He directs that you cross the river with your command immediately, and communicate with him as soon as you have crossed. The Yankees are in force at Cane Creek, advancing toward Tuscumbia, and he is retarding their progress.

Very respectfully,

W. D. PICKETT,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

MERIDIAN, October 21, 1863.

Major-General LORING,

Canton:

Order Featherston's brigade to Canton.

By command of General J. E. Johnston:

BENJ. S. EWELL,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

MERIDIAN, October 21, 1863.

Major-General LORING,

Canton:

General Johnston, with the President, will go to Jackson to-day.

He wishes to see you there as early tomorrow as practicable.

BENJ. S. EWELL,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

(Same to Brigadier-General Jackson, via Canton.)

HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY IN NORTH MISSISSIPPI,
Oxford, Miss., October 21, 1863.

Colonel B. S. EWELL,

Assistant Adjutant-General:

COLONEL: I am credibly informed that while the enemy's forces were endeavoring to concentrate against me in my recent expedition against the Memphis and Charleston Railroad, in addition to other outrages upon the persons and property of unoffending citizens, they made it a point to visit the houses in which I had had my headquarters, and, when they did not entirely consume, to injure them as much as possible by destroying their furniture and clothing, and wantonly wasting their supplies of forage and provisions.

These people had been guilty of no offense except that of extending their hospitality to myself and staff. In addition to this they burned the villages of Wyatt and Chulahoma (the latter without any provocation whatever), and desolated the plantations along their route, burning corn-cribs, &c., and driving off horses and cattle.

I have not been able to capture any of those engaged in the perpetration of these acts, but I would respectfully ask whether some means of retaliation cannot be adopted to prevent the repetition of such outrages.

I am, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JAS. R. CHALMERS,

Brigadier-General.