HEADQUARTERS SEVENTEENTH ARMY CORPS, Maj. Gen. W. T. SHERMAN, Comdg. Dept. and Army of the Tennessee: GENERAL: I have made arrangements to transfer Crocker's division to this place, leaving a garrison of two white regiments, two battalions of cavalry, one battery light artillery, and two colored regiments. McArthur's division, with the colored troops, will constitute the garrisons for this place and Natchez. This will leave me Leggett's (late Logan's) and Crocker's divisions as a movable force to operate as circumstances may require. I hear from good authority that the rebels are repairing the railroad from Brandon to Jackson and from Jackson to Canton. If this should prove to be so, I will try to break up the arrangement. The heavy work on the new line of fortifications here is about done, and the siege guns hauled up and some of them mounted. The works under construction at Natchez, Lieutenant Hains, engineer in charge, informs me, are well under way, and require a garrison of over 7,000 men. As this is a much greater number than can be spared for that post at present, I have instructed him to finish up a portion of the work to accommodate a garrison of about 2,500 men. Nothing new; Cosby's, Whitfield's, and Logan's brigades of cavalry are still between Black and Pearl Rivers, with a respectable infantry force at Canton. It is rumored that Forrest is organizing a force to operate on the river south of Memphis, and that he has six pieces of artillery. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, JAS. B. MCPHERSON, Major-General. CHATTANOOGA, November 15, 1863-10 a. m. Colonel Wilson, of my staff, and Mr. Dana are in Knoxville, and will not leave until present dangers are over. Burnside can certainly detain Longstreet in the Tennessee Valley until we can make such moves here as will entirely free him from present danger. I have asked him if he cannot hold the Knoxville and Clinton line for one week. If so, we can make moves here that will save all danger in East Tennessee. Sherman is now at Bridgeport. He will commence moving tomorrow or next day, throwing one brigade from Whiteside's into Trenton, thus threatening enemy's left flank. Remainder of his force will pass over by Kelley's Ferry, leaving river from Lookout, and march up to mouth of Chickamauga. Pontoons are made and making to throw across at that point, over which it is intended. Sherman's force and one division of Thomas' shall pass. This force will attack Missionary Ridge, with the left flank and Thomas supporting, from here. In the mean time Hooker will attack Lookout and carry it if possible. If Burnside can hold the line from Knoxville to Clinton, as I have asked him, for six days, I believe Bragg will be started back for south side of Oostenaula and Longstreet cut off. I have been anxious for earlier movements here, but the condition of transportation of the command would not admit of it. U. S. GRANT, HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Brig. Gen. A. JOHNSON, Military Governor of Tennessee, Nashville: GENERAL: I am directed by the general commanding to send you the colors of the Fourth Regiment Tennessee Volunteers captured from them by the rebel Wheeler at McMinnville. A bearer of dispatches from Wheeler to Bragg was captured in the vicinity of Trenton, Ga., by one of our scouting parties soon after Wheeler was driven from Middle Tennessee, and the flag taken from him among other things. The general desires that it may be returned to the regiment, and trusts that it may never again fall into disloyal hands. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, C. GODDARD, Lieutenant-Colonel and Assistant Adjutant General. HEADQUARTERS ELEVENTH AND TWELFTH CORPS, Lieut. Col. C. GODDARD, Assistant Adjutant-General, Army of the Cumberland: On the 10th instant I was advised by Special Orders, No. 301, dated November 10, 1863, that Major-General Slocum had been assigned to the command of our communications between Duck River and Bridgeport, and for him to establish his headquarters at Tullahoma. Yesterday I received a telegram from that officer that he had that day established his headquarters at Murfreesborough. If any orders emanating from the headquarters of the Army of the Cumberland authorized this change or that of the troops of the First Division of the Twelfth Corps, I request that I may be furnished with a copy of them. Yesterday morning it was reported to me that the enemy had broken ground apparently for the purpose of establishing a new battery on Lookout Mountain, just below the most precipitous slope on the north end of it. From the best means in my power to observe it, and from the most favorable point, I am of opinion that it is designed for one gun, and that to play on our trains as they pass an exposed point in the vicinity of my headquarters. No gun is yet in position, and possibly the work is not intended for that purpose. The enemy fired a few shots last night and also this morning, apparently to ascertain whether or not they could make their projectiles reach the trains on the road they now travel, but all of them hitherto have fallen a little short. Last night an unusual number of campfires were seen on the Lookout Valley side of the mountain, but I could hear or see nothing indicating a movement. I am of opinion that the enemy can throw into Lookout Valley over the north point of the mountain about 8,000 infantry an hour; and if done at night, or on a foggy morning, without being observed by our forces stationed on the opposite side of the river. For this reason, if the best interest of the service will admit of it, I request that the First Division of the Twelfth Corps may be ordered to join me. Deserters and refugees continue to arrive; of the former I should think about a dozen per day. I sent six families yesterday to Kelley's Ferry to take passage to Nashville or Murfreesborough. A refugee just in from Lookout Mountain reports that the rebels closed up Nickajack pass night before last by felling trees. Very respectfully, JOSEPH HOOKER, Major-General, Commanding. WASHINGTON, November 15, 1863—1 p. m. Major-General BURNSIDE, Knoxville, Tenn. : General Meade is confident that no re-enforcements have gone from Lee to Jones, in the Virginia Valley. Jones cannot seriously threaten you on that side. Grant will move a large force on Longstreet's rear. If you hold him in check for only a few days, he will be obliged to fall back. You must not abandon your position in Tennessee, but keep as near to Thomas as possible. Major-General BURNSIDE: H. W. HALLECK, CHATTANOOGA, November 15, 1863. Boats have been lying at Nashville loaded with rations to take to Big South Fork ever since you asked to have them sent there waiting for convoy. I had to send all the way to Cairo before orders for gun-boats could be got; they have now arrived at Nashville, and will go up by the first rise. Colonel Donaldson is sending you clothing by wagons from Nashville; he sends by way of Sparta to Kingston. You will have to send out and divert the course of the train. The clothing will leave Nashville in two trains, one leaving there on the 18th, other on the 20th. U. S. GRANT, Major-General BURNSIDE: CHATTANOOGA, November 15, 1863. If General Wilson and Mr. Dana have started back, you will please send by courier or telegraph for them to return to you, as I am desirous they should remain with you for the present.* U. S. GRANT, * See also Grant to Burnside in Grant's report, Part II, p. 30. General PARKE: LENOIR'S, November 15, 1863. We will try to be in Knoxville some time to-morrow. If possible, by any means in your power, I desire the place held until we arrive. The enemy are now pressing us. The fighting thus far has not been very serious. I hope that we may be able to join you without trouble. Let the inhabitants of the town, if the enemy shell it, get into the cellars and give warning to Colonels Temple and Baxter, Mr. Morrow, Dr. Brownlow, and other prominent Union citizens of our force being compelled to leave the city. I sincerely wish that I was with you, but know that you will do all that is possible for any one to do. The members of my staff that are with you will, I am sure, render you every assistance in their power. A. E. BURNSIDE, Major-General. We drove the enemy from just beyond Loudon to within 1 mile of their bridge, and rested on our arms during the night. In the mean time I received a dispatch from Grant (a copy of which you can get from Johns), which determined us to fall back on this place, and finally upon Knoxville. It will not be our policy to make a hasty retreat. It is possible that we may have a decisive battle before we can join you. It is necessary in the present_programme that you should hold Knoxville to the last moment. Bring Cameron into the interior line on the opposite side of river; put your artillery in position; bring in cattle and hogs to last you several days; if it becomes necessary, loop-hole the houses and put the new troops in them; and, in short, do everything that is necessary to promote the main object, which is to keep Longstreet in check for five or six days. Johns will translate all the ciphers for you, and I leave it to your own judgment to carry out the views and details of General Grant and myself. I will join you soon as possible, but it is possible that our advance may be somewhat impeded by the enemy. In Sanders' dispatch of last night he spoke of the capture of the Eleventh Kentucky. Please inform me definitely in reference to the exact state of that regiment. What do you hear from Willcox? A. E. BURNSIDE. KNOXVILLE, TENN., November 15, 1863. The following just received from Sanders: WILLIAMS' MILL, November 15, 1863. The patrol went into Rockford last night, but met the enemy's pickets this morning. Some firing is or was, a few minutes ago, going on in the front toward Maryville, and also on the right toward Louisville across the river. During the night rockets were seen toward Louisville and also in the direction of the Martin's Gap road, a road leading off to the left and toward the mountains. The road to Sevierville, &c., is open to the enemy. Some of my regiments did not get rations last night. I have directed my quartermaster to come to you for directions in regard to my wagon train, now in Knoxville. Forage is rather scarce here, and he says he has none where he is. Major-General PARKE: W. P. SANDERS. JNO. G. PARKE, Major-General. LENOIR'S, November 15, 1863. I am satisfied you ought to hold the other side of the river until we get up. It now seems to be too late to do more than concentrate at Knoxville and fight them. What do you think? General O. B. WILLCOX, A. E. BURNSIDE, Major-General. KNOXVILLE, TENN., November 15, 1863. Bull's Gap: Order Hoskins to get in readiness to move with his brigade here by rail at once. An engine and nine cars leave here for Bull's Gap, picking up say five cars on the way, which with the cars now at Bull's Gap will probably be sufficient to move the brigade. On the arrival of the train please have him loaded as quickly as possible, putting what rations he has on board, and necessary camp equipage and baggage if there is room, in which case his wagon train can be left behind. If there is not room on cars for camp equipage and baggage, load them on wagon train and leave it with guard there, to await further orders. Hold the cars now at Bull's Gap for this purpose. Please get Hoskins off as soon as possible. JÑO. G. PARKE, MUNFORDVILLE, November 15, 1863. Capt. A. C. SEMPLE, Louisville: Four hundred rebels under Hamilton and company were this side Cumberland yesterday. Force sent out to get in their rear compelled them to recross the river. E. H. HOBSON, CHATTANOOGA, November 15, 1863. Maj. Gen. S. A. HURLBUT, Memphis: From all that can be derived from the statements of deserters and scouts, all of Johnston's forces are being sent from Mississippi here to re-enforce Bragg. A large number have already arrived. U. S. GRANT, (Copy to Major-General McPherson, November 19.) |