HEADQUARTERS SEVENTEENTH ARMY CO

HEADQUARTERS SEVENTEENTH ARMY CORPS,

Vicksburg, Miss., December 31, 1863.

Brig. Gen. J. P. HAWKINS,
Commanding Goodrich's Landing:

GENERAL: You will immediately set to work and prepare about 4,000 colored troops for an expedition to the Washita country. I will send you from here Scofield's brigade, at least three regiments, and will have Osband, now at Skipwith's Landing, join you with his cavalry command. It is expected the expedition will start about the loth of January, and will be in connection with some other movement. In making your preparations, do it without exciting any suspicion of your intentions or giving any clue as to the direction in which your troops are to move. I will not send Scofield's brigade up until just before the time for you to start.

You will of course see that your command is properly supplied with ammunition, 200 rounds to the man, and the necessary transportation for the same, and such provisions as you will have to take. The latter, however, will be reduced to the smallest quantity possible, as it is supposed the country west of Bayou Macon can furnish a good supply of the substantials.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JAS. B. McPHERSON,

Major-General.

SOURCE: United States War Department. THE WAR OF THE REBELLION: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1880-1901.

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Category: Civil War | Subcategory: Letters | Tags: Washington
Related Topics / Keywords / Phrases: 1863, 1880, 1901, Bayou Macon (Louisiana), Cavalry, East Carroll Parish (Louisiana), Goodrich's Landing (Louisiana), Mississippi, The War of the Rebellion (Book), United States War Department, Vicksburg (MIssissippi), War Department,