forts; not a mann to spare without stripping the line and placing it in a defenseless condition. I have sent 500 cavalry to Frankfort; they will arrive there this evening.

HUGH EWING,

Brigadier-General.

[JUNE 12, 1864. - For Laird to Heintzelman, reporting surrender of General Hobson, &c., see Part I, p. 31.]

MEMPHIS, June 12, 1864.

(Via Cairo 14th. Received 10. 50 a. m. 14th.)

Hon. E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War, Washington:

Brigadier-General Sturgis, with a force of 3,000 cavalry, 5,000 infantry, and sixteen pieces of artillery, met General Forrest, on the 10th instant, near Guntown, Miss., in large force of cavalry, infantry, and artillery. The fight was very severe, and loss in killed and wounded very severe, and our troops completely worsted, losing most of the infantry and artillery. Sturgis' rear was at Collierville the last accounts, with the enemy pursuing. The loss will no doubt reach 2,000 to 4,000 men. With troops lately arrived I am safe here. The move into MISSISSIPPI was under the orders of Major-General McPherson. June 1 he telegraphed me from Dallas, Ga., as follows, viz:

Now is the time to move into Northern MISSISSIPPI against Columbus and other points generally, and smash things. We know that nearly the whole moving force which was formerly in MISSISSIPPI and Tennessee is up here; has been re-enforced against us.

Major-General Sherman telegraphed me in regard to this move as follows, viz:

The command need not exceed 6,000 men as I know that all of Polk's troops are with Johnston, and Forrest is on his way here.

I sent over 8,000 men under the command of an officer sent me by General Sherman.

C. C. WASHBURN,

Major-General.

MEMPHIS, June 12, 1864.

Major-General SHERMAN:

On the 10th instant General Sturgis was defeated near Guntown, Miss. He was badly cut up and his loss will reach 3,000 or 4,000 men. It is a very bad affair, but I have few details as yet. At last accounts the enemy was moving this way, his advance cavalry at Collierville, and a large infantry force was at Ripley last night moving this way. General A. J. Smith is here with about 6,000 men and very little artillery. General Canby writes me that the indications are that Kirby Smith is concentrating his force to operate against General Steele, and asks me to keep troops in hand to aid General Steele. Under existing circumstances shall General Smith make the contemplated demonstration on Mobile?

C. C. WASHBURN,

Major-General.

[JUNE 12, 1864. - For Sturgis to Washburn, reporting operations, &c., see Part I, pp. 88, 218.]