SHERMAN'S HEADQUARTERS, September 26, 1863.

General GRANT:

In preparing orders and instructions for Colonel Winslow for the movement of cavalry it seems to me that the risk of sending only 400 cavalry above Vernon exceeds the advantages to be expected.

Vernon is the headquarters of a brigade of Confederate cavalry and should our party pass up as high as Benton and return, would be intercepted from Vernon unless the movements were covered by infantry.

Would it not be better to send a large force around by Brownsville, Vernon, and Benton, with an infantry force as far out as Brownsville? I am satisfied Cosby can assemble 1,000 Confederate cavalry at Vernon in twenty-four hours.

W. T. SHERMAN,

Major-General.

SHERMAN'S HEADQUARTERS, September 26, 1863.

General GRANT:

I will start in the Second Division to-morrow, and organize the cavalry and some infantry of the reserved division to clean out the enemy near Vernon and Benton and start to-morrow.

W. T. SHERMAN,

Major-General.

[SEPTEMBER 26, 1863.]

General OSTERHAUS:

Send a section of Landgraeber's battery down along with the cavalry, with the instructions to fire signals that you will understand, and report back to me.

W. T. SHERMAN,

Major-General.

SHERMAN'S HEADQUARTERS, [September 26, 1863.]

General OSTERHAUS:

Certainly. Please ascertain the real truth, and don't let those rascals humbug us by appearances. They are likely up to some other mischief far off.

W. T. SHERMAN,

Major-General.

SHERMAN'S HEADQUARTERS, [September 26, 1863.]

General MCPHERSON,

Vicksburg:

I have known for a long time that cavalry squads have hung round our front from Yazoo City to Auburn, but never heard of an infantry soldier this side of Morton's Station. Yesterday the com-