HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF THE ETOWAH, Brig. Gen. W. D. WHIPPLE, Chief of Staff and Asst. Adjt. Gen., Dept. of the Cumberland: GENERAL: The whole country between this post and the front is infested with guerrilla bands, who will and can constantly interrupt our line of communications unless they are broken up and driven out of the country. To do this requires a mounted force, and it will be accomplished in the shortest time and most effectually by men who are acquainted with the country and the character and associations of the leaders of these bands. Having learned that there is a probability of the First East Tennessee Cavalry, Colonel Brownlow, being mounted, I respectfully ask the major-general commanding the Department of the Cumberland to order this regiment, if mounted, to report to me, that I may use it to clear the country of the bands of thieves and marauders now organized and being organized to depredate upon our communications. Brownlow's regiment has in it men who know the country, every road and bridle path, and understand the political sentiments of the people, and hence would not be so readily imposed upon and misled by rebel sympathizers as troops who are strangers in the country. Very respectfully, SPECIAL FIELD ORDERS, No. 32. JAMES B. STEEDMAN, HDQRS. MIL. DIV. OF THE MISS., In the Field, near Chattahoochee River, I. The division of General John E. Smith will occupy the Allatoona II. Each of the three armies will have one regiment at Marietta, of the average strength of 330 men for fatigue duty, to unload cars; the commanding officers to report for orders to the chief commissary, Colonel Beckwith. Marietta will be the grand depot, but the chief quartermaster may arrange to deliver stores in bulk at Ruff's or Vining's Stations, according to the facilities of the railroad. III. Commissaries and quartermasters must keep ten days' supplies on hand at all times, without special orders to that effect, and the army must be ready for quick, prompt movement, as our future plans depend on the enemy. By order of Maj. Gen. W. T. Sherman: L. M. DAYTON, NEAR CHATTAHOOCHEE RIVER, GA., July 11, 1864-7 a. m. Maj. Gen. H. W. HALLECK, Washington, D. C.: (Received 9.15 a. m. 13th.) The enemy is now all beyond the Chattahoochee, having destroyed all his bridges. We occupy the west bank for thirty miles, and have SR R-VOL XXXVIII, PT V two heads of columns across; one at the shallow ford at Ro and the other at the mouth of Soap Creek (Phillips'). At the are making good pier bridges. Water is shallow, rock botton strong and rapid current. I propose to have another of pou lower down, about the mouth of Rottenwood or Island Creeks. last works abandoned by the enemy were the strongest of all, embr two detached redoubts and extending along the river hills for five miles, having in its whole extent finished abatis and parapet, glacis obstructed with chevaux-de-frise, and all manner of impedin But the moment Johnston detected that I had ignored his forts had secured two good lodgments above him on the east bank, at well Factory and at Phillips', he drew his forces across and burne his bridges, viz, one railroad, one trestle, and three pontoons. We commence the real game for Atlanta, and I expect pretty sharp p tice, but I think we have the advantage, and propose to keep it. W. T. SHERMAN, Major-Genere WASHINGTON, July 11, 1864-10.15 a. r Maj. Gen. W. T. SHERMAN, Georgia: Hunter, Crook, and Averell have their hands more than full, a cannot operate as you suggest. H. W. HALLECK, Major-General and Chief of Staf HDQRS. MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI, General THOMAS: I have ordered General McPherson to send his pontoons here t morrow. I will order them to Powers' Ferry, and I will want you to effec a lodgment there to-morrow night and next day. There is no enemy any size to our immediate front, and General Dodge reports the enemy cavalry alone above Peach Tree Creek at Buck Head. He says he ha an Atlanta paper of the 10th, that all the wealthy people are leaving and that a council of war was held, when it was decided to fight fo Atlanta. General Rousseau telegraphs from Decatur on the Sth tha he started that day and would be on the Montgomery and Opelika road in eight or nine days. I think we should as soon as possible secur the opposite bank from Roswell down to Peach Tree Creek. I think the bridge across the Peach Tree near the railroad bridge is still standing I watched it close to-day and think I saw half a dozen men pass it, but with that exception there was no life visible. There was no danger standing in full view in the redoubt to-day. The signal officer reports the absence of all camps from the other side to-day. I suppose Johnston will group his army about Atlanta, and wait for us to develop our game. I only await news from Stoneman to put General McPherson in motion. W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General, Commanding. in HDQRS. MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI, General THOMAS: Colonel Beckwith says the three regiments have reported at Marietta. You can order the brigade left there to join its proper command. The brigade of General McPherson at Kenesaw will be near enough to protect the depot. W. T. SHERMAN, HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Maj. Gen. O. O. HOWARD, Commanding Fourth Army Corps: I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Major-General SHERMAN: [JULY 11, 1864.] General Howard will, to-morrow morning, move a brigade down the south bank of the river from Phillips' to Powers' Ferry, and move one of the pontoon bridges from the former point to the latter. The road at Phillips' is so narrow on each side that but one wagon can pass at a time, consequently there is use for but one bridge. The trestle bridge will not be completed for several days. GEO. H. THOMAS, [JULY 11, 1864.] Major-General HOWARD, Commanding Fourth Army Corps: GENERAL: The major-general commanding directs that when you get the bridge complete you move your whole corps to the south bank of the river. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, WM. D. WHIPPLE, Assistant Adjutant-General. HDQRS. THIRD DIVISION, FOURTH ARMY CORPS, Lient. Col. J. S. FULLERTON, Assistant-Adjutant General: He left General Johnston's headquarters at 3 p. m. yesterday. General Johnston's headquarters are at a small white house three miles this side of Atlanta, on what is called the Atlanta and Marietta r The railroad passes near it. General Stewart's headquarters are I General Johnston's. Stewart's corps, late Polk's, is still on the righ Johnston's army, with the right resting on the railroad, about two m beyond Peach Tree Creek, going from here toward Atlanta. Moore s he heard the officers saying they were going to intrench a position w their right resting on the railroad and their left at Cedar Bluffs. says he was told that the principal part of the rebel wagon train h been moved beyond Atlanta toward Augusta; that a good deal of r chinery had been moved from Atlanta in the same direction, and th the refugees, in great numbers, taking the negroes, &c., are also going the same direction. He heard officers say that they did not expect a general engagement would take place in the vicinity of Atlanta witho they received re-enforcements. He heard a camp rumor that a part Kirby Smith's force was on the way by rail to join Johnston's army, b he could not get this from any reliable source. He says the rumor w that this re-enforcement would be there to-day. Moore says his impre sion is that the left of the rebel army rests at present on the rive Moore says he heard yesterday a report in the rebel camp that two their corps are at Harper's Ferry. Early's corps is one, and he does no remember the other corps. He also heard a report that there had bee a fight between Forrest and General Washburn. Moore says he sa Colonel Sherman at a distance, but did not have an opportunity to spea to him. He says Colonel Sherman has been forwarded to Anderson[ville In returning Moore came back by the way of Buck Head, entering ou lines through General Dodge's command. He reported there early thi morning. Moore says Wheeler's rebel cavalry pickets are two miles from General Dodge's outposts. Wheeler's cavalry lies between there and Buck Head. Moore says the Georgia State Troops, under General G W. Smith, are on the left, under the general direction of General Hood Respectfully, your obedient servant, TH. J. WOOD, Brigadier-General of Volunteers, Commanding. P. S.-Moore says he saw Mrs. Johnston and other ladies at General Johnston's headquarters yesterday. They seem to be having a jollification. Moore brings rebel papers to yesterday. W. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, In the Field, near Vining's Station, Ga., July 11, 1864. Brig. Gen. E. M. McCook, Commanding First Cavalry Division: GENERAL: The major-general commanding directs that you take a sufficient force of your command, proceed to Dallas, and arrest the following-named men, bring them to these headquarters, and turn them over to the provost-marshal-general of the Department of the Cumberland: Green B. Turner, who lives two miles and a half from Dallas; Nick Allen, who lives three miles west of Dallas; Stephen Allen, who lives three miles west of Dallas; Lem. Anderson, who lives in Dallas; John Hicks, who lives five miles west of Dallas; Aleck Bullock, who lives three miles west of Dallas. Be sure to arrest Lem. Anderson, the Allens, and Aleck Bullock. After you have made these arrests inform the men |