Ulysses S. Grant to Ambrose E. Burnside, August 22, 1863

General BURNSIDE : Arrived here about 3 o’clock. Never saw such bad roads. The division stopped on north side. It made 20 miles to-day, an’d remarkably well until the last 4 or 5 miles. The road will require much repairing. Ford is in good condition. A thousand men, all that can work to advantage beside the Engineer Battalion, will repair the road to-morrow, and all the wagons that go up to the river will be crossed, It will be a miracle if all cross. The road this side for 5 to portation I hope will end. Will keep you informed of progress to-morrow. People here and beyond knew of our coming, and were expecting us days ago. CoLuMBUs, Ky., August 23, 1863—-6 a. m. (Received 1.30 p. m.) Maj. Gen. H. W. Hauuscx, General-in-Chief : I will be here and at Cairo until to-morrow, when I will leave on first boat down the river. U. S. GRANT, Major-General. CarRo, ILL., August 23, 1863. (Received 12.30 a. m., 24th.) Major-General HALLECK, Washington : All quiet at Vicksburg. Crocker will lead an expedition against Trinity and Harrisonburg from Natchez, and Stevenson one from Goodrich’s Landing, against Monroe, starting about Wednesday or Thursday next. This, with Steele’s move, I think will clear Louisiana side of the river to mouth of Red River. It is so secure on the river now that I think the Mississippi might be declared opened for through trade. The expedition through Central Mississippi was compelled to burn the cars it had gone to save. The enemy ran them south of Grenada and destroyed the bridges. There-were 57 locomotives and about 400 cars. Teronte like 3,000 sets of horse equipments ordered to Vicksburg to enable me to mount infantry in case of emergency.

U. S. GRANT,