HEADQUARTERS LEFT WING, SIXTEENTH ARMY CORPS, Brig. Gen. T. W. SWEENY, Commanding Second Division: Orders received from department headquarters render it necessary that our skirmish line should connect on the left with the Seventeenth Army Corps. Have a new skirmish line selected with this view and good cover made for men, connecting on your right with Veatch. Have your left so connect with the Seventeenth Army Corps that the rebels cannot turn it or get in rear of any part of the line. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, G. M. DODGE, Brigadier-General, Commanding. HDQRS. SECOND BRIG., FOURTH DIV., 17TH ARMY CORPS, Capt. C. CADLE, Jr., Assistant Adjutant-General, Fourth Division: SIR: I beg leave to report that the works at this place are, as far as I have received instructions from corps engineers, nearly completed. We are felling timber and making some rifle-pits that I deem very necessary for our protection. The Eighth Kansas Infantry Volunteers, who were stationed at the bridge, left for the front yesterday by order of Major-General Sherman. On the 25th instant Philo Lindley, quartermaster Fifty-third Illinois Infantry Volunteers, and acting brigade and post quartermaster, went into the country in charge of a guard and one team for the purpose of procuring a grindstone, some blacksmith tools and blacksmith iron. When about two miles from this place, and while riding a short distance at the rear of the team, they were fired upon by a party of ten, commanded by a Captain Moore, belonging to Wheeler's command, killing the quartermaster and one of my orderlies. Two of my men were taken prisoners, but effected their escape. The team and guard proceeded and procured the articles sent for, and returned to camp without further molestation. The country around here is full of bushwhackers. I am taking meas ures to drive them out of the country, and am sending suspicious families away from the line of the railroad. Many others are going north voluntarily. As yet no mounted or dismounted cavalry have reported to me. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, GEO. C. ROGERS, Colonel, Commanding Post. HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF TENNESSEE, Maj. Gen. W. T. SHERMAN, Commanding Military Division of the Mississippi: GENERAL: I wrote you some days ago and asked to be allowed to go to Selma. I now beg leave to renew my request, and that I be allowed to go when it is understood the force of the enemy in that direction is not too large to be overcome by such force as I can prudently take from here. I send a reliable man to talk with you and General Thomas on the subject. He is known to General Thomas and myself to be loyal and reliable in every way. Indeed, general, I think there is nothing in the way, provided only that Forrest be entertained by Generals Smith and Mower. Hoping for a favorable reply I shall go on and prepare for the trip as well as I can, in a quiet way, and be ready as soon as may be. I have conversed freely with General Webster and he agrees fully with me on the subject. On looking over the copy of my letter, not carefully read at the time, I find Selma instead of Montgomery is named as the point between which and Atlanta there are important bridges and trestles that could be destroyed. The bearer will explain fully all I could say on this as on other matters. If Forrest be kept engaged by Generals Smith and Mower, I could with prudence take from this district enough men to do the work. There are about 800 armed men in Selma, nearly all of whom are workmen, the balance boy militia. But I need not say more. I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, VILLANOW, June 27, 1864. General STEEDMAN: Can find no rebels in this vicinity, north of Subligna. What shall I do? Answer at Resaca to-night. I have rations to to-morrow night. Will wait here until I hear from you. J. T. CROXTON, Fourth Kentucky, Commanding. HDQRS. THIRD DIVISION, FIFTEENTH ARMY CORPS, Col. GREEN B. RAUM, In the Field, June 27, 1864. Commanding Second Brigade, Third Division: COLONEL: You will move with your command to Stevenson at once and embark on board cars for Kingston, Ga. The camp and garrison equipage allowed by general orders yesterday will be taken on cars, the balance of it will be forwarded by wagon train, escorted by cavalry, to Chattanooga. The whole division train will start out together from this camp. The troops will have three days' rations in their haversacks. You will superintend embarking your command, assisted by your staff officers. Cars will be ready at 8 o'clock this p. m. By order of Col. Jesse I. Alexander, commanding: CARL. L. WHITE, Captain and Assistant Adjutant-General. HDQRS. THIRD DIVISION, FIFTEENTH ARMY CORPS, Col. JABEZ BANBURY, Comdg. Third Brig., Third Div., Fifteenth Army Corps: You will move your command at once to Stevenson, Ala., and embark on cars at that place for Kingston, Ga. The men will take three days' rations in their haversacks. Your wagons will go by dirt road, under charge of their quartermasters, with balance of the division train. The 40 R R-VOL XXXVIII, PT IV camp and garrison equipage contemplated by general order of yesterday will be taken on cars. All others will be sent by wagons to Chattanooga, Tenn. By order of Col. J. I. Alexander: Maj. T. T. ECKERT: CARL. L. WHITE, Assistant Adjutant-General. CAMP, KENESAW, GA., June 27, 1861-7 p. m. At 8.30 a. m. to-day Sherman attacked the enemy's line at four points, Schofield carrying the position of the enemy on Sandtown road, north of Olley's Creek, which he holds, and which is all the real gain of the day. Thomas attacked with four brigades, and was repulsed, losing 2,000 men, including two brigade commanders-Harker and Dan. MeCook, both dangeronsly wounded. McPherson attacked on the line of Kenesaw, with Morgan L. Smith's division and Walcutt's brigade, through dense, tangled thicket, and under cross and enfilading fire, which cost him 1,000 men and stopped the column. Blair attacked a division on the extreme left, co-operating with Garrard's cavalry, but accomplished nothing, and I have no report of his losses or of Schofield's. We shall hold all that has been gained, and fight again to-morrow. My lines worked well all day, and communication between the right and left (thirteen miles apart) has been constant and uninterrupted. Weather excessively warm; roads good. J. C. VAN DUZER. Weekly report of effective force of the Department of the Cumberland, Maj. Gen. George H. Thomas, U. S. Army, commanding, for June 27, 1864. |