Jno. A. Rawlins to West Tenn. And Northern Miss. -[cuar. Xxix, December 9, 1862

Saint Louis, Mo., December 9, 1862.

Brigadier-General STEELE, Helena, Ark.:

GENERAL: Your dispatches relating to the Grenada movement have been duly received and promptly reported to headquarters at Washington. I hope it will continue to prove a success. As General Halleck complains of it as a diversion of troops that may be needed for down river, I explained that it would be back on the river in time for you to move with other forces, which I hope you will have ready to move at a moment’s notice. I want all except about 5,000 or thereabouts ready for a down-river expedition. How they are to move and who is to be commander-in-chief has not transpired, but I expect you and General Blair will be of the number.

Respectfully, yours, SAML. R. CURTIS, Major-General.

Hpgrs. THIRTEENTH A. C., DEPT. OF THE TENN., Oxford, Miss., December 9, 1862:.

Col. T. LyLe DICKEY, Commanding Cavalry Division :

In making the detour east, concerning which yon have received instructions from the general commanding, select such of your cavalry as you may deem most suitable for the expedition, leaving about half your cavalry force where they now are, for within thé next forty-eight hours a strong infantry and artillery force will be moved from here to the place where you are now encamped, and it is the intention to push southward with cavalry in front.

By order of Maj. Gen. U. S. Grant:

Assistant Adjutant- General.

OxFORD, December 9, 1862.

General SULLIVAN:

The army now having penetrated far into Mississippi, trade may be

resumed in Tennessee, subject only to Treasury restrictions and such

other restrictions as local commanders may deem necessary to preserve