have charge of the line of Black River, and will report by letter to Major General James B. McPherson, commanding Seventeenth Army Corps, Vicksburg, for instructions.

By order of Major General W. T. Sherman:

R. M. SAWYER,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

GENERAL ORDERS, HDQRS. FIFTEENTH ARMY CORPS,

No. 76 Camp on Big Black, September 26, 1863.

I. Colonel Winslow will organize a force of about 1,000 men to move via Brownsville, Vernon, and Benton, and to return via Yazoo City and Mechanicsville, to start to-morrow evening.

Special instructions to be given the commander, who will report in person to the commanding general.

II. General Buckland will send two regiments of infantry forward on the Benton road to await the arrival of the cavalry.

III. General Corse will send a brigade of infantry, with three days' rations, to-morrow to the church on the Jackson road. When the cavalry passes there, they will follow to Brownsville, to remain until time is allowed for the cavalry to reach Vernon, when they will return to camp and follow the motions of their division.

IV. This move is designed to clear our north front before moving up the river, and during the time it occupies camps will be disposed as follows: General Tuttle's headquarters, where these headquarters now are, and the camp of the Fourth Iowa Cavalry near by; General Buckland's brigade at Oak Ridge; Colonel Geddes' brigade at or near Tribble's; General Mower's brigade at railroad bridge, and all the cavalry, except Fourth Iowa, at Messinger's.

V. Colonel Winslow, Fourth Iowa Cavalry, is announced as chief of cavalry, and his orders will be obeyed by all the cavalry forces now attached to this command.

VI. No cavalry will accompany the movement up the river, except the detachment of Thielemann's cavalry attached to the Second Division.

By order of Major General W. T. Sherman.

R. M. SAWYER,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

SPECIAL ORDERS, HDQRS. FIFTEENTH ARMY CORPS,

No. 185. Camp on Black River, Miss., September 26, 1863.

II. The Eighth Ohio Battery, Captain Putnam commanding, is hereby transferred from the Second to the Third Division of this corps, and the commanding officer thereof will report to Brigadier General J. M. Tuttle, commanding Third Division, for orders.

III. The Second Division of this corps will march early to-morrow morning to Vicksburg, and embark on board the steam-boats provided by the quartermaster, and there await further orders.

* * * * * * *

By order of Major General W. T. Sherman.

R. M. SAWYER,

Assistant Adjutant-General.