HDQRS. MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI, General ALLEN, I hear that troops are accumulating at Louisville faster than the road can transport them. In that event, give preference to the veterans and if necessary send the new Indiana regiments round by the Cumberland in boats. I believe the Cumberland is in good order. W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General, Commanding. HDQRS. MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI, Colonel DONALDSON, Nashville, Tenn.: Reports of 29th and 30th are more than satisfactory. I know that you are doing all that mortal can, and it shall not be my fault if the services are not properly acknowledged in time. W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General, Commanding. LOUISVILLE, May 1, 1864. General MEIGS: Five months' supplies of all kinds are at Nashville. The great work on this side is nearly done, but done in vain if not followed up with the greatest possible energy and discretion. With limited means the transportation must go forward from Nashville to Chattanooga and follow up the march. Chattanooga is now the vital point; a failure there, and all that is accomplished is a failure. The Senate refuses my confirmation because I am not in the field. I am of too much consequence to go there and of too little to deserve promotion. R. ALLEN, Chief Quartermaster. HDQRS. MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI, Hon. JAMES GUTHRIE, Prest. Louisville and Nashville Railroad, Louisville, Ky.: I am aware of the diminution of your stock, and only ask that you do all that is possible; the next ten days will be the test. We have enough stores at Nashville. We prefer veterans to new troops. Allen might send some of the latter around by boats up the Cumberland. I ask that you do the best possible with your facilities to forward veterans, whose absence breaks up regiments and brigades. I think the emergency would warrant the stoppage of all civil business for ten days. Every car and every locomotive south of Nashville is busy. I think you should keep your repair shops busy night and day. The business of your road will double and quadruple as the Cumberland falls, and your road can well profit by the fact by enlarging its capacity. $64. e road erans Cum McCallum is doing all that is possible to increase the stock, but the numerous smashes-up of trains consume cars and locomotives faster than he can get new ones. A long pull and a strong pull may carry us over this tide, after which I hope all will be well. W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General, Commanding. Eng. 64. that the ag. HDQRS. MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI, General SCHOFIELD, Charleston, Tenn.: Make all the preparations for your command to move to Cleveland and Red Clay, Run down to see me for a few hours, and we will go over all the maps and papers. Send orders for Stoneman and all your detachments to follow you, and get all your fighting force close in hand' to move via Cleveland, Red Clay, &c. W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General, Commanding. .) Fork the anslow and ma go Major-General SHERMAN, Chattanooga: CHARLESTON, TENN., May 1, 1864. Had I not better make my It will save twelve miles leave a smaller guard here. I will run down and see you to-morrow. depot at Cleveland, instead of this place? of wagon transportation, and enable me to I presume Howard is to leave a guard at Cleveland. When do you want command to move to Cleveland? my J. M. SCHOFIELD, Major-General. Fou ve HDQRS. MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI, You can leave a very small guard at Charleston, and move your command to Cleveland. Thomas will garrison Cleveland. We will arrange for all the army, yours included, to draw from Ringgold, to which point our cars now run. W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General, Commanding. Commanding Third Division, Twenty-third Army Corps: GENERAL: The major-general commanding directs that the corps march at 5 a. m. on the 3d instant to Cleveland, and that the divisions will march in order of rank of division commanders. He directs that you assume command of the whole and conduct the march and place the troops in position at or near Cleveland. The Eleventh Kentucky Infantry, en route from Kentucky, is ordered to Charleston and assigned to the Fourth Division, General Ammen commanding. All other troops to arrive from Kentucky are ordered to Cleveland to report to their proper division commanders. All animals, wagons, and other property, including ordnance and commissary stores, coming from Knoxville, and intended for the use of the troops in the field, will be sent to Cleveland instead of Charleston, as heretofore ordered. The headquarters of the corps will be moved to Cleveland on the 3d instant. The depot of supplies will be temporarily at Cleveland instead of Charleston. I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, WM. M. WHERRY, Major and Aide-de-Camp. P. S.-The major-general commanding will start for Chattanooga tomorrow a. m., and will rejoin the corps at Cleveland on the 3d instant. He will see you to-morrow, however, before he goes. Respectfully, HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Maj. Gen. O. O. HOWARD, Chattanooga, May 1, 1864. Commanding Fourth Army Corps, Cleveland, Tenn.: The major-general commanding the department directs that upon the arrival of the left wing, under the command of Maj. Gen. J. M. Schofield, at Cleveland, you move with the Fourth Corps to Catoosa Springs and encamp at that place, being cautious while making the movement that you do not expose your flank to attack. You will leave at Cleveland as a guard two of the regiments whose terms of service have nearly expired. Two regiments of General Cruft's brigade, whose terms of service will soon expire, can also be left at Ooltewah. Col. E. M. McCook will be ordered to move at the same time and cover your left flank. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, WM. D. WHIPPLE, Brigadier-General and Chief of Staff. HEADQUARTERS FOURTEENTH ARMY CORPS, Chattanooga, May 1, 1864. Brig. Gen. R. W. JOHNSON, Commanding First Division: You will prepare to remove your command early on Tuesday morning to Ringgold. Corps headquarters will be at Ringgold to-morrow after noon. Very respectfully, JOHN M. PALMER, Major-General, Commanding. place the tucky Inassigned her troops -t to their property, ville, and Cleveland rs of the ot of sup Camp. nooga to instant. Y, or. &c. HEADQUARTERS FOURTEENTH ARMY CORPS, Brig. Gen. J. C. DAVIS, Commanding Second Division, Fourteenth Army Corps: GENERAL: The major-general commanding directs that you move your two brigades now at McAfee's Church at an early hour to-morrow morning. Colonel McCook's brigade will be moved from its present position direct to Ringgold on Tuesday morning, throwing out flankers well to the right to protect its march. I have the honor to be, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, A. C. MCCLURG, Captain and Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Brig. Gen. J. W. GEARY, Bridgeport, Ala.: Send either the gun-boat or some other steam-boat to Larkinsville. Take up the pontoon bridge at that place and bring it to Bridgeport. WM. D. WHIPPLE, D, 1864. Assistant Adjutant-General. upon the M. SchoSprings ovement at CleveIce have , whose h. Col. d-cover Staff S, 1864. morning w after R, HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Col. E. M. McCook, Commanding First Cavalry Division: COLONEL: The Fourth Corps has been ordered to move to Catoosa Springs upon the arrival of the left wing at Cleveland. The majorgeneral commanding the department directs that you move your division in conjunction with General Howard's corps, guarding well the approaches from the direction of the enemy, that the latter may not be able to attack the column in flank while en route. The movement made, you will take up a position on the left of the Fourth Corps, and continue your observations of the enemy's movements as at present. Address the headquarters of the department at Ringgold on Wednesday. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, WM. D. WHIPPLE, Brigadier-General and Chief of Staff. HDQRS. CHIEF OF CAVALRY, DEPT. OF THE CUMBERLAND, General A. C. GILLEM, Nashville, Tenn.: Chattanooga, May 1, 1864. General Thomas wishes to have two regiments of your command mounted and equipped and posted on railroad from Murfreesborough to Stevenson with picket at Caperton's Ferry; this to allow troops to be sent to the front; this duty had better devolve on some one brigade. Detailed instructions will be sent by courier. W. L. ELLIOTT, Brigadier-General and Chief of Cavalry. HDQRS. MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI, General MCPHERSON, Huntsville, Ala.: Keep me advised as well as possible of the position of your forces on the march. Order all to Rossville. I will try and keep the roads clear for you. I fear we have too much provisions and property at Huntsville. When possible send it forward to Stevenson and Chattanooga. I fear to abandon Decatur lest it develop perfectly our move, and your troops from Clifton will soon be up and can probably move from there on Rome in concert with us from this quarter. Therefore hold if possible. W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General, Commanding. Major-General SHERMAN: HUNTSVILLE, May 1, 1864. The three divisions of the Fifteenth Corps are in motion; also the force from Dodge's command. I am expecting Sweeny's division here to-day; also General Dodge's. I shall leave here to-morrow evening. J. B. MCPHERSON, Major-General. HDQRS. MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI, General MCPHERSON, Huntsville, Ala.: Dispatch received. All right. The farther east Dodge's command can march the better, for it is going to be a big job for the cars to carry them. If they could possibly reach Stevenson by Wednesday morning it would be a great lift. W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General, Commanding. Maj. Gen. W. T. SHERMAN, Chattanooga: HUNTSVILLE, May 1, 1864. General Sweeny's division is here, and leaves to-morrow morning by dirt road. Brigadier-General Veatch will be here to-morrow. The three divisions of the Fifteenth Army Corps are one day's march in advance of their respective starting-points. I had already made arrangements to have provisions, forage, ammunition, &c., stopped at Stevenson instead of coming here, in order that it might be sent on to points where most required. Your instructions that Decatur should not be evacuated, except as a last resort, were sent to Brigadier-General Stevenson, who is left in command of the post with 2,500 men. JAS. B. MCPHERSON, |