OXFORD, MISS., November 20, 1863.

Major-General LEE, Grenada:

Scouts report enemy on railroad cooking six day's rations. They advanced to Hernando yesterday; strength not known.

JAS. R. CHALMERS,

Brigadier-General.

HEADQUARTERS, Meridian, Miss., November 20, 1863.

Maj. Gen. S. D. LEE,
Commanding, &c., Okolona, Miss.:

GENERAL: I herewith inclose you a copy* of a general order issued by Maj. General S. A. Hurlbut, commanding U. S. forces at Memphis. The general commanding directs that you have it distributed as widely as possible in the section of country to which it relates.

By command of General Johnston:

Very respectfully,

BENJ. S. EWELL,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

Abstract from return of the Army of the Department of Mississippi and East Louisiana, General Joseph E. Johnston, C. S. Army, commanding, November 20, 1863; headquarters Meridian, Miss.

Present for duty

equipped.

Command Officer Men Effectiv Aggregat Aggregate

s e total e present

present present and

absent

General 13 - - 13 13

headquarters

Loring's division 473 5,827 5,743 7,261 12,384

French's division 205 2,065 2,007 2,707 4,692

Forney's command 340 3,871 3,826 4,768 11,883

Cockrell's brigade 112 1,329 1,302 1,790 3,377

Jackson's cavalry 232 3,038 3,023 4,221 6,624

division

Chalmers' cavalry 166 1,758 1,736 2,247 3,580

brigade

Steede's cavalry 14 234 231 260 283

battalion

Forrest's command 25 206 204 239 335

Morton's battery 4 67 67 71 71

Waties' battery 7 73 70 92 112

Ruggles' command 15 158 155 201 236

[artillery]

Posts of 42 590 578 720 908

Demopolis,

Meridian, and

Selma

Total a 1,648 19,216 18,942 24,590 44,498

a Ferguson's and Richardson's commands not accounted for.

*See General Orders, No. 157, November 15, p.160.