JACKSON, December 23, 1862.

Major-General GRANT:

Colonel Ingersoll has just come in. He thinks the rebels have gone to Columbus and then to cross over and destroy Rosecrans' line of railroad. They number at least 7,500 men. their intention was to destroy stores at Jackson, having been informed of our exact force by a Tennessee officer in United States forces. I am ordering my available force north and will try and have the road repaired in a week.

JER. C. SULLIVAN.

JACKSON, December 23, 1862-6.20 p. m.

Major-General GRANT:

I will occupy Trenton to-morrow. I have sent a force toward Denmark and north side of Hatchie. General Haynie is pushing north on railroad with a force strong enough to open the road.

JER. C. SULLIVAN,

Brigadier-General.

HOLLY SPRINGS, December 23, 1862.

General SULLIVAN:

Instruct all your post commanders to collect all the forage, beef cattle, and fat hogs in their vicinity belonging to secessionists, and have them issued by the commissary and quartermaster. Send some forage and cattle to Corinth immediately, or as soon as possible; they are out of rations.

U. S. GRANT,

Major-General.

HOLLY SPRINGS, MISS., December 23, 1862.

Colonel B. H. GRIERSON,

Grand Junction, Tenn.:

Pursue the enemy with all vigilance wherever they may go, reporting wherever you can reach a telegraph office. Take the Third michigan with you.

U. S. GRANT,

Major-General.

GRAND JUNCTION, December 23, 1862.

Just received the following from Bolivar:

Colonel B. H. GRIERSON:

The enemy are going north. Come here and I will put you on their track.

M. BRAYMAN.

Column moving northeast. Have halted them.

Shall I act on the above?

B. H. GRIERSON,

Colonel, Commanding Cavalry.

30 R R-VOL XVII, PT II