The following
modifications of existing orders are made and will be executed at once:
I. General Osterhaus
will continue, as heretofore, to hold the fortified position on Black River, at
the railroad bridge, with patrols and guards, watching the river below as far
as Baldwin's, and up as far as Bridgeport; his reserves at Clear Creek, near
Bovina.
II. General McArthur
will occupy Tiffin in force, with guards toward the Messinger ford, connecting
with Osterhaus on the Bridgeport road, and his main guards occupying the main
ridge up as far as Brant's.
III. Major-General
Parke will leave a small guard at Milldale and Templeton's, sufficient to hold
those points, and move all the troops of the Ninth Army Corps to the east side
of Clear Creek, connecting his guards at Brant's with McArthur's, his center
near Wixon's and his guards connecting with General W. S. Smith's, near Mrs.
Nelly's.
IV. General Tuttle
will hold his present position on the spur leading from McCall's to Markham's
and Young's, and will entrench a position back of Trible's.
V. General W. S.
Smith will hold as now his position at Oak Ridge Post-Office, with guards
forward on the two Benton roads, and his right connecting with General Parke,
at Mrs. Nelly's. General Smith, in connection with General Washburn, will
effectually blockade all roads and paths coming from the north and lying
between the ridge road and Yazoo Valley road.
VI. General Washburn
will hold the fortified position at Haynes' Bluff, with Kimball's division, and
will continue to strengthen the lines on the north front. That being our
strongest front, we should invite attack in that quarter.
VII. This
disposition of forces makes a connected line from the railroad bridge to
Haynes' Bluff, by Tiffin, Wixon's, McCall's, Nelly's, and Oak Ridge. Each corps
and division commander will proceed to entrench a position near his key-point,
sufficient for two batteries and one brigade, commanding water, and looking to
the east and north. All roads to the rear should be improved; a double track
for wagons made by opening fences and trimming out woods. Lateral roads should
also be looked to, to facilitate concentration and lateral movements. Roads to
the front should be obstructed, except such as are necessary for our guards and
our own use. The commanding general, after careful personal inspection,
pronounces the points from which we have most reason to apprehend danger, to be
the two fords at Messenger's, and about a mile below Birdsong, Wixon's, and
Nelly's are the best points for concentration, and the ridges by Fox's and
Markham's the best lines of operation.
VIII. All the
cavalry not absolutely needed for orderlies and patrols will be massed under
command of Colonel Bussey, Third Iowa, on Bear Creek, from Young's up to
Harris', and is charged specially to watch the lower Benton road and the ford
below Birdsong.
IX. All commanders
of corps and divisions, and the chief of cavalry, will report by letter or
staff officer daily to the commanding general at his bivouac near Tuttle's.
