Natchitoches union. [volume] ([Natchitoches, La.]) 1859-1864, 1862-11-27
WAR CORRESPONDENCE.
HEADQUARTERS. !
MY. E...B.
Army OF TfiE WEsr,
TAttAnArcH1B RIVER, Nov. It'll. 1862.

Mr. Enron.
We have stirring times here. A bat
tic is imminent, and Van Dorm will have
another opportunity of returning his
lost expectation, or Of confirming Etho
prevailing impression that he is no
General.
About a week since, information
wasireeeived Of the advance of tho
Federals upon Holly Springs by three
routes. The column under the com
mand of General Grant the victor at
Donelson, was advancing by way Of
Corlnth, another column by way. of
Lafrange and Bolivar to form innc.
tion with Grant at Grand Junction
and ,heoce down by way Of tho Mfs.
sissippi Central Rail Road, and third
under General Sherman from Memphis
by way of fernando and tho Holly
Springs and Memphis roads. The
Whole numbering some twenty thou
sand men and to concentrate in the
vicinity of Holly! Springs aud attack
IN force. Not nncll credence was Civ.
en- to tho reports ut first, But scouts
soon confirmed the intelligence of an
advance by way OF the Mississippi
Central Rail Road and positive in.
formation from Hernando showed the
enemy to have left that place, with
several regiments of infantry and caval-
ry together with artillery on the juno
ton Of Holly Springs On wednesday
last, one Roginenta of Gen. Jackson;s
cavalry was sent forward some ten
miles to roconnOitre. They met tho
ennemy in large force and four COM
pallies of the Regi'neptl were either
Killed or capturcd.-Uur advance Mt
Lamar Immediately fell back on the
main force near Holly Springs and the
whole was ordered to retreat to tho
banks of the TallahatillieS some ciglr-
teen miles distant when The different
corps have been placed in position to
receive the enemy at any moment.
Their army occupies tho East bank
1i the Tallallatchie and the frontier is
the best which could have been found
70 resist an overwhelming foe. It
vas selected some time since by our
ieneral as o secure position to retire
o in case tho contingency Of retreat
should be presented, and you may rest
assured that every effort Is being made
o render git impossible. The whole
,anks OF the River are lined with fol.
lflcations Of the most formidable char
cter: Every bridge is strongly guar
ed and every ford rendered impassa-
ne by the masses Of infantry and
cath. dealing artillery which protect
!, NO fears are entertained as to the
esult, should things be properly
'anaged, though many fear Van Dorm
Tho enjoys but slender reputation
II ability and who has the actual
Of the troops, though Penn
srton isthc Lieut. Gen in command
the department One year ago, no
oung officer stood higher than Van
orn. Those who knew Of his bril-
ant deeds in Texas hailed his promo.
IN to Major-Generalsllip with de-
sht. But his fatal blnndcr at Elk
orn and bis criminal tam1 pas ut Go.
nth lcssencd him III public estimation;
ID 1t now remains for him to redeem
: past aud give promise of better
The enemy Immediately upon our
treat occupied Holly Springs, which
zee it seems they intend to make
base OF their operations against
force here. The scouting parties
the two armies have already met and
cd metal before a general conflict.
Yesterday, there was heavy skr-
5hIng about midway between here
Holly Springs. MeCullocl,'s Reei-
mt Of Missouri Cavalry, commanded
Lieut.. Col 5, " Hyams Jr. met,
enemy IN considerable force at Va