| Hdqrs. Fifth Mil. Dist., Dept. Miss. and
E. La. |
| Grenada, July 21, 1863 |
| |
| Col.
B. S. Ewell
|
| Assistant Adjutant-General, Brandon,
Miss.
|
| |
| Colonel, |
| I have the honor to
acknowledge the receipt of a letter from General Johnston, dated
Brandon, July 17, 1863, in which he directs me to hold this district
as long as possible, and, when compelled to leave it, to retire to
the east, moving from point to point, as may be necessary. |
| The movements of the enemy
below render it necessary that I should send a force in that
direction to observe and check them. I have, therefore, ordered
Brigadier-General George, with the State troops, to move to the
vicinity of Vaiden for that purpose. As soon as I have removed the
remainder of the stores from this place, I will return with the rest
of my command to Panola, to operate against the enemy on the line of
the Memphis and Charleston Railroad. |
| My ordnance stores, heavy
baggage, and some supplies have already been taken to West Point, on
the Mobile and Ohio Railroad. To-day I shall send about 100,000
pounds of breadstuffs to the same place. Since {railroad}
communication has been cut off with your army, about 2,000
head of beef-cattle have been sent across the country. I will
continue to collect them and other supplies, and forward them as
rapidly as possible, while I am able to remain in this part of the
country. |
| I have about 50 wagons which
I can use in the transportation of supplies. And as long as I can
maintain my positions and protect this place, it is my intention to
make it my depot for supplies, and run a regular wagon train between
it and West Point, which will be my depot on the Mobile and Ohio
Railroad. By this means I hope to get out a considerable quantity. I
will keep the railroad in operation from Panola as far south as can
be done with safety to transport supplies. I have ordered all the
rolling-stock on the different roads, not required for that purpose,
to be concentrated north of the Yalabusha River, and arranged so as
to be destroyed at the shortest notice whenever it shall be
necessary. |
| Is it necessary that the
rolling-stock of these roads should be completely destroyed, if I am
compelled to abandon the line of the road or will it be sufficient
to disable them and the road (by burning bridges) so as to render it
impossible to operate it for some time, and without great labor and
expense to the enemy? |
| I am, colonel, very respectfully, your
obedient servant, |
| James R. Chalmers |
| |
|
Indorsement |
| July 27, 1863 |
| Respectfully forwarded to Colonel Ewell,
to be submitted to General Johnston on his return. |
| W. J. Hardee |
|