JACKSON, February 18, 1863.

Major General C. L. STEVENSON, Vicksburg:

Do not allow our batteries to answer the mortar below canal.

J. C. PEMBERTON.

JACKSON, February 18, 1863.

Major-General LORING, or

Captain I. N. BROWN,

Yazoo City:

Send steamboats down to Snyder's Bluff as soon as possible.

J. C. PEMBERTON.

CHATTANOOGA, February 18, 1863.

Lieutenant-General PEMBERTON, Vicksburg:

Van Dorn is moving to threaten Rosecrans' rear. If, as was believed when I left you, Northern Mississippi is impracticable, can the enemy threaten Grenada or cross Coldwater? I cannot read your dispatch after the word "can. "

J. E. Johnston.

[Repeated February 19.]

HDQRS. DEPT. OF MISS. AND E. La., Jackson, February 18, 1863.

Major General FRANK GARDNER,
Comdg.,&c., Port Hudson:

GENERAL: The lieutenant-general commanding directs me to call your attention to the inclosed letters from the honorable Secretary of War and Commissary-General at Richmond, Va., setting forth abuses and neglect in the subsistence departments respectively at Vicksburg and Port Hudson, and desires that they may be corrected in future.

Very respectfully, &c.,

J. R. WADDY,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

[Inclosure.]

WAR DEPARTMENT, Richmond, Va., February 2, 1863.

Lieutenant General J. C. PEMBERTON,

Commanding, &c.:

GENERAL: I have the honor to inclose a letter from Colonel Northrop, Commissary-General, in reference to losses of subsistence stores at Port Hudson and Vicksburg, and to invite your attention to the representation of facts contained therein. I must request that you will adopt adequate measures of prevention.

Your obedient servant,

J. A. SEDDON.

SUBSISTENCE DEPT., Richmond, Va., January 23, 1863.

JAMES A. SEDDON,

Secretary of War, Richmond, Va.:

SIR: I have the honor to call your attention to the following extract from a letter from Lieutenant Colonel W. A. Broadwell, chief commissary of subsistence in the State of Mississippi:

The management at Port Hudson and Vicksburg has not been good. Large quantities of public stores at each place are wasting from lack of storage.