Allwhoareprotectedshouldsharetheexpensesinproportiontotheinterestsinvolved。Iam，withrespect，yourobedientservant，W。T。SHERMAN，Major—Generalcommanding。
HEADQUARTERSFIFTHDIVISION，MEMPHIS，August7，1862。
CaptainFITCH，AssistantQuartermaster，Memphis，Tennessee。
SIR:Thedutiesdevolvingonthequartermasterofthispost，inadditiontohislegitimatefunctions，areveryimportantandonerous，andIamfullyawarethatthetaskismorethanshoulddevolveononeman。Iwillendeavortogetyouhelpinthepersonofsomecommissionedofficer，and，ifpossible，oneunderbond，ashemusthandlelargeamountsofmoneyintrust;but，forthepresent，wemostexecutethedutiesfallingtoourshareaswellaspossible。Onthesubjectofvacanthouses，GeneralGrant’sordersare:\"Takepossessionofallvacantstoresandhousesinthecity，andhavethemrentedatreasonablerates;renttobepaidmonthlyinadvance。Thesebuildings，withtheirtenants，canbeturnedovertoproprietorsonproofofloyalty;alsotakechargeofsuchashavebeenleasedoutbydisloyalowners。\"
IunderstandthatGeneralGranttakestherentsandprofitsofthisclassofrealpropertyundertherulesandlawsofwar，andnotundertheconfiscationactofCongress;thereforethequestionoftitleisnotinvolvedsimplythepossession，andtherentsandprofitsofhousesbelongingtoourenemies，whicharenotvacant，weholdintrustforthemortheGovernment，accordingtothefuturedecisionsofthepropertribunals。
Mr。McDonald，yourchiefagentinrentingandmanagingthisbusiness，calledonmelasteveningandleftwithmewrittenquestions，whichitwouldtakeavolumetoanswerandaWebstertoelucidate;butaswecanonlyattemptplain，substantialjustice，I
willanswerthesequestionsaswellasIcan，brieflyandtothepointFirst。Whengroundisownedbypartieswhohavegonesouth，andhaveleasedthegroundtopartiesnowinthecitywhoowntheimprovementsontheground？
Answer。TheUnitedStatestakestherentsduetheowneroftheland;doesnotdisturbtheowneroftheimprovements。
Second。Whenpartiesowninghouseshavegonesouth，andthetenanthasgivenhisnotesfortherentinadvance？
Answer。Notesaremereevidenceofthedebtduelandlord。Thetenantpaystherenttothequartermaster，whogivesabondofindemnityagainstthenotesrepresentingthedebtfortheparticularrent。
Third。Whenthetenanthasexpendedseveralmonths’rentinrepairsonthehouse？
Answer。Ofcourse，allowallsuchcreditsonreasonableproofandshowing。
Fourth。Whentheownerhasgonesouth，andpartieshereholdliensonthepropertyandarecollectingtherentstosatisfytheirliens？
Answer。Therentofahousecanonlybemortgagedtoapersoninpossession。Ifaloyaltenantbeinpossessionandclaimtherentfromhimselfasduetohimselfonsomeotherdebt，allowit;but，ifnotinactualpossessionoftheproperty，rentsarenotgoodliensforadebt，butmustbepaidtothequartermaster。
Fifth。Ofpartiesclaimingforeignprotection？
Answer。Manyclaimforeignprotectionwhoarenotentitledtoit。
Iftheyareforeignsubjectsresidingforbusinessinthis，country，theyareentitledtoconsiderationandprotectionsolongastheyobeythelawsofthecountry。Iftheyoccupyhousesbelongingtoabsentrebels，theymustpayrenttothequarter—
master。Iftheyownproperty，theymustoccupyitbythemselves，tenants，orservants。
Eighth。Whenhousesareoccupiedandtheownerhasgonesouth，leavinganagenttocollectrentforhisbenefit？
Answer。Rentmustbepaidtothequartermaster。Noagentcancollectandremitmoneysouthwithoutsubjectinghimselftoarrestandtrialforaidingandabettingthepublicenemy。
Ninth……Whenhousesareownedbyloyalcitizens，butareunoccupied？
Answer。Suchshouldnotbedisturbed，butitwouldbewelltoadvisethemtohavesomeservantatthehousetooccupyit。
Tenth。Whenpartieswhooccupythehousearecreditorsoftheowner，whohasgonesouth？Answer。Youonlylooktocollectionofrents。Anypersonwhotransmitsmoneysouthisliabletoarrestandtrialforaidingandabettingtheenemy;butIdonotthinkitourbusinesstocollectdebtsotherthanrents。
Eleventh。WhenthepartieswhoownthepropertyhaveleftthecityunderGeneralHovey’sOrderNo。1，butareintheimmediateneighborhood，ontheirplantations？
Answer。Itmakesnodifferencewheretheyare，sotheyareabsent。
Twelfth。Whenmovablepropertyisfoundinstoresthatareclosed？
Answer。Thegoodsaresecurityfortherent。Iftheownerofthegoodspreferstoremovethegoodstopayingrent，hecandoso。
Thirteenth。Whentheownerlivesintown，andrefusestotaketheoathofallegiance？
Answer。Ifthehousebeoccupied，itdoesnotfallundertheorder。Ifthehousebevacant，itdoes。Theownercanrecoverhispropertybytakingtheoath。
AllpersonsinMemphisresidingwithinourmilitarylinesarepresumedtobeloyal，goodcitizens，andmayatanymomentbecalledtoserveonjuries，possescomitatua，orothercivilservicerequiredbytheConstitutionandlawsofourcountry。Shouldtheybecalledupontodosuchduty，whichwouldrequirethemtoacknowledgetheirallegianceandsubordinationtotheConstitutionoftheUnitedStates，itwouldthenbetoolatetorefuse。Solongastheyremainquietandconformtotheselaws，theyareentitledtoprotectionintheirpropertyandlives。
Wehavenothingtodowithconfiscation。Weonlydealwithpossession，andthereforethenecessityofastrictaccountability，becausetheUnitedStatesassumestheplaceoftrustee，andmustaccounttotherightfulownerforhisproperty，rents，andprofits。
Indueseasoncourtswillbeestablishedtoexecutethelaws，theconfiscationactincluded，whenwewillberelievedofthisdutyandtrust。Untilthattime，everyopportunityshouldbegiventothewaveringanddisloyaltoreturntotheirallegiancetotheConstitutionoftheirbirthoradoption。Iam，etc。，W。T。SHERMAN。
Major—Generalcommanding。
HEADQUARTERSFIFTHDIVISION
MEMPHIS，TENNESSEE，August26，1862
Major—GeneralGRANT，Corinth，Mississippi。
Sir:InpursuanceofyourrequestthatIshouldkeepyouadvisedofmattersofinteresthere，inadditiontothepurelyofficialmatters，Inowwrite。
Idispatchedpromptlythethirteencompaniesofcavalry，nineofFourthIllinois，andfourofEleventhIllinois，totheirrespectivedestinations，punctuallyonthe23dinstant，althoughtheorderwasonlyreceivedonthe22d。Ireceivedatthesametime，fromColonelDickey，thenoticethatthebridgeoverHatchiewasburned，andthereforeIprescribedtheirorderofmarchviaBolivar。Theystartedat12m。ofthe23d，andIhavenonewsofthem。since。
Noneofthecavalryorderedtomeisyetheardfrom。
TheguerrillashavedestroyedseveralbridgesoverWolfCreek;oneatRaleigh，ontheroadbywhichIhadprescribedtradeandtraveltoandfromthecity。IhaveastrongguardatthelowerbridgeoverWolfRiver，bywhichwecanreachthecountrytothenorthofthatstream;but，astheConfederateshaveburnedtheirownbridges，Iwillholdthemtomyorder，andallownotradeoveranyotherroadthantheoneprescribed，usingthelowerorRandolphroadforourownconvenience。Iamstillsatisfiedthereisnolargeforceofrebelsanywhereintheneighborhood。AllthenavygunboatsarebelowexcepttheSt。Louis，whichliesoffthecity。
WhenCommodoreDavispassesdownfromCairo，Iwilltrytoseehim，andgethimtoexchangetheSt。Louisforafleeterboatnotiron—clad;onethatcanmoveupanddowntheriver，tobreakupferry—boatsandcanoes，andtopreventallpassingacrosstheriver。Ofcourse，inspiteofallourefforts，smugglingiscarriedon。Weoccasionallymakehaulsofclothing，gold—lace，buttons，etc。，butIamsatisfiedthatsaltandarmsaregottotheinteriorsomehow。IhaveaddressedtheBoardofTradealetteronthispoint，whichwillenableustocontrolitbetter。
Youmayhavebeentroubledathearingreportsofdrunkennesshere。
Therewassomeafterpay—day，butgenerallyallisasquietandorderlyaspossible。Itraversethecityeverydayandnight，andassertthatMemphisisandhasbeenasorderlyacityasSt。Louis，Cincinnati，orNewYork。
Beforethecityauthoritiesundertooktolicensesaloons，therewasasmuchwhiskeyhereasnow，anditwouldtakeallmycommandascustomhouseinspectors，tobreakopenalltheparcelsandpackagescontainingliquor。IcandestroyallgroggeriesandshopswheresoldiersgetliquorjustaswewouldinSt。Louis。
Thenewspapersareaccusingmeofcrueltytothesick;asbaseachargeaswasevermade。IwouldnotlettheSanitaryCommitteecarryoffaboat—loadofsick，becauseIhavenorightto。Wehavegoodhospitalshere，andplentyofthem。Ourregimentalhospitalsareinthecampsofthemen，andthesickdomuchbettertherethaninthegeneralhospitals;sosaymydivisionsurgeonandtheregimentalsurgeons。Theciviliandoctorswould，ifpermitted，takeawayourentirecommand。GeneralCurtissendshissickuphere，butusuallynonurses;anditisnotrightthatnursesshouldbetakenfrommycommandforhissick。Ithinkthat，whenweareendeavoringtoraisesoldiersandtoinstructthem，itisbadpolicytokeepthemathospitalsasattendantsandnurses。
IsendyouDr。Derby’sacknowledgmentthathegavetheleaveofabsenceofwhichhewascharged。Ihaveplacedhiminarrest，inobediencetoGeneralHalleck’sorders，butheremainsinchargeoftheOvertonHospital，whichisnotfullofpatients。
TheStateHospitalalsoisnotfull，andIcannotimaginewhatDr。
DerbywantswiththeFemaleAcademyonVanceStreet。Iwillseehimagain，andnowthatheisthechiefatOvertonHospital，I
thinkhewillnotwanttheacademy。Still，ifhedoes，underyourordersIwillcauseittobevacatedbythechildrenandSistersofMercy。Theyhavejustadvertisedformorescholars，andwillbesadlydisappointed。If，however，thisbuildingoranyotherbeneededforahospital，itmustbetaken;butreally，inmyheart，I
donotseewhatpossiblechancethereis，underpresentcircumstances，offillingwithpatientsthetwolargehospitalsnowinuse，besidestheoneaskedfor。Imay，however，bemistakenintheparticularbuildingaskedforbyDr。Derby，andwillgomyselftosee。
Thefortisprogressingwell，CaptainJenneyhavingarrived。
Sixteenheavygunsarereceived，withalargeamountofshotandshell，buttheplatformsarenotyetready;still，ifoccasionshouldarisefordispatch，Icanputalargerforcetowork。
CaptainPrime，whenhere，advisedthattheworkshouldproceedregularlyundertheproperengineerofficersandlaborers。
Iam，etc。，W。T。SHERMAN，Major—Generalcommanding。
HEADQUARTERSFIFTHDIVISION
MEMPHIS，TENNESSEE，September4，1862
ColonelJ。C，KELTON，AssistantAdjutant—General，Headquartersofthearmy，Washington，D。C。
DEARCOLONEL:Pleaseacknowledgetothemajor—generalcommandingthereceiptbymeofhisletter，andconveytohimmyassurancesthatIhavepromptlymodifiedmyfirstinstructionsaboutcotton，soastoconformtohisorders。Tradeincottonisnowfree，butinallelseIendeavorsotocontrolitthattheenemyshallreceivenocontrabandgoods，oranyaidorcomfort;stillIfeelsurethattheofficersofsteamboatsaresadlytemptedbyhighpricestolandsaltandotherprohibitedarticlesatwaypointsalongtheriver。This，too，intimewillbechecked。Allseemswellhereandhereabout;nolargebodyoftheenemywithinstrikingdistance。Aforceofabouttwothousand，cavalrypassedthroughGrandJunctionnorthlastFriday，andfellonadetachmentoftheBolivararmyatMiddleburg，theresultofwhichisdoubtlessreportedtoyou。AssoonasIheardofthemovement，Idispatchedaforcetothesoutheastbywayofdiversion，andamsatisfiedthattheenemy’sinfantryandartilleryfellbackinconsequencebehindtheTallahatchie。Theweatherisveryhot，countryverydry，anddustasbadaspossible。Iholdmytwodivisionsready，withtheiroriginalcomplementoftransportation，forfieldservice。OfcourseallthingsmostnowdependoneventsinfrontofWashingtonandinKentucky。ThegunboatEastportandfourtransportsloadedwithprisonersofwardestinedforVicksburghavebeenlyingbeforeMemphisfortwodays，butarenowsteaminguptoresumetheirvoyage。Ourfortprogresseswell，butourgunsarenotyetmounted。Theengineersarenowshapingthebanquettetoreceiveplatforms。IexpectCaptainPrimefromCorinthintwoorthreedays。
Iam，withgreatrespect，yours，W。T。SHERMAN，Major—Generalcommanding。
HEADQUARTERSFIFTHDIVISION
MEMPHIS，TENNESSEE，September21，1862
EditorBulletin。
SIR:YourcommentsontherecentordersofGeneralsHalleckandMcClellanaffordtheoccasionappropriateformetomakepublicthefactthatthereisalawofCongress，asoldasourGovernmentitself，butreenactedonthe10thofApril，1806，andinforceeversince。Thatlawreads:
\"Allofficersandsoldiersaretobehavethemselvesorderlyinquartersandonthemarch;andwhoevershallcommitanywasteorspoil，eitherinwalksoftrees，parks，warrens，fish—ponds，housesandgardens，cornfields，inclosuresormeadows，orshallmaliciouslydestroyanypropertywhateverbelongingtotheinhabitantsoftheUnitedStates，unlessbyorderofthecommander—in—chiefofthearmiesofsaidUnitedStates，shall（besidessuchpenaltiesastheyareliabletobylaw）bepunishedaccordingtothenatureanddegreeoftheoffense，bythejudgmentofageneralorregimentalcourt—martial。\"
SuchisthelawofCongress;andtheordersofthecommander—in—
chiefare，thatofficersorsoldiersconvictedofstragglingandpillagingshallbepunishedwithdeath。Theseordershavenotcometomeofficially，butIhaveseentheminnewspapers，andamsatisfiedthattheyexpressthedeterminationofthecommander—in—
chief。Stragglingandpillaginghaveeverbeengreatmilitarycrimes;andeveryofficerandsoldierinmycommandknowswhatstressIhavelaiduponthem，andthat，sofarasinmypowerlies，Iwillpunishthemtothefullextentofthelawandorders。
Thelawisonething，theexecutionofthelawanother。Godhimselfhascommanded:\"Thoushaltnotkill，\"\"thoushaltnotsteal，\"\"thoushaltnotcovetthyneighbor’sgoods，\"etc。WillanyonesaythesethingsarenotdonenowaswellasbeforetheselawswereannouncedatSinaiIadmitthelawtobethat\"noofficerorsoldieroftheUnitedStatesshallcommitwasteordestructionofcornfields，orchards，potato—patches，oranykindofpillageonthepropertyoffriendorfoenearMemphis，\"andthatIstandpreparedtoexecutethelawasfaraspossible。
Noofficerorsoldiershouldenterthehouseorpremisesofanypeaceablecitizen，nomatterwhathispolitics，unlessonbusiness;
andnosuchofficerorsoldiercanforceanentranceunlesshehaveawrittenorderfromacommandingofficerorprovost—marshal，whichwrittenauthoritymustbeexhibitedifdemanded。Whenpropertysuchasforage，buildingorothermaterialsareneededbytheUnitedStates，areceiptwillbegivenbytheofficertakingthem，whichreceiptshouldbepresentedtothequartermaster，whowillsubstitutethereforaregularvoucher，tobepaid—accordingtothecircumstancesofthecase。Iftheofficerrefusetogivesuchreceipt，thecitizenmayfairlyinferthatthepropertyiswrongfullytaken，andheshould，forhisownprotection，ascertainthename，rank，andregimentoftheofficer，andreporthiminwriting。Ifanysoldiercommitswasteordestruction，thepersonwhosepropertyisthuswastedmustfindoutthename，company，andregimentoftheactualtransgressor。Inordertopunishtheremustbeatrial，andtheremustbetestimony。Itisnotsufficientthatageneralaccusationbemade，thatsoldiersaredoingthisorthat。
Icannotpunishmywholecommand，orawholebattalion，becauseoneortwobadsoldiersdowrong。Thepunishmentmustreachtheperpetrators，andnoonecanidentifythemaswellasthepartywhoisinterested。TheStateofTennesseedoesnotholditselfresponsibleforactsoflarcenycommittedbyhercitizens，nordoestheUnitedStatenoranyothernation。Theseareindividualactsofwrong，andpunishmentcanonlybeinflictedonthewrong—doer。
Iknowthedifficultyofidentifyingparticularsoldiers，butdifficultiesdonotaltertheimportanceofprinciplesofjustice。
Theyshouldstimulatethepartiestoincreasetheireffortstofindouttheactualperpetratorsofthecrime。
Colonelsofregimentsandcommandersofcorpsareliabletoseverepunishmentforpermittingtheirmentoleavetheircampstocommitwasteordestruction;butIknowfullwellthatmanyoftheactsattributedtosoldiersarecommittedbycitizensandnegroes，andarechargedtosoldiersbecauseofadesiretofindfaultwiththem;butthisonlyreactsuponthecommunityandincreasesthemischief。Whileeveryofficerwouldwillinglyfollowupanaccusationagainstanyoneormoreofhismenwhosenamesordescriptionweregivenimmediatelyafterthediscoveryoftheact，hewouldnaturallyresentanygeneralchargeagainsthisgoodmen，forthecriminalconductofafewbadones。
Ihaveexaminedintomanyofthecasesofcomplaintmadeinthisgeneralway，andhavefeltmortifiedthatoursoldiersshoulddoactswhicharenothingmoreorlessthanstealing，butIwaspowerlesswithoutsomeclewwherebytoreachtherightfulparty。I
knowthatthegreatmassofoursoldiersworldscorntostealorcommitcrime，andIwillnotthereforeentertainvagueandgeneralcomplaints，butstand，preparedalwaystofollowupanyreasonablecomplaintwhenthechargeisdefiniteandthenamesofwitnessesfurnished。
Iknow，moreover，insomeinstanceswhenoursoldiersarecomplainedof，thattheyhavebeeninsultedbysneeringremarksabout\"Yankees，\"\"Northernbarbarians，\"\"Lincoln’shirelings，\"
etc。Peoplewhousesuchlanguagemustseekredressthroughsomeoneelse，forIwillnottolerateinsultstoourcountryorcause。
WhenpeopleforgettheirobligationstoaGovernmentthatmadethemrespectedamongthenationsoftheearth，andspeakcontemptuouslyoftheflagwhichisthesilentemblemofthatcountry，Iwillnotgooutofmywaytoprotectthemortheirproperty。Iwillpunishthesoldiersfortrespassorwasteifadjudgedbyacourt—martial，becausetheydisobeyorders;butsoldiersaremenandcitizensaswellassoldiers，andshouldpromptlyresentanyinsulttotheircountry，comefromwhatquarteritmay。Imentionthisphasebecauseitistoocommon。Insulttoasoldierdoesnotjustifypillage，butittakesfromtheofficerthedispositionhewouldotherwisefeeltofollowuptheinquiryandpunishthewrong—doers。
Again，armiesinmotionorstationarymustcommitsomewaste。
Flankersmustletdownfencesandcrossfields;and，whenanattackiscontemplatedorapprehended，acommandwillnaturallyclearthegroundofhouses，fences，andtrees。Thisiswaste，butisthenaturalconsequenceofwar，chargeableonthosewhocausedthewar。
Soinfortifyingaplace，dwelling—housesmustbetaken，materialsused，evenwasted，andgreatdamagedone，whichintheendmayproveuseless。This，too，isanexpensenotchargeabletous，buttothosewhomadethewar;andgenerallywarisdestructionandnothingelse。
Wemustbearthisinmind，thathoweverpeacefulthingslook，wearereallyatwar;andmuchthatlookslikewasteordestructionisonlytheremovalofobjectsthatobstructourfire，orwouldaffordcovertoanenemy。
Thisclassofwastemustbedistinguishedfromthewantonwastecommittedbyarmy—stragglers，whichiswrong，andcanbepunishedbythedeath—penaltyifpropertestimonycanbeproduced。
Yours，etc。，W。T。SHERMAN，Major—Generalcommanding。
Satisfiedthat，intheprogressofthewar，Memphiswouldbecomeanimportantdepot，IpushedforwardtheconstructionofFortPickering，keptmostofthetroopsincampsbackofthecity，andmyownheadquartersremainedintentsontheedgeofthecity，nearMr。Moon’shouse，until，ontheapproachofwinter，Mrs。Shermancamedownwiththechildrentovisitme，whenItookahousenearerthefort。
Allthistimebattalionandbrigadedrillswereenforced，sothat，whentheseasonapproachedforactiveoperationsfarthersouth，I
hadmydivisioninthebestpossibleorder，andaboutthe1stofNovemberitwascomposedasfollowsFirstBrigade，Brigadier—GeneralM。L。SMITH—EighthMissouri，ColonelG。A。Smith;SixthMissouri，ColonelPeterE。Bland;OneHundredandThirteenthIllinois，ColonelGeorgeB。Hoge;
Fifty—fourthOhio，ColonelT。KilbySmith;OneHundredandTwentiethIllinois，ColonelG。W。McKeaig。
SecondBrigade，ColonelJOHNADAIRMcDOWELL。—SixthIowa，Lieutenant—ColonelJohnM。Corse;FortiethIllinois，ColonelJ。W。
Booth;Forty—sixthOhio，ColonelO。C。Walcutt;ThirteenthUnitedStatesInfantry，FirstBattalion，MajorD。Chase。
ThirdBrigade，Brigadier—GeneralJ。W。DENVER。—Forty—eighthOhio，ColonelP。J。Sullivan;Fifty—thirdOhio，ColonelW。S。Jones;
SeventiethOhio，ColonelJ。R。Cockerill。
FourthBrigade，ColonelDAVIDSTUART。—Fifty—fifthIllinois，ColonelO。Malmburg;Fifty—seventhOhio，ColonelW。Mungen;
Eighty—thirdIndiana，ColonelB。Spooner;OneHundredandSixteenthIllinois，ColonelTupper;OneHundredandTwenty—seventhIllinois，Lieutenant—ColonelEldridge。
FifthBrigade，ColonelR。P。BUCKLAND。—Seventy—secondOhio，Lieutenant—ColonelD。W。C。Loudon;Thirty—secondWisconsin，ColonelJ。W。Howe;Ninety—thirdIndiana，ColonelThomas;
Ninety—thirdIllinois，MajorJ。M。Fisher。
Subsequently，Brigadier—GeneralJ。G。LaumanarrivedatMemphis，andImadeupasixthbrigade，andorganizedthesesixbrigadesintothreedivisions，underBrigadier—GeneralsM。L。Smith，J。W。
Denver，andJ。G。Lauman。
Aboutthe17thofNovemberIreceivedanorderfromGeneralGrant，dated:
LAGRANGE，November16，1862。
MeetmeatColumbus，Kentucky，onThursdaynext。Ifyouhaveagoodmapofthecountrysouthofyou，takeitupwithyou。
U。S。GRANT，Major—General。
Istartedforthwithbyboat，andmetGeneralGrant，whohadreachedColumbusbytherailroadfromJackson，Tennessee。HeexplainedtomethatheproposedtomoveagainstPemberton，thenintrenchedonalinebehindtheTallahatchieRiverbelowHollySprings;thathewouldmoveonHollySpringsandAbberville，fromGrandJunction;
thatMcPherson，withthetroopsatCorinth，wouldaimtomakejunctionwithhimatHollySprings;andthathewantedmetoleaveinMemphisapropergarrison，andtoaimfortheTallahatchie，soastocomeuponhisrightbyacertaindate。HefurthersaidthathisultimateobjectwastocaptureVicksburg，toopenthenavigationoftheMississippiRiver，andthatGeneralHalleckhadauthorizedhimtocallonthetroopsintheDepartmentofArkansas，thencommandedbyGeneralS。R。Curtis，forcooperation。I
suggestedtohimthatifhewouldrequestGeneralCurtistosendanexpeditionfromsomepointontheMississippi，nearHelena，thenheldinforce，towardGrenada，totherearofPemberton，itwouldalarmhimforthesafetyofhiscommunications，andwouldassistusmateriallyintheproposedattackonhisfront。HeauthorizedmetosendtothecommandingofficeratHelenaarequesttothateffect，and，assoonasIreachedMemphis，Idispatchedmyaide，MajorMcCoy，toHelena，whoreturned，bringingmealetterfromGeneralFrederickSteele，whohadjustreachedHelenawithOsterhaus’sdivision，andwhowastemporarilyincommand，GeneralCurtishavinggonetoSt。Louis。Thislettercontainedtheassurancethathe\"wouldsendfromFriar’sPointalargeforceunderBrigadier—GeneralA。P。HoveyinthedirectionofGrenada，aimingtoreachtheTallahatchieatCharleston，onthenextMonday，Tuesday，orWednesday（December1st）atfurthest。\"MycommandwasappointedtostartonWednesday，November24th，andmeantimeMajorGeneralS。A。Hurlbut，havingreportedforduty，wasassignedtothecommandofMemphis，withfourregimentsofinfantryonebatteryofartillery，twocompaniesofThielman’scavalryandthecertainprospectofsoonreceivinganumberofnewregiments，knowntobeenroute。
ImarchedoutofMemphispunctuallywiththreesmalldivisions，takingdifferentroadstillweapproachedtheTallahatchie，whenweconvergedonWyatttocrosstheriver，thereabold，deepstream，withanewly—constructedfortbehind。IhadGrierson’sSixthIllinoisCavalrywithme，andwithitopenedcommunicationwithGeneralGrantwhenwewereabreastofHollySprings。WereachedWyattonthe2ddayofDecemberwithouttheleastopposition，andtherelearnedthatPemberton’swholearmyhadfallenbacktotheYalabushanearGrenada，inagreatmeasurebyreasonoftheexaggeratedreportsconcerningtheHelenaforce，whichhadreachedCharleston;andsomeofGeneralHovey’scavalry，underGeneralWashburn，havingstrucktherailroadintheneighborhoodofCoffeeville，naturallyalarmedGeneralPembertonforthesafetyofhiscommunications，andmadehimletgohisTallahatchielinewithallthefortswhichhehadbuiltatgreatcostinlabor。WehadtobuildabridgeatWyatt，whichconsumedacoupleofdays，andonthe5thofDecembermywholecommandwasatCollegeHill，tenmilesfromOxford，whenceIreportedtoGeneralGrantinOxford。
Onthe8thIreceivedthefollowingletter:
OXFORDMISSISSIPPI，December8，1862——MorningGeneralSHERMAN，CollegeHill。
DEARGENERAL:ThefollowingisacopyofdispatchjustreceivedfromWashington:
WASHINGTON，December7，1862——12M
GeneralGRANT:
ThecaptureofGrenadamaychangeourplansinregardtoVicksburg。
Youwillmoveyourtroopsasyoumaydeembesttoaccomplishthegreatobjectinview。Youwillretain，tillfurtherorders，alltroopsofGeneralCurtisnowinyourdepartment。TelegraphtoGeneralAlleninSt。Louisforallsteamboatsyoumayrequire。AskPortertocooperate。Telegraphwhatareyourpresentplans。
H。W。HALLECK，General—in。—Chief。
Iwishyouworldcomeoverthiseveningandstayto—night，orcomeinthemorning。Iwouldliketotalkwithyouaboutthismatter。
MynotionistosendtwodivisionsbacktoMemphis，andfixuponadaywhentheyshouldeffectalanding，andpressfromherewiththiscommandatthepropertimetocooperate。IfIdonotdothisIwillmoveourpresentforcetoGrenada，includingSteele’s，repairingroadasweproceed，andestablishadepotofprovisionsthere。Whenagoodreadyishad，tomoveimmediatelyonJackson，Mississippi，cuttingloosefromtheroad。OfthetwoplansIlookmostfavorablyontheformer。
Comeoverandwewilltalkthismatterover。
Yourstruly，U。S。GRANT，Major—General。
IrepairedatoncetoOxford，andfoundGeneralGrantinalargehousewithallhisstaff，andwediscussedeverypossiblechance。
Heexplainedtomethatlargereenforcementshadbeenpromised，whichwouldreachMemphisverysoon，ifnotalreadythere;thattheentiregunboatfleet，thenunderthecommandofAdmiralD。D。
Porter，wouldcooperate;thatwecouldcountonafulldivisionfromthetroopsatHelena;andhebelievedthat，byapromptmovement，IcouldmakealodgmentuptheYazooandcaptureVicksburgfromtherear;thatitsgarrisonwassmall，andhe，atOxford，wouldsohandlehistroopsastoholdPembertonawayfromVicksburg。Ialsounderstoodthat，ifPembertonshouldretreatsouth，hewouldfollowhimup，andwouldexpecttofindmeattheYazooRiver，ifnotinsideofVicksburg。Iconfess，atthatmomentIdidnotdreamthatGeneralMcClernand，oranybodyelse，wasschemingforthemerehonorofcapturingVicksburg。WeknewatthetimethatGeneralButlerhadbeenreenforcedbyGeneralBanksatNewOrleans，andthelatterwassupposedtobeworkinghiswayup—streamfromNewOrleans，whilewewereworkingdown。ThatdayGeneralGrantdispatchedtoGeneralHalleck，inWashington，asfollows:
OXFORD，December8，1862。
Major—GeneralH。W。HALLECK，Washington，D。C。:
GeneralShermanwillcommandtheexpeditiondowntheMississippi。
Hewillhaveaforceofaboutfortythousandmen;willlandaboveVicksbnrg（uptheYazoo，ifpracticable），andouttheMississippiCentralroadandtheroadrunningeastfromVicksburg，wheretheycrossBlackRiver。Iwillcooperatefromhere，mymovementsdependingonthoseoftheenemy。Withthelargecavalryforcenowatmycommand，IwillbeabletohavethemshowthemselvesatdifferentpointsontheTallahatchieandYalabusha;and，whenanopportunityoccurs，makearealattack。Aftercuttingthetworoads，GeneralSherman’smovementstosecuretheenddesiredwillnecessarilybelefttohisjudgment。
IwilloccupythisroadtoCoffeeville。
U。S。GRANT，Major—General。
Iwasshownthisdispatchbeforeitwassent，andafterwardthegeneraldrewupformethefollowingletterofinstructionsinhisownhandwriting，whichInowpossess:
HEADQUARTERSTHIRTEENTHARMYCORPS
DEPARTMENTOFTHETENNESSEE，OXFORD，Mississippi，December8，1862。
Major—GeneralW。T。SHERMAN，commandingRightWingArmyIntheField，present。