HEAD-QUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF WEST TENN., [General Orders, No. 88.] It is with heartfelt gratitude the General Commanding congratulates the armies of the West for another great victory won by them on the 3d, 4th, and 5th instants, over the combined armies of Van Dorn, Price, and Lovell. The enemy chose his own time and place of attack, and knowing the troops of the West as he does, and with great facilities for knowing their numbers, never would have made the attempt except with a superior force numerically. But for the undaunted bravery of officers and soldiers, who have yet to learn defeat, the efforts of the enemy must have proven successful. Whilst one division of the army, under Major-General Rosecrans, was resisting and repelling the onslaught of the rebel hosts at Corinth, another, from Bolivar, under Major-General Hurlbut, was marching upon the enemy's rear, driving in their pickets and cavalry, and attracting the attention of a large force of infantry and artillery. On the following day, under Major-General Ord, these forces advanced with unsurpassed gallantry, driving the enemy back across the Hatchie, over ground where it is almost incredible that a superior force should be driven by an inferior, capturing two of the batteries (eight guns), many hundred small arms, and several hundred prisoners. To those two divisions of the army all praise is due, and will be awarded by a grateful country. Between them there should be, and I trust are, the warmest bonds of brotherhood. Each was risking life in the same cause, and, on this occasion, risking it also to save and assist the other. No troops could do more than these separate armies. Each did all possible for it to do in the places assigned it. As in all great battles, so in this, it becomes our fate to mourn the loss of many brave and faithful officers and soldiers, who have given up their lives as a sacrifice for a great principle. The nation mourns for them. By command of JOHN A. RAWLINS, A. A.-G. Major-General U. S. GRANT. President Lincoln, when he had received the intelligence from General Grant announcing the victories at Corinth and on the Hatchie, dispatched to him the following congratulations and inquiries: Major-General GRANT: WASHINGTON, D. C., October 8, 1862. I congratulate you and all concerned in your recent battles and victories. How does it all sum up? I especially regret the death of General Hackleman, and am very anxious to know the condition of General Oglesby, who is an intimate personal friend. A. LINCOLN. The rebel forces of General Bragg were also by this time in full retreat from the Ohio river, and were being pursued by the Army of the Ohio. Skirmishes with guerillas occurred occasionally within General Grant's lines; but otherwise this department was, by this time, once more reduced to quietness. On the 16th of October, 1862, General Grant's Department was designated as the Department of the Tennessee, and was further extended so as to embrace the State of Mississippi as far as Vicksburg. General Rosecrans was shortly after relieved of his command under General Grant, and made commander of the Army of the Ohio in the place of General Buell. The combined troops under General Grant were now known as the Thirteenth Army Corps. The victories of General Grant's forces were supposed in Washington to have had a beneficial effect upon the people of Tennessee; and to enable them to resume their own government under the auspices of the United States, the following document was sent to General Grant by the hands of the person therein named: EXECUTIVE MANSION, WASHINGTON, October 21, 1862. Major-General GRANT, Governor JOHNSON, and all having Military, Naval, and Civil Authority under the United States within the State of Tennessee: The bearer of this, Thomas R. Smith, a citizen of Tennessee, goes to that State, seeking to have such of the people thereof as desire to avoid the unsatisfactory prospect before them, and to have peace again upon the old terms under the Constitution of the United States, to manifest such desire by elections of members to the Congress of the United Statos particularly, and perhaps a Legislature, State Officers, and a United States Senator friendly to their object. I shall be glad for you and each of you to aid him, and all others acting for this object, as much as possible. In all available ways give the people a chance to express their wishes at these elections. Follow law, and forms of law, as far as convenient; but, at all events, get the expression of the largest number of the people possible. All see how much such action will connect with and affect the proclamation of September 22d. Of course, the men elected should be gentlemen of character, willing to swear support to the Constitution as of old, and known to be above reasonable suspicion of duplicity. Yours, very respectfully, A. LINCOLN. To prevent the intention of the foregoing from being carried out, General Bragg marched his forces to within striking distance of the State Capital at Nashville. CHAPTER XIV. THE DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE.-DISCIPLINE. TRADE. GENERAL GRANT assumed the command of his new department on the 25th day of October, 1862, and issued the following orders: HEAD-QUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE, [General Orders, No. 1.] I. In compliance with General Orders, No. 159, A. G. O., War Department, of date October 16th, 1862, the undersigned hereby assumes command of the Department of the Tennessee, which includes Cairo, Fort Henry and Fort Donelson, Northern Mississippi, and the portions of Kentucky and Tennessee west of the Tennessee river. II. Head-quarters of the Department of the Tennessee will remain, until further orders, at Jackson, Tennessee. III. All orders of the District of West Tennessee will continue in force in the Department. U. S. GRANT, Major-General Commanding. HEAD-QUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE, [General Orders, No. 2.] } I. The geographical divisions designated in General Orders, No. 83, from Head-quarters District of West Tennessee, dated September 24th, 1862, will hereafter be known as districts. The First Division will constitute the "District of Memphis,” Major-General W. T. Sherman commanding; the Second Division, the "District of Jackson," commanded by Major-General S. A. Hurlbut; the Third Division. the "District of Corinth," Brigadier-General C. S. Hamilton commanding; the Fourth Division, the "District of Columbus," commanded by Brigadier-General T A. Davies. II. The army heretofore known as the "Army of the Mississippi," being now divided and in different departments, will be continued as a separate army. III. Until army corps are formed, there will be no distinction, known, except those of departments, districts, divisions, posts, brigades, regiments and companies. By command of JOHN A. RAWLINS, A. A.-G. Major-General U. S. GRANT. As General Grant was now to have heavy work before him, it became necessary that he should also have his forces thoroughly well organized, and in this matter he determined to exercise his personal supervision. He began by rooting out, as far as possible, all guerilla bodies in his department, and in the affair at Clarkson his forces were very successful. The following order shows that it was the intention during the approaching campaign to move light, and be spoke great activity with the command: HEAD-QUARTERS, [General Orders, No. 3.] JACKSON, TENN., November 1, 1862. I.-General Orders, No. 160, from the Adjutant-General's office, having been received at head-quarters, is published for the information of all concerned: [General Orders, No. 160.] The following regulations are established for army trains and baggage. 1. There will be allowed For head-quarters train of an army corps, four wagons; of a division or brigade, three; of a full infantry regiment, six; and of a light artillery battery or squadron of cavalry, three. In no case will this allowance be exceeded, but always proportionably reduced, according to the officers and men actually present. All surplus wagons will be turned over to the Chief Quartermaster, to be organized under direction of the commanding Generals, into supply trains, or sent to the nearest depot. The requisite supply trains, their size depending upon the state of the roads and character of the campaign, will be organized by the Chief |