VICKSBURG, September 28, 1863.

(Via Cairo, October 6. Received 6.35 p.m.)

Major-General HALLECK,

General-in-Chief, Washington, D. C.:

I am fully able now for field or any other service.

U. S. GRANT,

Major-General.

VICKSBURG, MISS.,

September 28, 1863.

Brigadier General JOHN A. RAWLINS,

Actg. Asst. Adjt. General, Department of the Tennessee:

GENERAL: I can have ready for the embarkation of troops by 6 p.m. to-day the following-named boats. These are in addition to those assigned to Lieutenant-Colonel Smith, chief quartermaster, for the division now embarking:

Capacity.

Steamers. Men. Animals. Wagons.

Luminary 1,000 250 30

Diana 1,000 200 20

Poland 300 135 10

Sir William Wallace 400 140 10

Lancaster, No. 4 350 80 8

Norman 300 140 10

Groesbeck 800 175 15

Westmoreland 800 175 15

Sam. Gaty 800 175 15

Emperor 600 110 10

Emma, No. 4 600 110 10

Total 6,950 --- ---

I shall be able, I think, to provide fuel for all these steamers by to-morrow morning, by working all night, and think, also, I can hereafter provide fuel for steamers as fast as they arrive, until the army corps is removed.

Inclosed I send you a list* of steamers assigned to Second Division. I expect they will want another boat or two before they get loaded, as that is usually the case.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

G. L. FORT,

Captain and Assistant Quartermaster.

P. S.-I learn that the dispatch-boat Diana, sent up with Colonel Wilson, exploded her boiler at the mouth of White River. No lives lost.

FORT.

Memoranda.

Rebel Secretary of War directs General Kirby Smith to break up all plantations within 8 or 10 miles of the Mississippi River on west

---------------

*Not found.

---------------