considering the great number of cross-roads abounding through that country, without obtaining any reliable information.

All of my scouts that ran into the enemy day before yesterday on the Cotton Port road have returned, except 8 privates and 1 lieutenant. They are doubtless captured.

WOLFORD,

Colonel.

SPECIAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. CAV. FORCES, 15TH CORPS,

Numbers 21.
Big Black River, Miss., October 14, 1863.

I. The order of march for to-morrow will be as follows: Fifth Illinois Cavalry, Fourth Iowa Cavalry, Tenth Missouri Cavalry, Fourth Illinois Cavalry, and Eleventh Illinois Cavalry. Commanding officers of regiments will report in person to the colonel commanding at Messinger's Ford, at 5 o'clock promptly.

E. F. WINSLOW,

Colonel, Commanding.

SPECIAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. THIRD DIV., 17TH ARMY CORPS,

Numbers 163.
Camp near Messinger's, October 14, 1863.

I. The order of march to-morrow will be the same as the order to-day, except as to the trains, which will be distributed according to Special Field Orders, Numbers 1., of Major-General McPherson.

II. After reveille to-morrow morning all use of music will cease in the division until further orders.

By command of Major-General Logan:

SAMUEL CALDWELL,

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

CORINTH, October 14, 1863.

Major-General HURLBUT:

I will send some cavalry to feel to my flank as I advance. Can you spare me a regiment and which one? Welker's battery is off with Sweeny. I would like one from here; it can well be spared, as there is much artillery here. I hope Hatch will obliterate Chalmers. I hear of nothing this side of Okolona. Lee has passed by Tuscumbia with 4,000 cavalry, but there is a report, which I discredit, that he was resisted on passing over the Tennessee.

W. T. SHERMAN,

Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS SIXTEENTH ARMY CORPS,
Memphis, Tenn., October 14, 1863.

Brigadier General N. B. BUFORD,

Comdg. Dist. of Northeast Arkansas, Helena, Ark.:

GENERAL: Your favor of the 10th is received. It is impossible to send the contrabands at and near Helena north. They must be employed and fed where they are. Had anything like ordinary care