, to proceed on the regular trip to Saint Louis when you are done with her, and the other, a chartered boat, wholly at your service. Embark on the Eugene two of your companies and on the chartered boat the remainder of your command, with a section of rifled guns that will be sent to the levee by Major Taylor. Get off by 5 or 6 p. m. at furthest and move up to this bend and make a landing at Cuba Landing; then send the Eugene ahead, moving, under steam without landing, to Fort Pillow and back, till she meets you, following more slowly. You should both be ready to reach Randolph at daybreak or a little before. I think the attack on the Eugene was by a small force of guerrillas from Loosahatchie, who by this time have gone back, and therefore that you will find no one at Randolph; in which case you will destroy the place, leaving one house to mark the place. Let the people know and feel that we deeply deplore the necessity of such destruction, but we must protect ourselves and the boats which are really carrying stores and merchandise for the benefit of secession families, whose fathers and brothers are in arms against us. If any extraordinary case presents itself to your consideration you may spare more than one house; but let the place feel that all such acts of cowardly firing upon boats filled with women and children and merchandise must be severely punished.

It is barely possible that the army of Breckinridge, last heard from at Davis’ Mill, designs to reach the Mississippi River at Randolph, in which event the party there yesterday may have been an advance guard. If this be so the Eugene will discover the fact, for they will have artillery; then you should be very careful, as your force would be inadequate: but if the Eugene pass Randolph and return to meet you it is certain that it is a guerrilla raid, when you can safely proceed. Do not land at an accustomed place, but consult with captains and pilots. Approach the shore below the landing, get a couple of companies over as skirmishers, and move rapidly into Randolph. Of course the inhabitants will be all gone, or will be expecting you and be prepared for anything. Keep your men in the reach of your voice, and do your work systematically. Let your quartermaster take a minute account of every house or piece of property destroyed under this order, with the names of owners if possible. If allis clear, you can send parties inland toward Covington, but not over 5 miles.

When done you can take aboard your boat the men from the Eugene and let her proceed on her voyage. If you find men whom you suspect of guilt bring them in, but no women or children. Also you may capture any slaves, horses, or mules belonging to known rebels.

Yours, &c., W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General, Commanding.

; CoLuMBEUuS, September 24, 1862. Major-General GRANT: Fort Pillow is now unoccupied by Federal troops, and there is no gunboat there. You ordered all ordnance and ordnance stores to be moved, and I supposed antil to-day that it had been done under the direction of Colonel Bissell. I am just informed that there are still at the fort several guns spiked—I know not how well—and gun-carriages. There are many guerrillas in that section of Tennessee; they will probably take possession of the fort, and by mounting the guns would give our transports trouble. I think Commodore Davis would be willing to guard it and the crossings of the rebels with a gunboat. I am informed that large amounts of contraband goods are shipped from Saint Louis for points in the vicinity of Fort Pillow. I. F. QUINBY,

GENERAL aot Hpagrs. DISTRICT OF WEST TENNESSEE, No. 83. Corinth, Miss., September 24, 1862.

The District of West Tennessee will, until otherwise directed, be divided into four divisions, as follows:

I. The First Division, commanded by Maj. Gen. W. T. Sherman, wil! embrace all the territory south of the Hatchie and west of Bolivar occupied by our troops; headquarters at Memphis.

IL. The Second Division will embrace all territory south of the Kentucky line and to the Hatchie on the west and Bethel Station on the east, including Bolivar, south of the Hatchie, Maj. Gen. E. O. C. Ord commanding. It will be the duty of the commanding officer of the Second Division to guard all the railroads within his district. Headquarters will be at Jackson or Bolivar, at the option of the commander.

Il. The Third Division, Maj. Gen. W. S. Rosecrans commanding, will embrace all the territory now occupied by the Army of the Mississippi and by the forces at present commanded by Major-General Ord; headquarters at Corinth, Miss. It will be the duty of this division to guard the railroad south from Bethel from Chewalla so far as the country is oceupied by our troops.

IV. The Fourth Division, Brig. Gen. I. F. Quinby commanding, will be composed of what are now known as the Districts of Cairo and of the Mississippi, including Forts Henry and Donelson, and exclusive of that portion lying in the State of Tennessee and along the line of the railroads.

By command of Maj. Gen. U. 8. Grant:

Assistant Adjutant-General.