on arrival at Memphis were mere skeletons, and the now regiments were added thereto. A. J. Smith has twelve regiments about 8,000 men; Morgan has ten regiments, about 6,000 men. Morgan L. Smith will be in to-morrow morning with his division, ten regiment, about 7,000 men; making 21,000 men from Memphis. I understanded General Gorman is now in command at Helena; Steele is with him, but Hovey has gone home. All the troops that were over to the Tallahatchie have returned to Helena. I have just sent an aide to Helena to ascertain if Colonel Grierson got through with your letter and to know if General Halleck's dispatch had been received and if I could depend on the 12,000 infantry and 2,000 cavalry. Lieutenant-Colonel Grierson field to reach Helena; recapitulated your orders as to the disposition. I will send Captain Fifth up to Columbus to telegraph to you and to keep me advised of the condition of things above and below for a few days. I want him to see to the steamboats, ammunition, &c., and dispatch all business. I will be ready to embark on the 18th, if the boats comes, and I will instruct Captain Fifth to telegraph you as fast boats pass Columbus.

I am, &c.,,

W. T. SHERIDAN,

Major-General, Commanding.

HDQRS. RIGHT WING, THIRTEENTH ARMY CORPS,
Memphis, Tenn., December 16, 1862.

SIR: For the information of the general-in-chief I herewith submit an abstract of the troops with which I am ordered to embark on the 18th instant for Vicksburg and the Yazoo River. This I do without sending it around by way of General Grant's headquarters, Oxford, Miss., having written to him to the same effect in more detail:

Major General W. T. Sherman and staff........................7

First Division, General A. J. Smith commanding:

Field and staff.........................................27

Three brigades (twelve infantry regiments)...........7,327

Second Division, General Morgan L. Smith commanding:

Field and staff.........................................12

Two brigades (ten regiment infantry).................5,570

Third Division, General Gregory W. Morgan commanding:

Field and staff..........................................6

Three brigades (ten regiment infantry)...............6,680

Artillery (eight batteries, 40 guns; siege guns,

30-pounder rifles, 4 guns).............................865

Engineers and signal officers...........................29

Total to embark at Memphis..........................20,523

Fourth Division, Brigadier Stelle commanding;

no detailed report, but aggregate....................9,343

Cavalry (there companies)..............................209

Grant aggregate.....................................30,075

My Memphis forces are ready for embarkation as soon as the boats arrive from above. Having no telegraphic communication in any direction I am not able to report when the boats will be here, but all are expected from above by the 18th instant. General Steele also reports his force ready to embark.