Unknown to Major-General Thomas, June 26, 1862
June 26, 1862.
June 26, 1862. Major-General THomAsS, Corinth, Miss. :
Your dispatch just received. Have ordered all the cavalry we have south and west of the Mississippi Central and Ohio Railroad to move at once across the country in columns toward Ripley, and, concentrating there, push forward toward Holly Springs.
Sheridan replaces this force from the recruiting camp in rear.
Asboth sends a regiment of infantry and a battery to Nolin’s, intersection of Hatchie pike and Blackland and Corinth road, to support the cavalry. Should the country south of that be clear they may advance still farther. But 1 do not think it advisable to send the infantry very far in that direction until we know where the rebels lay. Our flank, Davis, with six regiments and two batteries, has gone into camp 1} miles southeast of Jacinto. His camp equipage went out to-day. He has notice to support Asboth if needed.
There can be no serious move on La Grange.
Brigadier- General, Oommanding.
Moscow, June 26, 1862.
General HALLEOK :
I now have an operator here and communicate more to let you know that fact. My division is here; Hurlbut at La Grange, 10 miles apart, and both about the same distance from Holly Springs. I have full ten days’ rations and forage on hand. I should have a good strong regiment of cavalry. All the bridges have been repaired and are guarded, thé most important one here a large bridge over Wolf Creek. You have heard of the attack on the train west. The train from the east has never come west of La Grange, though all the road is done. This hot weather nearly kills our men on the march. Some are actually dead of sunstroke and very many prostrated and have to be carried in wagons. I have nothing new or authentic from Holly Springs, and my cavalry is so used up that I cannot push them out more than 7 or
miles. W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General.
Moscow, June 26, 1862. General HALLEOK :
On receiving your dispatch to re-enforce Hurlbut I moved my division to Moscow, where I can move promptly to the Junction or forward to Holly Springs. I left a regiment and section of artillery at La Fayette to protect two bridges and the property there. I sent forward to Germantown the Indiana Railroad Regiment to accompany the Ohio Fiftyfourth, Fifty-sixth?], which had come over from Memphis to assist in repairing the road. 1 sent a messenger to Memphis this morning with a letter to General Grant telling him that there was now a force at Holly Springs and that force must be driven away before we can expect to use the railroad here. The train out from Memphis yesterday was thrown from the track by displacing three rails and the soldiers on the train attacked by a force; the strength could not be ascertained by those who reached camp. Judging from your own accounts of the distribution ot the enemy’s force, will it be safe in marching on Holly Springs; attacking, should McClernand and Grant co-operate?
W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General.
[JUNE 26, 1862.—General Pope assigned to command of Army of Virginia. See Series I, Vol. XII, Part ILI, p. 435.]
M General MCCLERNAND : Se shea Nake The telegraph office is removed from La Grange to Moscow, where I am with my division. The railroad bridges are all done to Memphis. If General Halleck ordered re-enforcements from you for Hurlbut’s he wants them at La Grange. I have no reliable news from Holly Springs een that there are more than 5,000 of the enemy there and more ex. pected. The regiments should disembark at La Grange and not the Junction on account of water. : When will the road to Columbus be done ? W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General.
WAR DEPARTMENT, June 27, 1862. Major-General HALLEOK, Corinth:
No change has been made in the order respecting gunboats, that I am aware of, since I came into this Department. An act of Congress has transferred them to the Navy Department. No report was ever made to this Department by the commander of the gunboats. When Mr. Ellet had his steam-rams ready he wanted to act under your orders or the orders of this Department, and I requested the President’s permission so to direct; but he thought they should be under the command of the officer commanding the gunboats, and instructions were given accordingly. I have always thought you should have command of the gunboats, and will endeavor to procure an order to that effect.
EDWIN M. STANTON Secretary of War.
WAR DEPARTMENT, June 27, 1862. Major-General HALLECK, Corinth:
The exigencies of the service, in the President’s opinion, absolutely require that General Pope should be assigned a command here. It is hoped that among the number of able generals in your command that you can spare him without inconvenience. General Pope desires to have General Schuyler Hamilton and General Granger. The President hopes you will relieve them and send them here, if you can do so without injury to the service. EDWIN M. STANTON.
MEMPHIS, TENN., June 27, 1862. Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK, Corinth, Miss. :
I have sent one regiment of infantry and five companies of cavalry to beyond Germantown, in hopes of opening the railroad and telegraph. With the aid of one division from Corinth I think it practicable to occupy Holly Springs, Hernando, and an intermediate point between these places. To intercept and catch M. Jeff. Thompson’s and Jackson’s cotton-burners I would also like to have the Eleventh Illinois Cavalry sent here.