W. W. Loring to John C. Pemberton, December 30, 1862

HEADQUARTERS, &O.,
Grenada, December 30, 1862.

Lieut. Gen. J. OC, PEMBERTON, Commanding, &e. :

GENERAL: I send you the recent reports of scouts. The enemy are at this time on the Tallahatchie ; they do not seem to be moving beyond that river; their scouts are on this side. In addition to the statements heretofore forwarded of scouts from the vicinity of Yazoo Pass, I have the following statement from a Mr. Pearce, who resides 14 miles east of Friar’s Point and 18 miles south of General Alcorn’s, and vouched for as a reliable man.

He states that he left home on Sunday morning, the 28th; that there were 3,000 of the enemy’s cavalry encamped opposite Alcorn’s, thence to Barron’s place. There were also twelve pieces of artillery, between 500 to 1,000 infantry, at Friar’s Point. The Coldwater road is not all blockaded, nor is there any timber felled in the Yazoo Pass. The cavalry and artillery have been camped at Alcorn’s since Thursday, 25th. Said they were waiting for the infantry to join them, to move in force.

your obedient servant,

Major-General, Commanding.
VICKSBURG, December 31, 1862.
Major-General VAN Dorn, Grenada, Miss. :
Want 2,000 cavalry to move immediately in the direction of Snyder’s
Mill. Unless you have information of the enemy’s movement toward
Grenada, which I do not suppose to be the case, move as rapidly as
possible.