organizing troops and strategically far better than Helena for operations on the river. We are all very healthy, whereas I hear there is much sickness at Helena. I would like to have you send a division of new regiments here; they could soon be made efficient. My own opinion is that after discovering the exact point at which the boats in the Yazoo lie, whilst a force moves from here and Helena against Oxford, the gunboats and transports should threaten Vicksburg, as though an attack was intended, while a comparatively small force can land at some point below Gaines' Landing and strike across to the Yazoo.

Of course the movements of all should be prescribed as to time and kept absolutely secret, so that the enemy could not guess at your purposes-the first Vicksburg, and the real attack on the railroad and Yazoo.

I am, with great respect, your obedient servant,

W. T. SHERMAN,

Major-General, Commanding.

GENERAL ORDERS,
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE MISSISSIPPI,

Numbers 131.
Corinth, September 30, 1862.

Colonel J. K. Mizner, Third Michigan Cavalry, is announced as chief of cavalry for the Third Division of the District of West Tennessee.

All cavalry serving in the division will be under his command, and all reports and returns required by army regulations and existing orders will be made to him.

By command of Major-General Rosecrans:

H. G. KENNETT,

Lieutenant-Colonel and Chief of Staff.

Abstract from Monthly Return of the District of West Tennessee, Major General U. S. Grant commanding, for the month of September 1862.

Present for duty

Command Officers Men Aggrega- Aggrega Aggrega-

te te te

present present present

for duty and

absent

Department ........ ..... ........ ....... .......

staff*

Memphis Tenn.-

First Division,

Major General

W. T. Sherman

Staff 15 ..... 15 15 15

Infantry 285 4,972 5,257 6,701 7,955

Cavalry 27 676 703 915 966

Artillery* 24 881 905 1,008 1,151

Grand total 351 6,529 6,880 8,639 10,087

Jackson, Tenn.-

Second

Division, Major

General E. O.

C. Ord

Staff 15 .... 15 15 16

Infantry 713 13,713 14,426 17,880 22,278

Cavalry 103 2,054 2,157 2,794 3,220

Artillery 43 1,243 1,286 1,449 1,737

Grand total 874 17,010 17,884 22,138 27,251

Pieces of artillery

Command Heavy Field Aggregate present

and absent last

monthly return

Department staff* ........ ........ ................

Memphis Tenn.-First

Division, Major

General W. T. Sherman

Staff ...... ....... 15

Infantry ........ ....... 8,020

Cavalry ....... ....... 972

Artillery* ........ 38 1,129

Grand total ....... 38 10,136

Jackson, Tenn.-Second

Division, Major

General E. O. C. Ord

Staff ....... ....... 12

Infantry ....... ........ 22,223

Cavalry ....... ........ 2,858

Artillery ........ 40 1,747

Grand total ........ 40 26,840