Unknown to O. S. Hamilton, November 28, 1862

Old Lamar, November 28, 1862.

Brig. Gen. O. S. Hamiuton, Commanding Left Wing:

GENERAL: Move to-morrow at the earliest possible hour and reach the nearest water to the south or southeast of Holly Springs. I have no information of water nearer than Lumpkin’s Mill, except directly east from Holly Springs. If I should not come up with you at Holly Springs to-morrow you can exercise your own judgment as to the expediency of sending McArthur’s division eastward to Chewalla Creek.

Detail four good companies of cavalry, well commanded, to remain at Holly Springs until they receive orders from me. I want to send them to communicate with Sherman.

P. S.—Holly Springs will be my headquarters after to-morrow until further orders.

Union City, November 28, 1862. Brigadier-General SULLIVAN :

[have reliable information that three of the most prominent Union citizens of this county were last night captured at or near Troy, in this county, a town noted for the treason of its inhabitants. They were captured by guerrillas, who infest the Obion Bottom, near that town, and are daily carrying off Union citizens and robbing them of their property, especially their horses. : fi) ee

Troy is a hot-bed of traitors; not a Union man living in the town. The 3 men captured have been our main stand-by for five months past, one of whom is Colonel Bradford. I propose, if it meets with your approval, to give the avthorities of the town notice that if the 3 men captured are not returned in five days that I will burn up the town. General, as unwell as I am, if you will give me the command at Trenton,

which is a central point, I will have this country from the Memphis and Ohio Railroad to the Hatchie cleared of the last guerrilla in it before the return of my papers, as I know every district of thecountry. This will be a pleasure to me, as I have done so once before. THOS. W. HARRIS, Colonel Fifty-fourth Illinois.

SPRINGFIELD, November 29, 1862. Hon. BE. M. STANTON, Secretary of War:

I arrived here yesterday. General McClernand has favored me with a copy of a dispatch to be sent by him to you showing that he has sent all the available troops raised in this State into the field.

I hope he will be soon sent forward in command of the expedition identified with his name.

Governor of Illinois.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY IN THE FIELD,. Holly Springs, Miss., November 29, 1862. Brig. Gen. C. 8. HAMILTON, Oommanding Left Wing :

GENERAL: Telegraph complete and working to this point. Move a portion of your troops eastward from their present position if they can obtain water and be in supporting distance of each other. They should also move a few miles farther south. I want to get McPherson in between you and Sherman, to move southeast from his present position if water and proper ground can be found. I shall send him word very early in the morning to reconnoiter for these two conditions. Send back to Coldwater on Monday all the teams you can spare, with instructions to load up from the train and remain there until such time as you can send for them or direct a proper escort should accompany the train. Your train is not yet through passing this point, 7.50.

Your teams will be nearer forage at Coldwater than here, and be out of the way of operations. One division from your wing will be detailed to be selected by you to guard from Coldwater southward as far as it will hold.

I have ordered up a regiment from Bolivar for Coldwater, which will be added to the brigade sent back here; so that the smallest brigade from the division selected will be sufficient to send back here, and Tuesday early enough to send it back.

U. 8S. GRANT, Major-General.