SPECIAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. SECOND DIVISION, LEFT WING,
DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND,

Numbers 16.
Near Murfreesborough, Tenn., January 17, 1863.

I. Brigadier-General Cruft, with Standart's battery, early to-morrow morning will move his command to Hickory Creek, on the road to Readyville.

II. General Cruft will select a strong position, and strengthen it by such defensive works as he may deem expedient. He will keep open communication with Colonel Hazen and with these headquarters. He will cause the country to be patrolled, so as to keep himself well advised of any movements of the enemy in his vicinity, and report daily to these headquarters.

III. The advance of the First and Second Brigades of this command makes it necessary that the Third Brigade be kept in readiness to march of fight at the shortest notice.

IV. Colonel Grose will see that the arms of the men are in perfect order, and that he has always on hand the ammunition and cooked rations required by existing orders.

By order of Brigadier-General Palmer:

S. CHILD,

Lieutenant and Aide-de-Camp.

WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, D. C., January 17, 1863.

Major-General WRIGHT, Cincinnati, Ohio:

The troops under General Kelley in Western Virginia have, by direction of the Secretary of War, been placed under the orders of Major-General Schenck, commanding Middle Department.

H. W. HALLECK,

General-in-Chief.

MURFREESBOROUGH, January 17, 1863.

Major-General WRIGHT, Cincinnati:

How many days will it take to get those troops ready to move? What route did you propose them to follow? If it were practicable, I should like to send them by the Tennessee, to operate on the rear of the rebel position behind Duck River.

Who will command them?

W. S. ROSECRANS,

Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE OHIO, Cincinnati, Ohio, January 17, 1863.

Major-General ROSECRANS,

Murfreesborough, Tenn.:

I know nothing of a part of the cavalry you specify. If you take all the rest, you will nearly strip the line of road, but I have ordered all we have, that you indicate, to be sent, except Eighth Kentucky, which

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