John A. McClernand to A. Schwartz, January 5, 1863

Steamer Tigress, January 5, 1863.

Maj. Gen. WILLIAM T. SHERMAN, Commanding, &c.:

GENERAL: The following instructions are transmitted for your information. They only give an outline of the movement contemplated against Post Arkansas, Ark., and are based in part upon information respecting the nature and condition of the ground in the vicinity of the Post. This information has been hastily obtained, and in some instances from sources not authentic. Commanders of army corps will therefore be indulged in the exercise of a discretion as to the best modifications of the method proposed for the accomplishment of the object in contemplation. This method is set forth in the following instructions:

lst.. Having arrived at the mouth of the White River the commanders of the army corps of the Army of the Mississippi will lose no time in moving their commands upon their transports up that river to the cutoff, and through it into and up the Arkansas River to a suitable point on the left or east bank of the same near and below Post Arkansas for disembarkation.

2d. The army corps will move from the mouth of the White River in the following order: The Second Army Corps, Major-General Sherman commanding, forming the right wing, right in front, first; the First Army Corps, Brigadier-General Morgan commanding, following the left wing in the same order, next.

3d. Arrived at the proposed point for debarkation the two corps will immediately debark, being careful to preserve their distinctness, protect their landing by skirmishers and advanced detachments, leaving all the means of land transportation and other incumbrances on board the steamers until otherwise ordered by the general commanding the army, and rapidly march as follows:

The Second Corps by the rear of the Post until its right has reached the river above it. In executing this movement the commander may find it expedient to make the Brownsville road a point @’appui on or from which to deploy his column for the purpose of investing the enemy’s works and preparatory to attacking him. The lirst Corps, following the Second to or near the Lawrenceville road, may also find it expedient to make the latter road a point d@appui for the deployment of its column for the purpose aforesaid.

4th. Each army corps should extend its lines so as to complete the

investment of the enemy’s works, and if in order to do so the left wing has to move so far to the right as to leave too great a space between its left and the river, the same will be secured by a detachment of infantry and artillery from the First Corps, posted in a commanding position for that purpose.

5th. Notwithstanding what precedes, the commander of the First Army Corps will debark two regiments of infantry, one company of cavalry,

and thre» pieces of artillery at a suitable point on the 1ight or west bank of the river and near and below the Post, under instructions to ascend the right bank (beyond the reach of the enemy’s guns on the opposite shore) to a point on the river above the Post, giving control of the river.

6th. Skirmishers should in all cases precede the movements herein ordered. Cavalry detachments should be sent out in different directions to reconnoiter the country. Reserves should be kept to the rear of the investing line ready to be moved to any point in case the enemy should venture to make a sortie, and to every battery of light artillery a company of infantry should be detailed for the purpose of protecting it and assisting in its advance. ee

7th. Having completed the investment according to the plan indicated, the enemy will be equally cut off from re-enforcements and escape, and must, together with his works and all his munitions of war, become a capture to our arms.

By order of John A. McClernand, major-general commanding :

Major and Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.
JACKSON, January 5, 1863.
Major-General GRANT:
Six of my regiments are now returning from pursuit of Forrest across
the river. Colonel Fuller’s brigade is ordered to report to Corinth.
Three regiments will be at Trenton to-day that will also be forwarded
to Corinth. My line of road has been guarded all the time, but when