R. H. Cuney to and Chief of Subsistence, November 14, 1862

Magnolia, Miss., November 14, 1862.

General VAN Dorn, Abbeville, Miss. :

Do you think there is any prospect of the enemy advancing on you? If so, I will join you at once; if not, I am very anxious to go to Port Hudson. Very important for me to go there.

I await your answer here. It will take me three days.

J. ©. PEMBERTON, Tieutenant-General, Commanding.

: ABBEVILLE, November 14, 1862. Lieutenant-General PEMBERTON: Enemy gone back to Coldwater. EARL VAN DORN, Major-General.

JACKSON, November 18, 1862. Maj. Gen. Martin L. Smitu, Vicksburg, Miss. : Following dispatch received from Shufordsville, November 17: Twelve transports with three gunboats loaded with troops passed Friar’s Poiut this evening, I sappose for Vicksburg.”

Acknowledge receipt of this. J. C. PEMBERTON.

JACKSON, MIss., November 18, 1862. GEORGE W. RANDOLPH, Secretary of War, Richmond, Va.:

A telegram received this morning states:

Twelve trausports with three gunboats loaded with troops passed Friar’s Point thie evening.

Large numbers of troops are reported to have left Helena by transports, and artillery and cavalry moving down river by land. Have sent courier to General Holmes. Should not General Bragg move directly to threaten the rear of large force in front of us? I should

be re-enforced at once. J. ©. PEMBERTON.

ABBEVILLE, November 19, 1862. General PEMBERTON: Dispatch from Friar’s Point, 16th, states enemy moving down the river. Thirteen transports, one tug, and one gunboat passed at 2 p. m. EARL VAN DORN, Major-General.

SALTILLO, Miss., November 19, 1862. General PEMBERTON:

Old troops left Rienzi and raw troops have taken their place. The same seems to be the case at Corinth. The enemy’s picket lines are down in close to the above places and no passing allowed. Do not think that any new troops are now arriving at Corinth. Cavalry picket force at Rienzi and infantry at Glendale lately increased to a strength greater than formerly. Pickets on north and northeast sides of Corinth drawn in to less than a mile of the place.

* November 16-21, 1862. Expedition from Helena against Arkansas Post, Ark. See Series I, Vol. XIII, pp.

ADJUTANT AND INSPECTOR GENERAL’S OFFICE, Richmond, November 19, 1862. General BRAXTON BRAGG, Tullahoma, Tenn. :

General Pemberton telegraphed on the 19th that twelve transports with three gunboats loaded with troops passed Friar’s Point on the 17th, supposed for Vicksburg. Large numbers of troops are reported to have left Helena by transports, and artillery and cavalry moving down the river by land. He asks for re-enforcements at once. General Pemberton is under your command, and you must do what in your judgment is necessary to save Vicksburg trom capture. ;

General Holmes has been requested to send 10,000 men to Vicksburg if they can be spared for that purpose.

Adjutant and Inspector General.

OFFICE CHIEF OF SvB., DEPT. OF Miss. AND East LA., Jackson, Miss., November 19, 1862. Maj. T. B. REED, Vicksburg, Miss. :

Sir: As the season of the year is approaching rapidly when we can but expect a rise in the waters of the Mississippi River, and with it the approach of the enemy, I deem it a matter of the greatest importance to purchase all the stores that can be had in that section of country most likely to be subject to the raids of the enemy. In view of this fact I now have my agents purchasing corn, meal, pease, and potatoes in the parishes west of and lying on the west bank of the Mississippi River. But pressed as I am with the duties of my office I am unable to give to this matter that personal attention which its importance justly entitles it to. Hence I have to ask your aid and assistance to enable me to fully carry out my object. You are therefore hereby fully authorized to take the full supervising control of the matter, subject to such orders and instructions as you may from time to time receive from me. I will direct all my agents to report to you, that you may be fully advised of their acts, &c.

I am informed that a number of mills can be procured in that section. I wish them to be immediately put to work; that the meal obtained from them be shipped to Port Hudson and Vicksburg for immediate use, so as to enable us to retain the corn for future use; from these mills an abundant supply of meal can be obtained. The command at Port Hudson requires about 8,000 bushels per month, which you will cause to be shipped to them by steamboats. You will see that awple transportation is had both to get these stores.up the river to Vicksburg, and when it arrives see that they are at once unloaded. To facilitate this matter you had better call on the quartermaster to have wagons, &c., ready, as I am informed that he is not properly supplied, and that drays are employed at very high rates. I will send to Vicksburg an agent to aid you in the shipment of these stores. I also deem it advisable that all stores that can be procured from North Louisiana be also purchased before our communication with that section is interrupted. ‘To accom plish this I will send an agent or agents to that section of which [ will advise you.

You can but see, major, the greatest importance in obtaining stores from the west bank of the river before it is too late; hence it is needless In me to urge upon you great exertions to obtain them. I therefore trust that you will give me your full co-operation and that you will give the matter your personal attention, as I intrust it to you. Itis not with an intention that all these stores remain at Vicksburg, but that they be shipped to this place, at least a large pruportion of them. You will keep me by reports duly advised of your acts in the premises. I am, major, respectfully,

your obedient servant,

Major and Chief of Subsistence.

RICHMOND, November 19, 1862.

Little Rock, Ark., via Vicksburg, Miss. :

Vicksburg is threatened and requires to be re-enforced. Can you

send troops from your command—say 10,000—to operate either opposite to Vicksburg or to cross the river? It is conceded here that this

movement will greatly add to the defense of Arkansas.