Assistant Adjutant-General, Dept. of the Tenn., in the Field:
COLONEL: I received
this morning orders through Captain Lyford, ordnance officer, to send ten
32-pounder guns and carriages for two 10-inch columbiads, with ammunition. I
have sent Colonel Kappner, First Tennessee Artillery, to Columbus, to procure
the same and forward as speedily as possible. They shall be sent as soon as
they can be shipped. Major-General Parke telegraphs me from Cairo, inquiring
when first boat of Ninth Army Corps arrives. I expect them hourly. Smith has left
with his division.
I reiterate my
request that the general commanding will see to it, if possible, that
communication north by railroad be destroyed.
Hatch's cavalry is
now south of the Tallahatchee, looking after any proposed advance. Unless it is
absolutely necessary, I do not desire to move the Fourth Illinois Cavalry, and
on this await orders. The reasons are that Rosecrans is not active near the
Tennessee; that the abandonment of Jackson lays the whole country open, and
that active cavalry movements from Columbus are necessary to cover this open
line.
Colonel Hillyer
reported to me, with orders from General Grant, to assist in expediting
movements of troops. I am not aware of any assistance rendered by him, although
his society was very agreeable when time was allowed to converse with him. I am
satisfied that his forte is not in quartermaster's duty.
I have the honor to
be, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
S. A. HURLBUT.
P. S.—I have heard
incidentally that Colonel Duff and Colonel Lagow, of your staff, have been
here. They have not reported to me.
SOURCE: 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. 397-8
