Letter

Unknown to Ulysses S. Grant, September 17, 1862

September 17, 1862.

September 17, 1862. General GRANT:

Colonel Mizner has returned from his reconnaissance. Road directly east from Jacinto and all south clear as far as Peyton’s Mill, and probably altogether so. One company of cavalry proceeded within 24 miles of luka and found no pickets; captured 2 prisoners (captains), one an Englishman and one a school teacher in Bentonville, Ark. He says Price has two divisions (each brigade of four regiments), six batteries, and ten regiments of cavalry, and is aiming to go north through Western Kentucky. A deserter from Inka says he was there this morning. Great pains ought to be taken to ascertain to-night whether they are gone or not. He says Breckinridge has certainly gone to Holly Springs and will move on Bolivar. If our troops move by Jacinto they will not be ready to fight before day after to-morrow morning; if by Burnsville about the same time, with less fatigue but probably worse roads. T propose to move by Barnett’s.

W. S. ROSECRANS, Brigadier-General, U. 8. Army.

SEPTEMBER 17, 1862. General GRANT:

Have just received the following from General Hamilton: JACINTO—9.30 p. m. Price and his whole force are in Iuka, We have captured a lot of prisoners, wagons, mules, and ordnance stores. Some ofthe prisoners just from Iuka.

Py SEPTEMBER 17, 1862. Major-General GRAN’, Commanding Corinth, Miss. :

As Price is an old woodpecker it would be well to have a watch set

to see if he might not take a course down the Tennessee, toward Eastport, in hopes to find the means of crossing. Have you any lookout

toward Hamburg Landing ?

Editor's Notes
From: Operations in West Tennessee and Mississippi, Pt. 1. Summary: Brigadier General Rosecrans informs General Grant of Confederate troop movements under Price and Breckinridge, recommending cautious reconnaissance and proposing a strategic advance route via Barnett's.
Sources
The War of the Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 17, Part 1 View original source ↗