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An anonymous dispatch, just received, states that Price, Magruder, and Breckinridge have a force of sixty thousand between Iuka and Tupelo. This, I have no doubt, is the understanding of citizens; but I very much doubt this information being correct. Your reconnoissances prove that there is but little force south of Corinth for a long distance, and no great force between Bay Spring and the railroad. Make as rapid an advance as you can, and let us do to-morrow all we can. It may be necessary to fall back the day following. I look upon the showing of a cavalry force so near us as an indication of a retreat, and they a force to cover it.

"Signed:

U. S. GRANT, Major-General."

After midnight the following dispatch was received :

“HEAD-QUARTERS ENCAMPMENT, September 18, 1862.

"GENERAL:-Your dispatch received. General Stanley's division arrived after dark, having been detained by falling in the rear of Ross through fault of guide. Our cavalry six miles this side of Burnett's; Hamilton's first brigade eight, second brigade nine miles this side; Stanley's near Davenport Mills. We shall move as early as practicable; say half-past four A. M. This will give twenty miles march for Stanley to Iuka. Shall not, therefore, be in before one or two o'clock, but when we come in will endeavor to do it strongly.

"Signed:

W. S. ROSECRANS, Brigadier-General U. S. A."

Receiving this dispatch, as I did, late at night, and when I supposed these troops were far on their way toward Iuka, and had made my plans accordingly, caused some disappointment, and made a change of plans necessary. I immediately dispatched General Ord, giving him the substance of the above, and directions not to move on the enemy until Rosecrans arrived, or he should hear firing to the south of Iuka. Of this change General Rosecrans was promptly informed by dispatch, sent with his return messenger. During the day General Ord returned to my head-quarters at Iuka, and, in consultation, we both agreed that it would be impossible for General Rosecrans to get his troops up in time to make an attack that day. The General was instructed, however, to move forward, driving in the enemy's advance guards, but not to bring on an engagement unless he should hear firing. At night another dispatch was received, from General Rosecrans, dated from Barnett's, about eight miles from Iuka, written at 12:40 P. M., stating that the head of the column had arrived there at 12 M. Owing to the density of the forests, and the difficulties of passing the small streams and bottoms, all communications between General Rosecrans and myself had to pass far around-near Jacinto-even after he had got on the road leading north. For this reason his communication was not received until after the engagement, I did not hear of the engagement, however, until the next day, although the following dispatch had been promptly forwarded:

GENERAL GRANT'S REPORT.

"HEAD-QUARTERS ARMY OF THE MISSISSIPPI,

TWO MILES SOUTH OF IUKA, September 19, 1862—10} P. M.

183

"GENERAL:-We met the enemy in just about this point. The engagement lasted several hours. We have lost two or three pieces of artillery. Firing was very heavy. You must attack in the morning, and in force. The ground is horrid-unknown to us, and no room for development— couldn't use our artillery at all; fired but few shots. Push in on to them until we can have time to do something. We will try to get a position on our right, which will take Iuka.

"Signed: W. S. ROSECRANS, Brigadier-General, U. S. A."

This dispatch was received at 8:35 A. M., on the 20th, and the following was immediately sent:

"General ORD:

"BURNSVILLE, September 20, 1862-8:35 A. M.

"Get your troops up and attack as soon as possible. Rosecrans had two hours' fighting last night, and now this morning again, and, unless you can create a diversion in his favor, he may find his hands full.

"Hurry up your troops-all possible.

"Signed:

"U. S. GRANT, Major-General."

The statement that the engagement had commenced again in the morning was on the strength of hearing artillery. General Ord, hearing the same, however, pushed on with all possible dispatch, without awaiting orders.

Two of my staff-Colonels Dickey and Logan-had gone around to where General Rosecrans was, and were with him during the early part of the engagement. Returning in the dark, and endeavoring to cut off some of the distance, they became lost and entangled in the woods, and remained out over night, arriving at head-quarters next morning about the same hour that General Rosecrans's messenger arrived. For the particular troops engaged, and the part taken by each regiment, I will have to refer you entirely to the accompanying report of those officers who were present.

Not occupying Iuka afterward for any length of time, and then, not until a force sufficient to give protection for any great distance arrived (the battle was fought about two miles out), I cannot accompany this with a topographical map. I send, however, a map showing all the roads, and plans named in this report. The country between the road traveled by General Ord's command, to some distance south of the railroad, is impassable for cavalry, and almost so for infantry. It is impossible for artillery to move southward to the road traveled by General Rosecrans's command. Soon after dispatching General Ord, word was brought by one of my staff, Colonel Hillyer, that the enemy were in full retreat. I immediately proceeded to Iuka, and found that the enemy had left during the night, taking every thing with them except their wounded, and the artillery taken by them the evening before. Going south by the Fulton road, Generals Stanley and Hamilton were in pursuit.

This was the first I knew of the Fulton road; with it occupied, no route would have been left them except east, with the difficult bottom of Bear Creek to cross, or northeast, with the Tennessee River in their front, or to conquer their way out. A partial examination of the country afterward convinced me, however, that troops moving in separate columns by the route suggested could not support each other until they arrived near Iuka. On the other hand, an attempt to retreat, according to programme, would have brought General Ord, with his force, on the rear of the retreating column.

For casualties and captures, see accompanying reports.

The battle of Iuka foots up as follows:

On the 16th of September we commenced to collect our strength to move upon Price, at Iuka, in two columns; the one to the right of the railroad commanded by Brigadier-General (now Major-General) W. S. Rosecrans; the one to the left commanded by Major-General E. O. C. Ord. On the night of the 18th, the latter was in position to bring on an engagement in one hour's march. The former, from having a greater distance to march, and, through the fault of a guide, was twenty miles back. On the 19th, by making a rapid march, hardy, well-disciplined, and tried troops arrived within two miles of the place to be attacked. Unexpectedly the enemy took the initiative and became the attacking party. The ground chosen was such that a large force on our side could not be brought into action; but the bravery and endurance of those brought in were such that, with the skill and presence of mind of the officer commanding, they were able to hold their ground till night closed the conflict. During the night the enemy fled, leaving our troops in possession of the field, with their dead to bury and wounded to care for. If it was the object of the enemy to make their way into Kentucky, they were defeated in that; if to hold their position until Van Dorn could come up on the southwest of Corinth, and make a simultaneous attack, they were defeated in that. Our only defeat was in not capturing the entire army, or in destroying it, as I had hoped to do.

It was a part of General Hamilton's command that did the fighting, directed entirely by that cool and deserving officer. I commend him to the President for acknowledgment of his services.

During the absence of these forces from Corinth, that post was left in charge of Brigadier-General T. J. McKean. The southern front, from Jacinto to Rienzi, was under the charge of Colonel Du Bois, with a small infantry and cavalry force. The service was most satisfactorily performed, Colonel Du Bois showing great vigilance and efficiency. I was kept constantly advised of the movements of flying bodies of cavalry that were hovering in our front.

The wounded, both friend and enemy, are much indebted to Surgeon J. G. F. Holbrook, Medical Director, for his untiring labor in organizing hospitals and providing for their every want.

I cannot close this report without paying a tribute to all the officers and soldiers comprising this command. Their conduct on the march was exem

GENERAL GRANT'S REPORT.

187

plary, and all were eager to meet the enemy. The possibility of defeat I do not think entered the mind of a single individual, and I believe this same feeling now pervades the entire army which I have the honor to command.

I neglected to mention, in the proper connection, that, to cover our movements from Corinth, and to attract the attention of the enemy in another direction, I ordered a movement from Bolivar toward Holly Springs. This was conducted by Brigadier-General Lauman.

Before completing this report, the report of Major-General Ord was received, and accompanies this.

I am, Colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

U. S. GRANT, Major-General.

CHAPTER X.

GENERAL GRANT'S NEW COMMAND.-HIS INTEGRITY.

General Grant's New Command.-Its Limits and Sub-divisions.-Preparation for a Grand Campaign.—Reconnoitering.-Protects Citizens.—A new Staff.—LightMarching. The Contrabands.-Robbery in Camp.-Regulation of Trade.-The Jews Expelled from the Department.-Anecdote Illustrating General Grant's Integrity. On to Vicksburg.-Plans for Assaulting or Investing the City.The Army in Motion.-Holly Springs Taken by the Rebels.-General Grant's Campaign Interrupted.-General Sherman's Advance.

GENERAL GRANT assumed the command of his new department on the 25th day of October, 1862, and immediately announced the new order of things to his troops :

HEAD-QUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE, }

JACKSON, TENN., October 25, 1862.

I. In compliance with general orders of the War Department, of date October 16, 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 Departments.

U. S. GRANT, Major-General Commanding.

The following day, the boundaries of the districts into which the vast field would be divided were also given :

HEAD-QUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE,
JACKSON, TENN., October 26, 1862.

I. The geographicai divisions designated in general orders, from headquarters, District of West Tennessee, dated September 24, 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. Hurlburt; the Third Division, the "District of Corinth," BrigadierGeneral C. S. Hamilton, commanding; the Fourth Division, the "District of Columbus," commanded by Brigadier-General T. A. Davies.

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