Actual accounts from Military Dispatches.
Reorganization of the Army of the Mississippi
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE MISSISSIPPI, SOLDIERS: I assume this day the command of the Army of the Mississippi, for the defense of our homes and liberties, and to resist the subjugation, spoliation, and dishonor of our people. Our mothers and wives, our sisters and children, expect us to do our duty even to the sacrifice of our lives.
Our losses since the commencement of this war in killed, wounded, and prisoners are now about the same as those of the enemy.
He must be made to atone for the reverses we have lately experienced. Those reverses, far from disheartening, must nerve us to new deeds of valor and patriotism, and should inspire us with unconquerable determination to drive back our invaders.
Should any one in this army be unequal to the task before us, let him transfer his arms and equipments at once to braver, firmer hands, and return to his home.
Our cause is as just and sacred as ever animated men to take up arms, and if we are true to it and to ourselves, with the continued protection of the Almighty, we must and shall triumph.
GENERAL ORDERS No. 2. 1. All troops coming within limits of this division from Louisiana and Mississippi will rendezvous at Grand Junction, Tenn., and those from Alabama at Corinth, Miss., and the new levies from Tennessee will rendezvous at Henderson and Bethel Stations, on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad.
2. Lea's and Browder's regiments Tennessee Volunteers and stragglers and unattached men will proceed from Henderson Station to Corinth, and report to Brigadier-General Ruggles. The Seventh Regiment Mississippi Volunteers will proceed from Jackson to Henderson.
3. Chiefs of staff will see that the necessary supplies and transportation are furnished to effect these movements.
4. Railroads within the limits of this command, being absolutely necessary for military purposes at this time, are, to the extent necessary, placed under the control of the Quartermaster's Department. To suppress disorders arrest all persons traveling without proper authority, and prevent undue interference by unauthorized persons on the Memphis and Charleston and Mobile and Ohio Railroads. Brigadier-General Ruggles will make the necessary details from his command to send a guard of one commissioned officer and five men with each passenger train on these roads.
5. The sale or supplying in any manner of intoxicating liquors within 5 miles of any station occupied by troops or within 1 mile of any public highway used for military purposes, except for medicinal purposes, on the written prescription of a regular physician, is prohibited. All grog-shops and drinking saloons within such limits will be closed and the supplies packed, subject to military inspection. Any violation of this order will be followed by prompt arrest of the offender and destruction of all his stores of liquor.
6. Martial law is declared at the city of Memphis. A firm and discreet officer, of proper qualifications, will be detailed by Brigadier-General Ruggles to assume the duties of provost-marshal at that place, who will publish his orders and call on the commanding officer at that city for the necessary guards to enforce them.
7. The prisoners of war at Memphis will be transferred to Mobile, under a guard of 50 men, to be detailed by Brigadier-General Ruggles from his command at Corinth. The commanding officer at Mobile will forward them, under a proper guard, to Tuscaloosa, Ala., for confinement.
By command of Major-General Bragg:
GENERAL ORDERS No. 1. I. Maj. Gen. L. Polk will assume command of all the troops of this army north of Jackson, Tenn., and along the Mississippi River north of Memphis. Commanders of posts, regiments, detached companies and battalions, and of brigades will report to him accordingly.
II. Maj. Gen. Braxton Bragg will assume command of all the troops of this army south of Major-General Polk's command. He will at the same time retain the command of his department.
III. Until further orders Major-General Bragg will issue all orders from these headquarters for the movement of troops in Western Tennessee.
By command of General Beauregard:
GENERAL ORDERS No. 3. Immediate arrangements will be made by the several commanders and the chiefs of the staff departments in this grand division of the army to carry out the following dispositions, viz:
1. The proper staff officers will take immediate steps to establish grand depots at Columbus and Grenada, Miss., for all supplies pertaining to their respective departments. Subsistence and forage in Western Tennessee will be collected as rapidly as possible and sent to these depots, supplies of which will be kept on hand: At Jackson, for 900 infantry and 400 cavalry about three weeks; at Corinth, for 13,000 infantry and 2,000 cavalry about four weeks; at Henderson, for 800 infantry and 200 cavalry about two weeks; at Iuka, for 2,000 infantry and 500 cavalry about two weeks; at Grand Junction, for 10,000 infantry and 1,000 cavalry about four weeks.
2. The following amount of ammunition will be distributed, viz, 100 rounds per man for infantry and cavalry with each regiment; 200 rounds per piece with each company of light artillery. The necessary amount in the same ratio for an army of 15,000 men to be held in a temporary depot at Grand Junction ready for distribution at a moment's notice.
3. The troops will be prepared immediately for active operations in the field; their baggage to be reduced to a minimum, and all supplies and heavy baggage sent to the main depots at Columbus and Grenada, Miss. Soldiers will be limited to their knapsacks and officers to small valises or carpet-bags.
4. Land transportation, not to exceed eleven wagons, will be allowed to each regiment, if practicable.
5. Rear guards must, as they retire, destroy bridges behind them, especially on ordinary roads; they must also obstruct roads by felling trees and breaking up causeways, and for this purpose must be provided with axes.
6. Each fort and light battery must be provided forthwith with an ample supply of rat-tail files.
By command of Major-General Bragg:
 General A. S. JOHNSTON, C.S. Army.
HUNTSVILLE, March 7, 1862.
President DAVIS:
Your dispatch is just received. Colonel Liddell [went] to Richmond on 28th ultimo, with the official reports of Generals Floyd and Pillow of the events at Donelson, and suppose that he must have arrived by this time. I also sent by him a dispatch containing my purpose for defense of the valley of the Mississippi and for co-operating or uniting with General Beauregard, who has been urging me to come on. The stores accumulated at Murfreesborough, the pork and provisions at Shelbyville and other points, and their necessary protection and removal, with the bad roads and inclement weather, have made the march slow and laborious and delayed my movements. The general condition of the troops is good and effective, though their health is impaired by the usual camp disease and winter campaign. The fall of Donelson disheartened some of the Tennessee troops and caused many desertions from some of the new regiments, so that great care was required to inspire confidence. I now consider the tone of the troops restored and that they are in good order. The enemy are about 25,000 strong at Nashville, with re-enforcements arriving. My rear guard, under General Hardee, is protecting the removal of provisions from Shelbyville. Last evening his pickets were near Murfreesborough, but gave no information of an advance by the enemy. There are no indications of immediate movement by the enemy from Nashville. I have no fears of a movement through Tennessee on Chattanooga. West Tennessee is menaced by heavy forces. My advance will be opposite Decatur on Sunday.
A. S. JOHNSTON,
General, C. S. Army. GENERAL ORDERS No. 6.
HDQRS. 2D GRAND DIV., ARMY OF MISS.,
Jackson, Tenn., March 9, 1862. I. Two regiments of infantry, one battery of light artillery, and three companies of cavalry will be detailed from Gladden's division at Corinth to take post at Bethel Station. II. Brig. Gen A. H. Gladden, commanding Second Division, will establish his headquarters at Bethel Station, and, in addition to the troops there, will assume command of those at Henderson Station, which are assigned to his division. He will throw forward strong guards and pickets to the Tennessee River, and keep a close observation on the enemy's movements. By command of Major-General Bragg:
GEO. G. GARNER,
Assistant Adjutant-General. GENERAL ORDERS 8½.
HEADQUARTERS C. S. FORCES,
Corinth, Miss., March 9, 1862. I. The entire force will be held in readiness to march at two hours' notice for active service in the field, provided with five days' rations, cooked. II. The brigade quartermaster will collect without delay transportation from all parts of the surrounding country. * * * * * * By command of Brigadier-General Ruggles:
L. D. SANDIDGE,
Lieutenant and Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.
Return to the Battle of Pittsburg Landing, or Shiloh, Tenn, APRIL 6-7, 1862
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