[
81]
Rosecrans as fast as possible.
Your attention must be directed particularly to the repairing of the railroad and the transportation of supplies toward
Decatur.
October 2d,
Hurlbut telegraphed
Halleck:
‘A supply train of four hundred wagons is ready at Corinth, and thirty days rations for twenty thousand men.’
As fast as troops arrive they should be pushed forward, first to
Corinth and then to
Tuscumbia, repairing the Memphis and Charleston Railroad. * * * * From there you will move by
Florence on
Athens or
Decatur, on the north side of the river, or directly to
Decatur, repairing the railroad according as it may be found most practicable or expeditious.
Time is all important.
The railroad must be kept up and guarded in order to secure the supplies of your army. * * * * Should
General Sherman be assigned by
General Grant to the command, you will furnish him with this and all other orders.
On the 10th of October
Sherman, then near
Corinth, reported the situation to
Halleck, and asked: ‘whether I shall give preference to securing this railroad or reaching the neighborhood of
Athens with expedition.
The latter I can surely accomplish, the former is problematical.’
The troops from the Army of the Potomac having communicated with
General Rosecrans by way of
Bridgeport, General.
Sherman was instructed on the 14th, by
Halleck in reply, to take care of his railroad.
General Grant, during all this time, had been absent in New Orleans.
He reached
Memphis on his return October 5th, proceeded to
Cairo, and thence to
Louisville to receive orders, where he was directed to take command at
Chattanooga, relieving
Rosecrans by
Thomas.
He started at once for the front, and shortly after his arrival, ordered
Sherman to drop every thing on the railroad, and come on with dispatch.
He thus reported his action to
Halleck:
General-in-chief: I have sent orders to
General Sherman to move east
