General Grant determined to attack him in force, prepared to regain Corinth before Van Dorn could reach it.

He had drawn Ord to Corinth, and moved him, by Burnsville, on Iuka, by the main road, twenty-six miles.

General Grant accompanied this column as far as Burnsville.

At the same time he had dispatched Rosecrans by roads to the south, via Jacinto, with orders to approach Iuka by the two main roads, coming into Iuka from the south, viz., they Jacinto and Fulton roads.
On the 18th General Ord encountered the enemy about four miles out of Iuka.

His orders contemplated that he should not make a serious attack, until Rosecrans had gained his position on the south; but, as usual, Rosecrans had encountered difficulties in the confusion of roads, his head of column did not reach the vicinity of Iuka till 4 p.m.