CHATTANOOGA, March 9, 1863.

Hon. J. A. SEDDON,

Secretary of War:

General Johnston has gone to Mississippi, where he considered his presence necessary for a few days. Your telegram of the 9th instant,* ready by me as the general directed, will probably reach him at Montgomery or Mobile.

BENJ. S. EWELL,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

[23.]

JACKSON, MISS., March 9, 1863.

Colonel B. S. EWELL,

Chief of Staff:

COLONEL: Your telegram of the 6th instant, leaving it to my choice what command I would report to, has been received, and in view of the unprotected condition of North Mississippi and at the solicitation of the Governor of my State and many other personal friends, I have elected to remain here and report to Lieutenant-General Pemberton. He has assigned me to a district composed of the two northern tiers of counties of the State, and my command will consist of troops almost entirely unorganized and undisciplined, and I shall be greatly in need of my general staff officers, who ae now at Shelbyville, Tenn.; and since ir requires a special order to enable me to get them, I most respectfully and earnestly ask that they be ordered to me at once. They are Captain W. A. Goodman, assistant adjutant-general; Major J. M. Thompson, assistant quartermaster; Major A. G. Mills, assistant inspector-general; Lieutenant J. B. Mattison, ordnance officer.

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

JAS. R. CHALMERS,

Brigadier-General.

[Indorsement.]

HDQRS. DEPT. OF MISSISSIPPI AND EAST LOUISIANA, Jackson, March 9, 1863.

Respectfully forwarded, requesting that the officers named be ordered to report to Brigadier-General Chalmers.

J. C. PEMBERTON,
Lieutenant-General, commanding.

[24.]

TULLAHOMA, March 10, 1863.

General J. E. JOHNSTON:

Some movement is evidently being made in this direction from Coringth, but as yet nothing has crossed east of Bear Creek or Tennessee River. Several boats are at Savannah and Pittsburgh. Van Dorn's prisoners are coming in. Enemy heavily re-enforced at Franklin.

BRAXTON BRAGG.

[23.]

GENERAL ORDERS,
HDQRS.5TH MILITARY DIST., DEPT.
OF MISSISSIPPI AND EAST LOUISIANA,

No. 2.
Panola, Miss., March 10, 1863.

The following officers are announced temporarily as the general and personal staff of the district: Captain T. D. Robins, assistant adjutant-

---------------

*See dispatch beginning "Order General Bragg," VOL. XXIII, Part II, p.674.

---------------