Unknown to James B. McPherson, October 25, 1862

Jackson, Tenn., October 25, 1862.

Major-General McPHERSON, Bolivar, Tenn. :

GENERAL: Your dispatch received. I have dispatched Hamilton to hold his treops in readiness, with three days’ provisions in haversacks, to be ready either for a move or for defense of Corinth.

Hold yours in the same way. The move of Price may be to cover the balance of the army in a move on Corinth. Should either place be attacked ten regiments can be spared from the line of the railroad to reenforce you with. U. S. GRANT.

GENERAL ORDERS, } HpqQRrs. DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE, No. 1. Jackson, Tenn., October 25, 1862.

I. In compliance with General Orders, No. 159, Adjutant-General’s Office, War Department, of date October 16, 1862, the undersigned hereby assumes command of the Department of the Tennessee, which includes Cairo, Fort Henry and Fort Donelson, Northern Mississippi, ae the portions of Kentucky and Tennessee west of the Tennessee

II. Headquarters of the Department of the Tennessee will remain, until further orders, at Jackson, Tenn.

III. All orders of the District of West Tennessee will continue in force in the Department.

U. 8S. GRANT, Major-General, Commanding.

GENERAL ORDERS, } Hpgrs. First Diy., ARMY OF THE TENN., No. 90. Memphis, October 25, 1862.

To insure harmony in the administration of government in the Division of Memphis the following modifications and changes are made and published for the information of all concerned.

I. Col. D. C. Anthony is announced as the provost-marshal for the city and Division of Memphis, with Major Willard and Lieutenant Edwards as assistants; office on Court street, corner of Third. One regiment of infantry and a squadron of cavalry will compose the provost guard; headquarters in the Irving Block, Second street, opposite Court Square. This guard will be distributed according to the orders of the provost-marshal, and will receive their instructions from him. A military commission, composed of three officers of the army, will sit daily at the office of the provost-marshal and try all offenders under the laws of war. Their sentences, when approved by the commanding general, will be executed by the provost-marshal.

II. The city police, composed of 100 men, will also be under the orders and supervision of the provost-marshal. He will muster and inspect them and satisfy himself that the officers are competent, and that the men are sober, industrious, and of good reputation. He will require each and every one to take the oath of allegiance prescribed by the Congress of the United States.’ He will, on consultation with the chief of police, divide them into a day and night watch, assigning to each a beat or district, for which he will be held responsible. Ifa burglary, robbery riot, or disturbance of the peace occurs on any beat the policeman will

Caap. X XIX.) CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.—UNION. 295

be forthwith suspended from duty and pay, and be tried by the military commission or recorder of the city for complicity or neglect, and on the trial the burden of proof will rest with the accused, to show that he was on his post and vigilant. If found guilty he will be punished by dismissal from office, by fine, imprisonment, or such other penalty as the court may impose. The appointment of the city police will remain as now, with the city authorities; but should they fail to fill a vacancy within three days of a notice the provost-marshal will appoint a successor. Their payment will also be made by the city treasurer, and all fines, penalties, and seizures made by the city recorder and police will, as heretofore, go to the city treasury.

III. All soldiers or officers arrested or citizens taken by scouts, pickets, or guards will be sent to the Irving Block, and all offenders against the laws of the State of Tennessee or the ordinances of the city of Memphis will be sent to the city lock-up, at the corner of Third and Adams streets. Military prisoners will be sent under guard daily to their respective brigades; offenders against military law or order will be tried by the military commission. All other offenders will, as heretofore, be tried by the city recorder.

IV. Soldiers will not be arrested by the city police, unless detected in the actual commission of crime, when they will be taken to the nearest camp or provost guard. Butif any unlawful assemblage of soldiers or stragglers from camp is discovered it is the duty of the police to send prompt notice to the nearest military guard.

V. Citizens detected in the commission of any grade of crime will be arrested by any guard, civil or military ; and all vagrants, thieves, or men of bad reputation, having no visible means of support, or who are known to be dangerous persons to the peace and quiet of the community, will be restrained of their liberty and organized into a gang to work on the trenches, roads, or public streets, under the direction of the chief of police or provost-marshal, at the latter’s discretion.

VI. Citizens found lurking about the camps or military lines will be arrested and treated as spies. None will by day approach Fort Pickering nearer than headquarters on Tennessee street or the Horn Lake road, and by night are cautioned that the sentinels have loaded muskets and are ordered to use them if persons are found lurking under suspicious circumstances near their posts.

VII. All citizens will keep to their houses at night, between tattoo and reveille, unless attending church, a place of amusement, a party of friends, or on necessary business, in which cases they will return to their homes by proper streets. After midnight all must be in their houses, except the proper guards, watchmen, or patrols. If found in alleys, by-ways, lots not their own, or unusual places, they will be locked up for the night.

VIII. Negroes will be subject to the laws of the State and city ordinances applicable to free negroes. They can work at any trade or calling, hire out, or, if they choose, return to their former masters, but no force will be used one way or the other. Soldiers not on duty should not meddle in this matter, but guards and sentinels on duty will assist all who appeal to them for protection against violence or undue force. Assemblages of negroes are prohibited, except on permission previously granted by the provost-marshal, setting forth the object, place, time of closing, and probable number to be assemblec. If, however, they commit crime of any kmd—theft, robbery, violence, or trespass on property—they must be punished according to law. IX. The object and purpose of this order is to punish or restrain all

disorders or crimes against the peace and dignity of this community. In time of war the military authorities must of necessity be superior to the civil, but all officers and soldiers must remember that this state of war is but temporary, and the time must come when the civil will resume its full power in the administration of justice in all parts of the country. The interest and laws of the United States must be paramount to all others, but so far as the laws, ordinances, and performances of the people of this community are consistent with those of the General Government they should be respected.

The provost-marshal and city council will make all proper rules necessary to carry this order into effect and make them public.

W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General, Commanding.

JAOKSON, TENN., October 26, 1862—8.40 a. m. (Received October 27, 12.15 a. m.) Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLEOK, General-in-Ohief :

The rebel army is again moving, probably on Corinth, They have been re-enforced with the exchanged prisoners, troops from Texas and Arkansas, and conscripts. We will be attacked in a few days. Is it not possible to send the Helena force or some other re-enforcement

here ? U. S. GRANT, Major-General.