Major-General Ulysses S. Grant too Brigadier-General Elias S. Dennis, June 8, 1863

NEAR VICKSBURG, MISS., June 8, 1863.

Brig. Gen. E. S. DENNIS,
        Commanding District of Northeastern Louisiana:

I have ordered General Mowers brigade over to re-enforce you. He is sent merely for temporary service, to repel any threatened attack. With the force you will have with this accession, 1 think you can drive the enemy beyond the Tensas River. If, however, you think more force is required, let me know, and it will be promptly sent.

If the enemy is in the neighborhood of Richmond, he should be driven from there, and our troops should push on to Monroe. Every vestige of an enemy's camp ought to be shoved back of that point. I am not fully advised of the force you are likely to meet, but cannot think it large. No such blind move could be made by an intelligent foe as to send more than a force for a raid into such a pocket.

Let me hear what intelligence you have from the rebel forces concentrating on the peninsula.

U.S. GRANT.

P. S.—You understand that all the troops in the District of Northeastern Louisiana, both black and white, are subject to your orders. At Lake Providence you have two white regiments that can join you in any movement toward Monroe.

U. S. G.

 SOURCES: John Y. Simon, Editor, The Papers of Ulysses S. Grant, Volume 8, p. 326-7; The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 24, Part 3 (Serial No. 38), p. 390

Brigadier-General Elias S. Dennis to Major-General Ulysses S. Grant, June 22, 1863

HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT NORTHEASTERN LOUISIANA,        

Young's Point, June 22, 1863.

Maj. Gen. U.S. GRANT, Comdg. Department of the Tennessee:

GENERAL: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of dispatches from you of this date.

A cavalry reconnaissance that I ordered in the direction of Richmond returned night before last, and report that they proceeded as far as Richmond, and found no force there, or any indication of an enemy in that vicinity.

The enemy, in their retreat, burned the bridge over Tensas Bayou, and are undoubtedly beyond Delhi.

From what I can learn, the rebels are unquestionably building skiffs and flat-boats at Vicksburg. You may rest assured, general, if they intend an attack upon us, they will not catch us napping.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

ELIAS S. DENNIS.

SOURCES: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 24, Part 3 (Serial No. 38), p. 427; John Y. Simon, Editor, The Papers of Ulysses S. Grant, Volume 8, p. 400