Maj. Gen. W. T. SHERMAN, NASHVILLE, March 4, 1864. Commanding Department of the Tennessee: You will be able better than I to judge how far the damage you have done the railroads about Meridian will disable the enemy from sending an army into Mississippi and West Tennessee with which to operate on the river; also what force will now be required to protect and guard the river. Use the negroes or negro troops more particularly for guarding plan ations and for the defense of the west bank of the river. The artillerists among them, of course, you will put in fortifications, but most of the infantry give to Hawkins to be used on the west bank. Add to this element of your forces what you deem an adequate force for the protection of the river from Cairo down as far as your command goes, and extend the command of one army corps to the whole of it. Assemble the balance of your forces at or near Memphis, and have them in readiness to join your columns on this front in their spring campaign. Whether it will be better to have them march, meeting supplies sent up the Tennessee to Eastport, or whether they should be brought around to the latter place by steamers, can be determined hereafter. Add all the forces now under Dodge to the two corps, or to one of the two corps, you take into the field with you. Forces will be transferred from the Chattanooga and Nashville road to guard all the road now protected by your troops. If they are not sufficient, enough will be taken from elsewhere to leave all yours for the field. I am ordered to Washington, but as I am directed to keep up telegraphic communications with this command, I shall expect in the course of ten or twelve days to return to it. Place the Marine Brigade under the command of the corps commander left on the Mississippi River. Give direction that it be habitually used for the protection of leased plantations, and will not pass below Vicksburg nor above Greenville, except by order of the corps commander or higher authority. U. S. GRANT, 5. Officers of the U. S. Coast Survey within this military division will take the assimilated rank of captain of engineers, and be respected accordingly. When stationed in cities they will be entitled to fuel and quarters in kind. By order of Maj. Gen. U. S. Grant: SPECIAL ORDERS, T S. BOWERS, Assistant Adjutant-General. HDQRS. 2D DIV., 16TH ARMY CORPS, No. 50. I. The Seventh Iowa Veteran Volunteer Infantry will proceed at once with camp and garrison equipage to Prospect, Tenn., and relieve the Twenty-seventh Ohio Infantry Veteran Volunteers. This regiment (Seventh Iowa) will report through its proper brigade at this place. II. One section of artillery, to be designated by Capt. Fred. Welker, Chief of Artillery, Second Division, Sixteenth Army Corps, will accompany the Seventh Iowa Veteran Volunteers to Prospect, Tenn., and be stationed there until further orders. If possible, the artillery will be moved on the same train with the infantry, but if not, as soon thereafter as practicable. III. Col. E. W. Rice, Seventh Iowa Infantry Veteran Volunteers, having returned with his regiment, will at once assume command of the First Brigade, Second Division, Sixteenth Army Corps, he being the senior officer present therewith. By order of Brig. Gen. T. W. Sweeny, commanding: L. H. EVERTS, Captain and Assistant Adjutant-General. Maj. Gen. U. S. GRANT: KNOXVILLE, March 5, 1864. Since sending my dispatch of yesterday I have learned that Thomas has returned to Chattanooga. If it is now practicable for him to send me the force necessary to drive Longstreet out of East Tennessee, I think it may be done without delay. I will probably have the railroad bridge at Strawberry Plains completed by the time his troops can reach that place. We will then be able to supply our troops without serious difficulty. J. M. SCHOFIELD, KNOXVILLE, March 5, 1864-12.30 p. m. Maj. Gen. GEORGE H. THOMAS: General Carter has just informed me of your return to Chattanooga. Is it not practicable to commence operations against Longstreet? My possession of the railroad bridge at Strawberry Plains removes, to a very great extent, the difficulty of advancing at this season. I hope to have the bridge completed within ten days. My troops have been as far as Russellville and found the road uninjured. Do not think Longstreet has sent any infantry to Georgia. He seems to be moving slowly toward Virginia. If you can help me to drive Longstreet out I will then be able to help you. It does not seem probable that we will have troops enough for both operations at once. Please give me your views on this subject. J. M. SCHOFIELD, NEW MARKET, March 5, 1864-7.30 p. m. Brig. Gen. E. E. POTTER, Chief of Staff at Knoxville, Strawberry Plains: Your dispatch stating the departure of trains received. No ammunition is wanted at the front at present, beyond the supply on hand. J. D. COX, Brigadier-General. Major-General GRANGER, Loudon: KNOXVILLE, March 5, 1864. Let the boats now on the way from Chattanooga with supplies for this place come here instead of unloading at Loudon. Brig. Gen. J. D. Cox, J. M. SCHOFIELD, Major-General. HEADQUARTERS NINTH ARMY CORPS, Acting Chief of Staff, &c.: GENERAL: A force of the enemy's cavalry appeared in our front this evening, following a detachment of the Twenty-third Corps of about 90 men from Panther Springs. The captain of this detachment has come in, and his report will doubtless be sent you from the headquarters of Twenty-third Corps. They fired on our pickets. Two regiments were sent out to support the line. General Ferrero has just come in and reports seeing about 400 or 500 of the enemy, and that on pressing them they retired. We have 1 prisoner who says that he belongs to Giltner's brigade. No infantry with them; that Longstreet is at Bull's Gap, or from Bull's Gap to Greeneville. We have 1 man wounded slightly. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, General J. D. Cox, JNO. G. PARKE, CAMP ON MOSSY CREEK, TENN., Acting Chief of Staff, &c.: GENERAL: Buckner's division is reported 2 miles this side of Bull's Gap. Two regiments of enemy's cavalry were at Dandridge last night; they have not been heard from to-day. Enemy have pickets on north side of French Broad as far down as Dandridge. A party of bushwhackers of 8, 2 of whom are known by name and live near Panther Springs, captured 2 men sent by General Judah for a broken-down ambulance, taking their horses from them. One of the men escaped. I sent a party to capture the bushwhackers, but have not as yet heard from them. Two small scouting parties of the enemy were in Morristown yesterday, but left just before our men entered. I suppose General Parke reports everything to you that transpires in his front. Respectfully, &c., Please let me know when General Schofield returns. GEO. STONEMAN, G. S. CHATTANOOGA, March 5, 1864. Brig. Gen. J. A. RAWLINS, Chief of Staff : The enemy advanced a brigade of cavalry early this morning on Colonel Harrison's pickets. Thirty-ninth Indiane Mounted Infantry, at Woods' Gap in Taylor's Ridge, and drove them back toward Lee and Gordon's Mills. The enemy then fell back through Gordon's Gap, as reported by General Baird from Ringgold. A scout just from Dalton reports Johnston has been re-enforced by 10,000 men from South Carolina and by Roddey, and he believes he contemplates a forward movement. Maj. Gen. JOHN M. SCHOFIELD, GEO. H. THOMAS, Major-General. CHATTANOOGA, March 5, 1864. Knoxville: It has been reported to Major-General Thomas to-day, and also two days since, that the enemy were heavily re-enforcing at Dalton. General Grant thinks it is not improbable that he may advance against us here. In that case we shall need the Fourth Corps, and wish you to hold it in readiness to send, if it be needed. Cannot send you any assistance while this contingency is hanging over us. WM. D. WHIPPLE, Brigadier-General and Chief of Staff. CHATTANOOGA, March 5, 1864-11 p. m. Major-General SCHOFIELD, Knoxville: I have just received reliable information that Johnston has been re-enforced by 10,000 men from South Carolina and by Roddey, and that he contemplates making an offensive movement in this direction. Can you spare Granger's corps and the cavalry? If so, please direct them to concentrate at Cleveland, leaving a brigade of infantry and battery at Calhoun to guard the railroad at that place. GEO. H. THOMAS, Major-General, U. S. Volunteers. Brig. Gen. CHARLES CRUFT, CHATTANOOGA, March 5, 1864. Commanding, Blue Springs : If General Granger has sent a brigade to Calhoun to relieve Colonel Taylor, order Colonel Taylor to rejoin you. GEO. H. THOMAS, Major-General, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Brig. Gen. CHARLES CRUFT, Blue Springs : Chattanooga, March 5, 1864. The enemy is moving about our front with heavy cavalry force and some infantry. Have you any information of his movements in your region? Answer immediately. WM. D. WHIPPLE, BLUE SPRINGS, March 5, 1864. Brigadier-General WHIPPLE, Chief of Staff: Mr. J. Brown, who is reported to be in the secret service, has sent word verbally by a third party that re-enforcements are arriving at Dalton, reported to be 10,000 infantry from South Carolina and Roddey's cavalry. The report is sent to you just as received; have no means to verify it or to form any opinion upon it. Brigadier-General WHIPPLE: CHARLES CRUFT, BLUE SPRINGS, March 5, 1864. Dispatch received; have telegraphed you all I can learn. There was no enemy at Red Clay at 4.30 p. m. Citizens reported the force at Dalton on yesterday, furnished with three days' rations for a movement. Roddey's cavalry reported at Dalton and 10,000 re-enforcements from South Carolina. These are the rumors of to-day, heretofore sent you. I expect a dash here almost any time from the apprehensions of citizens around. How did Baird come out to-day? CHARLES CRUFT, Brigadier-General. Maj. Gen. GEORGE H. THOMAS: BLUE SPRINGS, March 5, 1864. Dispatch received; nothing new in my front that I can learn of. Colonel Long, I am informed, has two scouting parties out; has had regiment of infantry at election precinct 3 miles north of Red Clay to-day. Colonel Enyart just reports cannonading heard by citizens and soldiers from McDaniel's Gap to-day; thought to be a little left of Graysville. Brigadier-General WHIPPLE, p. m. CHARLES CRUFT. BLUE SPRINGS, March 5, 1864. Chief of Staff: Cavalry scout just returned from Red Clay, leaving there at 4.30 Saw nothing of enemy; heard heavy cannonading at or near Ringgold, from, say, 11 a. m. to 1 p. m., and occasional shots till 4 Citizens represent that forces at Dalton put three days' rations on men yesterday preparatory to a movement. Citizens represented, say, 200 cavalry at Kenyon's.. p. m. CHARLES CRUFT, HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Brigadier-General BAIRD : Chattanooga, March 5, 1864-9 p. m. Distribute three days' rations to your command and then load up and send your wagons back to Graysville; you will then be prepared any movement of the enemy. You should send out a reconnoi for |