| Hdqrs. District of Mississippi and East Louisiana |
| Corinth, Miss. |
| November 11, 1864 |
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| Lieut. Col. E. Surget |
| Asst. Adjt. Gen. |
| Department Headquarters |
| Selma, Ala.
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| Colonel,
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| I have the honor to submit the following
report to the lieutenant-general commanding:
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I started from Jackson on Thursday, the 3d, by railroad
to Oxford, and horseback northward and westward, following up the
command of Colonel Denis, who had been ordered to tear up the
Memphis & Charleston Railroad. On Sunday night I stopped eight
miles from Collierville, and during the night Denis' outside scouts
and pickets came in and gave me information that Colonel Denis had
torn up the road from Germantown eastward as far as La Fayette, and
had marched back Sunday afternoon to Holly Springs; not having
transportation to carry his rations he had returned to Oxford to
replenish his supply. Failing thus to meet with Colonel Denis I sent
orders to him to make his camp near Byhalia, to keep Memphis
in constant observation, and be in position to meet any raid from
that place. Colonel Denis' reserves, between 500 and 600 men,
constitute the entire force of the Northern District, and I ordered
by telegraph that Brig. Gen. Wirt Adams should be assigned to the
command of the Northern District, with his headquarters at Holly
Springs, and bring with him 150 men from the Central District. On Monday
morning I started for this place, and, in consequence of heavy
rains, only arrived yesterday (Thursday).
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| I find this position is commencing to be
a heavy depot, and needs a thorough organization with an efficient
garrison. Colonel Wade is now in command, with a guard of about 150
men from Roddey's command, and expects about 100 of his own men, and
desires to make application for the remainder. I ordered by
telegraph that Mabry's men should be sent here from Grenada
and from Jackson
as soon as they could be relieved. There is but one quartermaster
here (outside of those of Hood's army, temporarily here, forwarding
supplies), and three would be kept constantly busy. There is no
transportation, and the hauling of fuel for men arriving here, as
well as for the garrison, is of itself a considerable item, and I
have instructed the quartermaster to make a requisition for ten
wagons and teams. The commissary department seems to be well
established, also the hospital department, but a wayside hospital
should be established at West Point, where the sick train from this place stops at night. It is also
essential that hospital accommodations should be furnished at this
place or some proper position on the railroad in the rear for
negroes. There is no provision made for transporting the sick from
the railroad to the hospital, and I have directed the quartermaster
to make a requisition for four ambulances and mules. There has been
nothing done in the engineer department here, although I ordered
Major Wintter here last Sunday week, and gave him orders to impress
negroes and tools if necessary. His lieutenant is here and informs
me that Major Wintter was taken sick at Okolona, where he met General Smith and Colonel Lockett. My orders were to
build strong stockades to defend this depot and other prominent
points on the road, but the two chief engineers have decided to
complete the line of fortifications around the place, which General
Beauregard found too extensive for 40,000 men. With all due
deference to their higher position in this regard and higher talent,
I think it is absurd to attempt to defend this depot by a few
hundred men scattered over a space of about six miles or upward, but
it is not in my power to order either of them to change their plans.
Colonel Reid has just arrived under orders from department
headquarters to take command. I would respectfully suggest that one
regiment of infantry reserves, with about 200 cavalry and one field
battery, be designated for the permanent garrison of this post.
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| I am, colonel, your obedient servant,
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| Frank Gardner
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| Major-General
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