temporarily in command, General Curtis having gone to St. Louis.  This letter contained the assurance that he “would send from Friar’s Point a large force under Brigadier-General A. P. Hovey in the direction of Grenada, aiming to reach the Tallahatchie at Charleston, on the next Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday (December 1st) at furthest.”  My command was appointed to start on Wednesday, November 24th, and meantime Major-General S. A. Hurlbut, having reported for duty, was assigned to the command of Memphis, with four regiments of infantry one battery of artillery, two companies of Thielman’s cavalry and the certain prospect of soon receiving a number of new regiments, known to be en route.

I marched out of Memphis punctually with three small divisions, taking different roads till we approached the Tallahatchie, when we converged on Wyatt to cross the river, there a bold, deep stream, with a newly-constructed fort behind.  I had Grierson’s Sixth Illinois Cavalry with me, and with it opened communication with General Grant when we were abreast of Holly Springs.  We reached Wyatt on the 2d day of December without the least opposition, and there learned that Pemberton’s whole army had fallen back to the Yalabusha near Grenada, in a great measure by reason of the exaggerated reports concerning the Helena force, which had reached Charleston; and some of General Hovey’s cavalry, under General Washburn, having struck the railroad in the neighborhood of Coffeeville, naturally alarmed General Pemberton for the safety of his communications, and made him let go his Tallahatchie line with all the forts which he had built at great cost in labor.  We had to build a bridge at Wyatt, which consumed a couple of days, and on the 5th of December my whole command was at College Hill, ten miles from Oxford, whence I reported to General Grant in Oxford.

On the 8th I received the following letter: 

OXFORD MISSISSIPPI, December 8, 1862—­Morning

General SHERMAN, College Hill.

DEAR GENERAL:  The following is a copy of dispatch just received from Washington: 

WASHINGTON, December 7, 1862—­12M

General GRANT: 

The capture of Grenada may change our plans in regard to Vicksburg.  You will move your troops as you may deem best to accomplish the great object in view.  You will retain, till further orders, all troops of General Curtis now in your department.  Telegraph to General Allen in St. Louis for all steamboats you may require.  Ask Porter to cooperate.  Telegraph what are your present plans.

H. W. HALLECK, General-in.-Chief.

I wish you would come over this evening and stay to-night, or come in the morning.  I would like to talk with you about this matter.  My notion is to send two divisions back to Memphis, and fix upon a day when they should effect a landing, and press from here with this command at the proper time to cooperate.  If I do not do this I will move our present force to Grenada, including Steele’s, repairing road as we proceed, and establish a depot of provisions there.  When a good ready is had, to move immediately on Jackson, Mississippi, cutting loose from the road.  Of the two plans I look most favorably on the former.