Coldwater, with a view of preventing any parties from passing south, except such as are in the employ of the Government, and capturing all scouts of the enemy now north of Coldwater. Scouts will go from here and Collierville at the same time. Have your scouts be careful not to fire upon the others should they meet.

B. H. GRIERSON,

Brigadier-General.

MEMPHIS, TENN., February 4, 1864.

Brigadier General W. S. SMITH,

Colliersville:

Scout of Second Iowa returned from Hernando reports all quiet in that direction. No force of the enemy this side of Coldwater Station. Balance of detachment of Seventh Illinois in from La Grange; brought 4 prisoners captured near La Grange. McGurik's command gone south from that point.

B. H. GRIERSON,

Brigadier-General.

COLLIERVILLE, February 4, 1864-7.30 p. m.

General B. H. GRIERSON:

Have all the cavalry left Memphis? Have you sent the scouts to Coldwater yet?

WM. SOOY SMITH,

Brigadier-General, Chief of Cavalry.

MEMPHIS, TENN., February 4, 1864.

Brigadier General W. SOOY SMITH,

Collierville, Tenn.:

Scouts sent out late this afternoon not yet returned. First Alabama ordered south at daylight in the morning, also 200 men from Germantown. Shall I hold the Second Iowa to move when the infantry starts?

B. H. GRIERSON,

Brigadier-General.

COLLIERVILLE, TENN.,

February 4, 1864.

Brigadier General B. H. GRIERSON,

Memphis, Tenn.:

Throw scouts of First Alabama down toward hernando, and from Germantown south to the Coldwater, and let them patrol along the line of the Colwater, covering that lien perfectly as far eastward as Olive Branch. We will throw scouts down to the Coldwater from this point, who will patrol westward as far as Olive Branch. Order these scouts to permit nobody to pass the line of the Coldwater going south unless they are in our employ as scouts and spies. Let every effort be made to capture the enemy's scouts now north of the Coldwater.

WM. SOOY SMITH,

Brigadier General, Chief of Cavalry, Mil. Div. of the Mississippi.