McClernand's Expedition Page 47

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE,
Holly Springs, Miss., December 25, 1862.
Major General STEPHEN A. HURLBUT, Memphis, Tenn.:
Just as Forrest's raid upon our railroad was commenced I
received a dispatch from the General-in-Chief of the Army to
divide my command into four army corps, giving one to General
McClernand and placing him in chief command, under my
direction, of the expedition on Vicksburg.
I immediately wrote the order giving you command of the Third
Army Corps, and directed General McClernand to order you here
to take command of it. Before this got off all communication
wa cut off with the north, and has not yet been resumed.
General McClernand consequently has not yet received my
directions and orders.
Communication now being cut off and the probabilities being
that Vicksburg is already in our hands a change of plans will
probably be
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*Probably Grant to Commanding Officer Expedition down the
Mississippi, December 23, p. 463.
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE,
Holly Springs, Miss., December 23, 1862.
COMMANDING OFFICER EXPEDITION DOWN MISSISSIPPI:*
Raids made upon the railroad to my rear by Forrest northward
from Jackson, and by Van Dorn northward from the Tallahatchie,
have cut me off from supplies, so that farther advance by this
route is perfectly impracticable. The country does not afford
supplies for troops, and but a limited supply of forage.
I have fallen back to the Tallahatchie, and will be only able
to hold the enemy at Yalabusha by making a demonstration in
that direction or toward Columbus and Meridian.
News received here from the south says that Vicksburg is now
in our hands. Butler with Farragut's fleet are said to have
ascended the river and to have been successful in their
attack. This does not come, however, in sufficiently reliable
a shape to have any order or change of plan upon it.
These raids have cut off communication, so that I have had
nothing from the north for over a week. Telegraph will
probably be working through by to-morrow and railroad within
five days.
U. S. GRANT,
Major-General.
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PAGE481 CHAP. XXIX.] CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.-UNION.
adopted and also a change of organization of army corps. I
would direct therefore that you retain command of the District
of Memphis until receipt of orders arranging army corps in
accordance with the instructions referred to.
I will be glad to hear from you and to learn when the river
expedition sailed and any other news you may have to
communicate.
U. S. GRANT,
Major-General.