CHATTANOOGA, January 23, 1864.

Major-General SLOCUM:

Your letter inclosing instructions to Colonel Ketcham received. Colonel Mizner telegraphs that 1,400 of Roddey's men, under Johnson and Morrow [Moreland?], crossed Tennessee River between Florence and Clifton on Monday, designing raid on railroad. Be upon your guard.

WM. D. WHIPPLE,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

HUNTSVILLE, January 23, 1864.

Brigadier-General RAWLINS,

Chief of Staff:

My pontoon-boats are up Mud Creek near Belefonte. It has been impossible to get proper material to lay a bridge as yet. Am now having it sawed at Flint River. The roads south of Tennessee River are represented as being in very bad condition. No forage south of the river for miles. Cavalry might by quick marches strike supplies within a day and a half's march from river.

JOHN A. LOGAN,

Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE,
Memphis, January 23, 1864.

Major General S. A. HURLBUT,

Commanding Sixteenth Army Corps:

GENERAL: There is no necessity for General smith to delay here. You might order him and all troops ready to push down to vicksburg; disembark and move out to Big Black, to a convenient point near the upper crossing, which General McPherson will indicate, near the Messenger house. In like manner you can, as fast as boats are ready, embark and complete the organization outside of vicksburg. I would advise you to get what troops you have indicated of the Helena garrison at once, as they will soon fall under Steele's command and difficulty will be experienced. Send forage and provisions along with troops,

Yours truly,

W. T. SHERMAN,

Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE,
Memphis, January 23, 1864.

Major General FREDERICK STEELE,

Commanding Department of Arkansas, Little Rock:

DEAR GENERAL: I have just received from General Grant, at the hands of Colonel Duff, four letters, one of which is from General Halleck to you, January 7, constituting your command the Seventh Army Corps and giving you the department. I am very glad of this and feel assured that you and I can pull together perfectly. I believe in the move on Red river and would engage in it at once, but Red River is too low at this time. I will start i a few days for