New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-08-03

Gen. ssersi.'s Omei.I Reper.
MEMPHIS, Tenn, June n, 1864

mand on June
fhe guperyison Of the MsjOrGeneral commanding the
District of West Tennessee, and assumed command
Of the morning Of June near the Town OF Laay
dated Headquarters District OF West Tennessee, Mem
phs May 81. 1864, and which were received by me on
June l.
TIE strength Of the command, in round numbers,
abou. 1900 men, aud composed as follows: ~,
CAehLh5mls, Brissds-Co g. T. WsIwi1 ~ IT, th = n
win'ow 4ih lows oonInsnding; strength lcc W., ,o,
Commanded by Brig. Gen B. ii. Grierson
IsFASrHY.-lst frgsde-Col A. w. Wilkins sth mhnne
ID Ehgade-col o. B. Hose 18th Illinois. eSp9%snd5ngi
1snsh ZOO with fG1; PIECE. Of coOIsd nntry com
nsnding; strength zoo with two pieces OF artillery.
My supply train, carrying ratons for eighteen days
consisted Of isi wagons S % Sone $50 S wagons
Nv instructions were substantially as follows VIZ; 10
proceed to Coriuth Mississippi BY way Of salem and
hDckersyile capture any force that might De there
then proceed south destroying the Mobile and Ohio
Railroad 20 ureo and 0koons, and as far as possible
toward Macon and Columbus, with portion OF my
erection was allowed me as TO the details OF the move.
nent when circumstances might rise which could not
have been anticipated in my instructions.
Owing 10 some Misunderstanding on the part OF the
QusrtermasteT, 10 the point on the Memphis and
Charleston Railroad st which some forage was TO
have been deposited from the cars, there was some
little delay occasioned in getting the column IN motion
The following incidents of the march taken from
the Journal kept from dag to day by one Of my STAFF
VI. u
WEDNESDAY June l.-Expediton started from Mem
phis and Whites Station toward Lafay cite.
THURSDAY, June 2.-The General and staff left Mem
phis the o'clock a. train, aud established head
quarters at Leakes house. near Lafayette and assumed
command. Cavalry moved to the intersection OF the
State line and Early Grove roads, SIX miles ron La
fayette 1t rsned at intervals all day and part OF the
night n,n. JnDo s-ords,ea the cavalry to move to
within three or four miles of Salem. Infantry marched
20 Lamar Is miles from Lafayette. Owing TO the
heavy rains during the day and the bad condition oil
the roads and bridges the train could only move 70
within four miles OF Lsmar and did not get into PARK
until IL o'clock p. the colored brigade remaining
with the train as guard.
Abe infantry and train under tie most favorable cir.
cumstances could only make few miles beyond Saeln
and 10 regulate bis march accordingly. Train arrived
at Lamar about Moons issued ratiOns to the infantry
and rested the animals 1t rained heavily until o'clock
p. ~, making the roads almost impossible. Moved
headquarters 10 Widow Spights house, Two miles west
Of Salem and Col Hoges brigade Of infantry TO Robin
sons house, four miles from Salem (west
SUNpA5 nns ~; sRo fn ssf ns s al
at 10 issued Iatons 10 the cavalry end fed the
forage collected by them Infantry remained in camp
during the day Cavalry moved to the intersection OF
the La Grange and Ripley and the Salem and Fuckers
vile roads. Col Joseph Karges I'd New.Jersey, with
600 men, started al p m, with INSTRUCTIONS to move
via Ripley 10 Reinga TO destroy tire railroads 10 pro-
ceed north destroy bridges on the Tuscumba, and 10
3oin Gen GrieTson at Ruckersville. Heavy showers
during the afternoon.
MoSpAY June 6-Infantry and train moved at four
O'clock a. m., on the RrckeIsyiDe road commenced
raining at five m, and continued at intervals all day.
Progress very SLOW Marched thirteen miles and made
headouarters at Widow Chiderss, a. intersection Of
Che saulsbury and Ripley aud the RuckersyiLle and
the Salem road Cavalry moved 10 Rnckersville. The
aavance guard OF the infantry encountered small
party VI Rebels about noon, and chased them toward
Ripley. on the La Grange and Ripley road
TUESDAY, Jnne Upon information received from
Gen. Grerson that there was no enemy near Corinth
directed him to move toward Elstown on the direct
rosd from Ripley and instruct Col haIge To JON hlrn
by way of BacNand and Carrosville. Infantry moved
20 Ripley and cavalry encamped on New Albany road,
two miles south Encountered small party OF Rebels
near Widow Childerss ard drove them toward Ripley.
Rirev met an advance Of the eneny and drove them
ON the New. Albany road Cavalry encountered about
aregiment Of Rebel cavalry on that road and drove
them south Several showers during the afternoon and
"WEDNESDAY, June s-Received information at 4
O'Clock that Col Karge was on an island IN the
Gatch!e River, and sent him 500 men and two howgers
for rSenforcements. Winslows brigade Of cavalry
moved six miles on the Fulton road. Infantry and
train moved five miles on same road Col Waring's
brigade remained in Ripley awaiting the return Of
Col Karge who joined him at o'clock P. IN. having
swan the Hstchie River. Rained hard during the
THURSDAY June 9-Sent back to Memphis 400 sick
and vermont NEIL and IL wagons. Cavalry and in.
fantry moved TO Stubbss IA miles from Ripley; issued
i've days ratons (t previous camp; raned Two hours
FRIDAY June lO-Enoountered tie enemy at Brices
Gross Roads, % miles from Ripley, and SIX miles from
Guntown.
At Ripley il became serious question in my mind as
Yain still fell in torrents-the artillery and wagons were
literally mired down, and the starved and exhausted
animals could with difficulty drag them along. Under
these circumstances called together my division
anders and placed before them my views Of situa
tion. At this interview one brigade commander COL
Hoge) and two members Of my staff were incidentally
present also. called their attention to the great de-
lay we hsd undergone account Of the bad condition
Of the roads the exhausted condition Of our animals
She great probability that the enemy would avail him
self Of the time thus offered 10 concentrate
whelning force against Us In the vicinity Of Tupelo
and the utter bopelessDesg OF saving train Of at
lery in Of defeat account of the DlrTOWness and
general bad condition Of the roads and the impossible
fy of procuring supplies Of forage for the animals.
AN agreed with me in the probable consequences Of
defeat. Some thought our only safety lay in retracing
eur steps. and abandoning the expedition. IT was
urged however land with some propriety, too, that
fnasmuch had abandoned similar expedition only
dong "the utter and entire deSttutOn Of the coun.
try" and that in the face 0f this We were BgGin sent
through this same country II would be runons on all
sides 20 return again without meeting tho enemy.
acquired there could De no considerable force in
front, and all my own information led 10 the
elusion. To be my information was exceedingly
neager and unsatisfactory and had returned would
have been totally unable TO present any facts justify
my course. or 10 show why the expedition might not
have been successfully carried forward. AL could
have presented would have been my coniectures
what the enemy would naturally do under the crcum
stances and these would have awaited but little ag
the idea that the enemy scattered and had no
siderable force in our 'front.'
Under the circumstances, and with sad foreboding
Of the consequences, determined TO forward,
keeping force as compact possible and ready for
acton at al times, hoping that might succeed and
feeling that II we did not, yet losses might most
be insignificant in comparison to the great benefits
that might accrue 10 Cen Sherman by tine depletion Of
Johntton's army 70 so large an extent On the even
ing Of the eth one day beyond Ripley assembled the
oommanders Of infantry brgades the headquarters
6uf al MpMil.Rn cautioned them q