HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE WEST,
May 17, 1862

Major General SAMUEL JONES:

GENERAL: Please have your division in position in line of battle and ready for action by 3 o'clock in the morning. Have one-fourth of your force and a battery of artillery in the trenches ready for action at once.

By order of Major General Earl Van Dorn:

DABNEY H. MAURY,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE WEST,
May 17, 1862

Major General JOHN P. McCOWN:

Please have your division in position in line of battle and ready for action by 3 o'clock in the morning.

By order of Major General Earl Van Dorn:

DABNEY H. MAURY,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE WEST,
May 17, 1862

General M. M. PARSONS,

Missouri State Guard:

GENERAL: After posting a portion of your troops as ordered to-day from these headquarters, you will please bring the remainder into your position in the lines as quickly as possible, and be ready for instant action at or before daybreak.

By order of Major General Earl Van Dorn:

DABNEY H. MAURY,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE WEST,
May 17, 1862

General M. M. PARSONS,

Missouri State Guard:

GENERAL: You will please obstruct in every possible way all of the approaches to your position from the direction of the enemy. Leave two companies and a section of artillery to guard your present position. Station two companies to guard the Tuscumbia Railroad Bridge; detach from these two companies one non-commissioned officer and eight men to guard the crossing of the Tuscumbia on the wagon road, and bring the remainder of your command back to this vicinity, sending a staff officer ahead to learn and designate your place of encampment.

I am, general, very respectfully, yours,

DABNEY H. MAURY,

Assistant Adjutant-General.