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Major…General GRANT； Corinth； Mississippi。
Sir： In pursuance of your request that I should keep you advised of matters of interest here； in addition to the purely official matters； I now write。
I dispatched promptly the thirteen companies of cavalry； nine of Fourth Illinois； and four of Eleventh Illinois； to their respective destinations； punctually on the 23d instant； although the order was only received on the 22d。 I received at the same time； from Colonel Dickey； the notice that the bridge over Hatchie was burned； and therefore I prescribed their order of march via Bolivar。 They started at 12 m。 of the 23d； and I have no news of them。 since。 None of the cavalry ordered to me is yet heard from。
The guerrillas have destroyed several bridges over Wolf Creek； one at Raleigh； on the road by which I had prescribed trade and travel to and from the city。 I have a strong guard at the lower bridge over Wolf River； by which we can reach the country to the north of that stream； but； as the Confederates have burned their own bridges； I will hold them to my order； and allow no trade over any other road than the one prescribed； using the lower or Randolph road for our own convenience。 I am still satisfied there is no large force of rebels anywhere in the neighborhood。 All the navy gunboats are below except the St。 Louis； which lies off the city。 When Commodore Davis passes down from Cairo； I will try to see him； and get him to exchange the St。 Louis for a fleeter boat not iron…clad； one that can move up and down the river； to break up ferry…boats and canoes； and to prevent all passing across the river。 Of course； in spite of all our efforts； smuggling is carried on。 We occasionally make hauls of clothing； gold…lace； buttons； etc。； but I am satisfied that salt and arms are got to the interior somehow。 I have addressed the Board of Trade a letter on this point； which will enable us to control it better。
You may have been troubled at hearing reports of drunkenness here。 There was some after pay…day； but generally all is as quiet and orderly as possible。 I traverse the city every day and night； and assert that Memphis is and has been as orderly a city as St。 Louis； Cincinnati； or New York。
Before the city authorities undertook to license saloons； there was as much whiskey here as now； and it would take all my command as customhouse inspectors； to break open all the parcels and packages containing liquor。 I can destroy all groggeries and shops where soldiers get liquor just as we would in St。 Louis。
The newspapers are accusing me of cruelty to the sick； as base a charge as was ever made。 I would not let the Sanitary Committee carry off a boat…load of sick； because I have no right to。 We have good hospitals here； and plenty of them。 Our regimental hospitals are in the camps of the men； and the sick do much better there than in the general hospitals； so say my division surgeon and the regimental surgeons。 The civilian doctors would； if permitted； take away our entire command。 General Curtis sends his sick up here； but usually no nurses； and it is not right that nurses should be taken from my command for his sick。 I think that； when we are endeavoring to raise soldiers and to instruct them； it is bad policy to keep them at hospitals as attendants and nurses。
I send you Dr。 Derby's acknowledgment that he gave the leave of absence of which he was charged。 I have placed him in arrest； in obedience to General Halleck's orders； but he remains in charge of the Overton Hospital； which is not full of patients。
The State Hospital also is not full； and I cannot imagine what Dr。 Derby wants with the Female Academy on Vance Street。 I will see him again； and now that he is the chief at Overton Hospital； I think he will not want the academy。 Still； if he does； under your orders I will cause it to be vacated by the children and Sisters of Mercy。 They have just advertised for more scholars； and will be sadly disappointed。 If； however； this building or any other be needed for a hospital； it must be taken； but really； in my heart； I do not see what possible chance there is； under present circumstances； of filling with patients the two large hospitals now in use； besides the one asked for。 I may； however； be mistaken in the particular building asked for by Dr。 Derby； and will go myself to see。
The fort is progressing well； Captain Jenney having arrived。 Sixteen heavy guns are received； with a large amount of shot and shell； but the platforms are not yet ready； still； if occasion should arise for dispatch； I can put a larger force to work。 Captain Prime； when here； advised that the work should proceed regularly under the proper engineer officers and laborers。 I am； etc。；
W。 T。 SHERMAN； Major…General commanding。
HEADQUARTERS FIFTH DIVISION MEMPHIS； TENNESSEE； September 4； 1862
Colonel J。 C； KELTON； Assistant Adjutant…General； Headquarters of the army； Washington； D。 C。
DEAR COLONEL： Please acknowledge to the major…general commanding the receipt by me of his letter； and convey to him my assurances that I have promptly modified my first instructions about cotton； so as to conform to his orders。 Trade in cotton is now free； but in all else I endeavor so to control it that the enemy shall receive no contraband goods； or any aid or comfort； still I feel sure that the officers of steamboats are sadly tempted by high prices to land salt and other prohibited articles at waypoints along the river。 This； too； in time will be checked。 All seems well here and hereabout； no large body of the enemy within striking distance。 A force of about two thousand； cavalry passed through Grand Junction north last Friday； and fell on a detachment of the Bolivar army at Middleburg； the result of which is doubtless reported to you。 As soon as I heard of the movement； I dispatched a force to the southeast by way of diversion； and am satisfied that the enemy's infantry and artillery fell back in consequence behind the Tallahatchie。 The weather is very hot； country very dry； and dust as bad as possible。 I hold my two divisions ready； with their original complement of transportation； for field service。 Of course all things most now depend on events in front of Washington and in Kentucky。 The gunboat Eastport and four transports loaded with prisoners of war destined for Vicksburg have been lying before Memphis for two days； but are now steaming up to resume their voyage。 Our fort progresses well； but our guns are not yet mounted。 The engineers are now shaping the banquette to receive platforms。 I expect Captain Prime from Corinth in two or three days。
I am； with great respect； yours；
W。 T。 SHERMAN； Major…General commanding。
HEADQUARTERS FIFTH DIVISION MEMPHIS； TENNESSEE； September 21； 1862
Editor Bulletin。
SIR： Your comments on the recent orders of Generals Halleck and McClellan afford the occasion appropriate for me to make public the fact that there is a law of Congress； as old as our Government itself； but reenacted on the 10th of April； 1806； and in force ever since。 That law reads：
〃All officers and soldiers are to behave themselves orderly in quarters and on the march； and whoever shall commit a