Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 10.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[253]

7. Three signal rockets shall be sent up at three o'clock in the morning by the cavalry pickets of Generals Van Dorn, Bragg, and Polk.

8. All Artesian and other wells must be destroyed this evening, by a detachment from each brigade. All Artesian well machinery must be sent, forthwith, to the depot for transportation to Saltillo.

9. Whenever the railroad engine shall whistle through the night, near the intrenched line, the troops in the vicinity shall cheer repeatedly, as though reenforcements had been received.

I. General Van Dorn's army will start at three h. A. M., on the seventh instant, on its way to Tupelo, via the road from Baldwin to Priceville. It will halt for the night at Sand Creek, a distance of about (17) seventeen miles from Baldwin. It will resume the line of march the next morning at three h. A. M., and will take position, for the present, at Priceville, leaving a brigade at the cross of the road, with the Ripley and the Cotton Gin road, near Smith or Brooks's house, and a cavalry force at or about the steam saw-mill. One brigade will be sent to Morrisville or vicinity, and a force of cavalry to guard the (20) mile creek ferry, on the road from Fulton, with a strong picket at the latter place. The cavalry regiment at Marietta will not leave that position until the eighth instant, at four A. M.

II. General Hardee's corps will start for Tupelo, at four h. P. M., on the seventh instant, via the same road as General Van Dorn's army, stopping for the night at a creek, about nine miles from its present position. He will send at four h. A. M., on that day, one regiment and two pieces of artillery, to the cross-road with the Natchez railroad, to guard the Twenty-mile creek crossing.

His corps will resume its line of march at four h. A. M., on the eighth instant, and will get to Tupelo that night if practicable. His rear guard of cavalry will remain in its present position until twelve P. M., on the seventh instant, and afterwards in the vicinity of Baldwin (guarding the rear of Hardee's corps) until about four h. A. M., on the eighth instant.

III. General Breckinridge's corps of reserve will leave for Tupelo, via Carrollsville and Birmingham, at three h. A. M., on the seventh instant, stopping for the night at Yanoby Creek, a few miles beyond the latter town, and will resume its line of march at three h. A. M., on the eighth instant.

IV. General Bragg's corps will leave by the same road as General Breckinridge's, (passing to the westward of Carrollsville,) at two h. P. M., on the seventh instant, stopping for the night at or near Birmingham; leaving there at three h. A. M., for Tupelo.

His cavalry will follow on the same road, the movement from where it is now posted, at two h. A. M., on the eighth instant. The regiment at Ripley will move on the road from that place to Tupelo, and all said cavalry will be posted as already indicated to General B. on the map.

V. General Polk's corps will conform its movements to that of General Bragg, starting at two h. P. M., on the eighth instant, on the direct road to Saltillo, west of the railroad, halting at that place until further orders. His cavalry will remain where at present posted, and will follow his movements along the same road, (guarding his rear,) at three h. A. M., on the eighth instant.

VI. All infantry outposts should be recalled in time to join their command.

VII. All finger boards and mile posts should be taken down by the cavalry of the rear guards.