CHATTANOOGA, TENN., Maj. Gen. U. S. GRANT, March 1, 1864. Comdg. Mil. Div. of the Mississippi, Nashville, Tenn.: GENERAL: Some time last winter you mentioned in conversation that you would send General Hovey to report to me, and I think I saw it announced afterward in the papers that he had been placed in command of the District of Indiana. My object in writing this is to propose an exchange of General R. W. Johnson for him, as from what you told me in the conversation alluded to I inferred that General Hovey would prefer duty in the field to such duty as superintending the recruiting service, &c. I think Johnson would like to be placed on such duty. I have also received a proposition from a man (who, from all I can learn of him, is reliable) to burn the bridge over the Etowah for $30,000 in Confederate money. I have but $10,000 and will be obliged if you will send me $20,000 more if you have it. I think it will be well spent if we can get that bridge destroyed. No further movements of the enemy observed to-day. I have received additional confirmation that the reconnaissance has brought back all the troops which had left Dalton. Mrs. Dr. Gordon, of La Fayette, informs me that she saw two cars of wounded going south. I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, GEO. H. THOMAS, Major-General, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS NINTH ARMY Corps, Brig. Gen. E. FERRERO, Commanding First Division, Ninth Army Corps: GENERAL: You will have your command under arms and ready to move to-morrow morning punctually at 5 o'clock. Your division will follow the command of Brigadier-General Wood. Your train will be loaded and on the road in readiness to move at 5 o'clock to-morrow morning. The trains will move in the same order as the divisions, following the train of General Wood, under the direction of Capt. P. Hiestand, acting chief quartermaster, who will issue the necessary instructions to division quartermasters. By order of Major-General Parke: Col. J. S. FULLERTON, SAML. WRIGHT, Assistant Adjutant-General. BLUE SPRINGS, March 1, 1864. Assistant Adjutant-General, Fourth Army Corps: In obedience to order from department headquarters I have sent one regiment, Fourth Ohio, to Calhoun and two regiments, Eighth Kentucky and Twenty-fourth Ohio, to Chattanooga to-day. Have not determined on the veteran regiment as yet. The casualties of the division on last reconnaissance will not exceed 60. Will send copy of report as soon as completed. CHARLES CRUFT, Brigadier-General, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Major-General GRANT: I will have 400 men at work on the railroad between here and Ringgold to-morrow. The reconnaissance toward Dalton demonstrated that the enemy was still there in force. I have since heard from different sources (all confirmatory) that Johnston had received orders to retire behind the Etowah and send re-enforcements to Selma or Mobile. One informant, Brown, reports that some of the troops had already started, but that our demonstration has brought them back. He is now in Dalton and will report to me immediately any changes Johnston makes. I have signified to General Schofield my willingness to transfer to him all the East Tennessee troops under my command if he will release the Fourth Corps and McCook's division of cavalry. I am entirely crippled for want of cavalry, I am pushing forward the works for the defenses of the railroad between this and Nashville. When they are completed I am in hopes I can order to the front Howard's entire corps and perhaps a part of Slocum's. Did you place General Hovey in command of the District of Kentucky? If so, I think General Johnson would like to exchange duties with him. GEO. H. THOMAS, Major-General, U. S. Volunteers, Commanding. HDQRS. THIRD DIVISION, FOURTEENTH CORPS, Maj. Gen. G. H. THOMAS: GENERAL: I am here still with the equipment for a three days' reconnaissance, and of course unable to make such returns, &c., as I otherwise would. I like my post very much, for there are many advantages in being in front, and would like to remain here, but I must represent to you that my position is precarious, provided the enemy should choose to pass around my flanks and cut me off from General Davis. My right, for a distance of 8 miles, is watched by Colonel Harrison, who will give me timely warning, but on my left is Parker's Gap, through which I send a patrol of 10 men daily, the road being as good as the streets of Chattanooga, by which a force could pass to Graysville and thence to the Pea Vine before I would know it. I have not force enough to guard this pass. I have but twelve regiments, and have to put six on guard daily, and will put on a larger force as soon as the One hundred and first Indiana, now at Rossville, arrives. I have asked to have it sent forward, and also the Fourteenth Ohio as soon as it arrives. It is very important that both of these regiments should come up at once. Two days ago General Palmer directed me, in view of a continued occupation of this place, to retain Davis' brigade, but it had already gone back part of the way, so I referred the matter to General Davis. I learn to-day that the brigade is marching toward his camp away from here. I only mention these facts that you may understand exactly how I am situated. I do not think the enemy will attack me, but if he chooses to do so he certainly can with 8,000 or 10,000 men cut me off from Chattanooga, because I would not be warned of his approach. If consistent with propriety I would be pleased to know what other points in my vicinity are occupied by our troops. I only know that General Johnson is at Tyner's Station, General Davis at McAfee's Church, and Colonel Harrison with a small cavalry force 8 miles on my right. Should my left be turned I would not know where to march in order to receive support. i may mention in the same connection that the only map I have been able to procure of this country is the Coast Survey map, which gives none of the details of the country. I have made repeated application to the engineer department for maps, but have always been told that none have been completed as yet. I know that such maps exist, but I have not been able even to borrow one. My topographical officer is absent with a broken leg and I can do nothing toward preparing one. Indeed, I have not the information requisite. A party of officers arrived here to-day bearing a flag of truce. I happened to know one of the party, Major Davies, of the Pay Department, and he assured me that the flag was sent out by you, but as the officer in charge had no pass from you I reminded him that any party of officers might pass out of the lines on the same pretext. I felt sure that the party was what it represented itself to be and permitted it to pass. It is now absent. I was informed yesterday that a rebel division of infantry had taken position half a mile this side of Tunnel Hill, and last night lights were seen there and drums heard. Humes' cavalry brigade is between here and there. A good supply of forage and rations is arriving, but the roads are becoming bad rapidly. Most respectfully, your obedient servant, A. BAIRD, Brigadier-General. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Brig. Gen. A. BAIRD, Comdg. 3d Division, 14th Army Corps, Ringgold, Ga. : GENERAL: Your communication of this date addressed to MajorGeneral Thomas has been received, and he has directed me to reply to the same. Brigadier-Gener 1 Johnson was this morning ordered to send one brigade to Graysville and observe Parker's Gap. Colonel Harrison, with the Thirty-ninth Indiana, Twenty-eighth Kentucky Mounted Infantry, and Second Kentucky Cavalry, is at Pea Vine Church. General Davis' division is at McAfee's Church, and General Johnson's division, less the brigade at Graysville, is at Tyner's Station. Should you be attacked by the enemy in force greater than you can successfully resist, you will burn your stores and fall back toward Chattanooga. The flag of truce you speak of was doubtless one sent from these headquarters under charge of Col. J. W. Burke, Tenth Ohio Volunteer Înfantry, although I do not think permission was given to any officers to accompany it. Colonel Burke should have been able to produce an order from these headquarters directing him to take 3 rebel prisoners of war and turn them over to the rebel authorities within their lines. I will refer that portion of your letter relating to a map to the engineers, that they may furnish you if able. I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Assistant Adjutant-General and Chief of Staff. HDQRS. FIRST DIVISION, FIFTEENTH ARMY CORPS, Maj. R. R. TOWNES, Assistant Adjutant-General, Huntsville: Roddey's command, formerly at Warrenton, near Guntersville, and latterly at Gadsden, has left the latter place in a northerly direction with the intention, as was supposed by the men, of marching to Tunnel Hill, north of Dalton. The citizens on the other side of Tennessee consider the country between that river and Coosa virtually evacuated. There is nobody at Guntersville except two companies of State guards. P. J. OSTERHAUS, Brigadier-General, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS SEVENTEENTH ARMY CORPS, Maj. Gen. S. A. HURLBUT, Commanding, &c.: GENERAL: Copies of dispatches from Major-General Sherman received. Also letter* from Major-General Butterfield stating that Sooy Smith was in Memphis on Friday last. My advance division encamped at this place, reaching here after dark, and the remainder of the command about 2 miles farther back on the east side of a swamp. The bottom having fallen out, it became necessary to corduroy a portion of it. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, JAS. B. MCPHERSON, Major-General. NASHVILLE, March 1, 1864. The memorial of the senators and representatives of the counties of Graves, Hickman, Fulton, McCracken, Ballard, Marshall, and Calloway, to have the State of Kentucky placed in one district or department in order to insure greater uniformity in orders throughout the State, so far as they relate to citizens and the elective franchise, with your indorsement thereon, is received. *See Part II, p. 478. The Department of the Tennessee was established by order of the War Department, and the limits prescribed by the great natural boundaries of the Tennessee, Ohio, and Mississippi Rivers, with special regard to the best interest of the public service. There are no reasons stated in said memorial which should induce a change in these boundaries so as to attach that part of the State of Kentucky west of the Tennessee River to the department in which the remainder of the State is comprised. The placing of territory belonging to different departments into one district, even were it admissible under "regulations" and "orders," would necessarily beget confusion in the commander of such district having to obey the orders of, and report to, several department commanders. The uniformity of the exercise of the elective franchise throughout the State of Kentucky will not hereafter be interfered with by military orders while the State remains in my command. It is a matter purely civil and with which the military authorities have nothing to do, except when called on to protect the citizens from violence in the exercise of it under the laws prescribed by the State. Instructions in accordance herewith will be given to commanders of troops and districts in the State of Kentucky. U. S. GRANT, Major-General. NASHVILLE, TENN:, March 2, 1864-12.30 p. m. (Received 2.30 a. m., 3d.) News from the south shows that Sherman divided Polk's force and followed south 25 or 30 miles, then went east to Demopolis. Eight days ago he was back at Meridian, no doubt having destroyed railroad connection with the State of Mississippi completely. U. S. GRANT, WASHINGTON, D. C., Maj. Gen. U. S. GRANT, Nashville, Tenn. : March 2, 1864. An association for the relief of those citizens of East Tennessee who have been reduced to destitution by the events of the war has been formed in Philadelphia, and a considerable fund has been raised to procure supplies. The association has appointed as its committee for the distribution of these supplies Messrs. Frederick Collins, Col. N. G. Taylor, and Lloyd P. Smith. I beg to commend them to your kindness, and to request that you will render them any assistance which may be in your power. They should have free transportation for themselves, their agents, and the articles which they desire to distribute, upon all Government railroads and chartered vessels. C. A. DANA, Assistant Secretary of War. |