it to Cairo, St Louis or some other point to be sold. Then all traders, they are a curse to the Army, might be expelled.
I am, Sir, Very Respectfully
Your Obt Servant
U. S. GRANT
Maj Genl.
Copies, DLC-USG, V, 5, 8, 24, 88, 91; DNA, RG 393, Dept. of the Tenn., Hd. Qrs. Correspondence. O. R., I, xvii, part 2, 421-22. Christopher P. Wolcott of Ohio, brother-in-law of Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton, was confirmed as asst. secretary of war on June 11, 1862, replacing Thomas A. Scott. Wolcott died in Jan., 1863. During the time Wolcott was in office, USG wrote him only one letter. Possibly this letter went to Wolcott because he endorsed the letter of Philip Wadsworth, mentioned in the preceding note. A book of copies of endorsements by the office of the secretary of war in DNA, RG 107, which does not record the endorsement on the Wadsworth letter, does show that of thirty-two endorsements in the period Dec. 1-15, 1862, Wolcott signed eighteen.
Head Quarters, Dept. of the Ten.
Oxford, Miss., Dec. 17th 1862.
MAJ: GEN. MCPHERSON
COMD'G. LEFT WING &C.,
GEN:
I wish you as soon as practicable to make a reconnoisance to the front as far as Otoolattah creek 1 with the view of making an advance to that point. I will not move my Hd' Qrs. until Saturday 2 and then probably to Springdale.
Respectfully &c.,
U. S. GRANT.
Maj : Gen.
Copies, DLC-USG, V, 18, 30, 91; DNA, RG 393, Dept. of the Tenn., Letters Sent. O. R., I, xvii, part 2, 423. On Dec. 18, 1862, Maj. Gen. James B. McPherson, "Camp Yocknapatafa," wrote to USG. "Your dispatch received. I was down to Water-Valley and examined the roads & ground in the Vicinity of the 'Otuckalofa Creek' day before yesterday with a view to a forward movement—The ground along the banks of this creek is well adapted for camping being high and rolling,
-57-
