The enemy's pickets are visible on the opposite side of the [river], but no considerable force has been seen by the citizens in the vicinity, and there is nothing to indicate the presence of any. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, R. W. JOHNSON, Brigadier-General of Volunteers. GENERAL ORDERS, HDQRS. SIXTH DIVISION, CAV. CORPS, MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISS., No. 3. R. W. JOHNSON, Brigadier-General of Volunteers. HEADQUARTERS FIRST BRIGADE, SEVENTH DIVISION, Maj. E. B. BEAUMONT, Gallatin Road, December 4, 1864. Assistant Adjutant-General, Cavalry Corps: MAJOR: I learn that there is a heavy force of the enemy's cavalry in Lebanon; they came there last night. I have all the crossings picketed to Hartsville up and Bender's Ferry below this. My scouts cross the river to-night regularly organized, and with the means of communicating with me. I have 375 men out, in three parties, pressing horses. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. H. HAMMOND, Brevet Brigadier-General. GALLATIN. December 4, 1864. Maj. E. B. BEAUMONT, Assistant Adjutant-General, Cavalry Corps: There is a heavy force of the enemy at Lebanon, Tenn., ten miles from the Cole's Ferry crossing, twelve from Gallatin crossing. I have pickets at all the crossings for twelve miles up the river. Please order all my men at Nashville and Camp Webster, with officers, fit for duty to report to me here at once. General Schofield's train is mostly in, and will be pushed forward at once. 4 R B-VOL XLV, PT II J. H. HAMMOND, Brevet Brigadier-General, Lieut. H. D. BROWN, BUCK LODGE, TENN., December 4, 1864. Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, Gallatin, Tenn.: SIR: I have the honor to report to you that yesterday at 4 p. m. it was reported to me by a citizen that about twenty guerrillas had crossed the railroad between Buck Lodge and South Tunnel, and that perhaps the railroad was damaged. I sent immediately a patrol toward South Tunnel, and found that at a point one mile south of Buck Lodge, and half a mile north of the bridge picket, four rails had been removed from the track and the telegraph cut. I ordered my men to repair the track, and the same time stopped the passenger train which was just coming down. The telegraph was repaired by the engineer. You will allow me to say that the act was done in full sight of the bridge picket, and that it could not have been done if the workmen on the railroad had made application for a guard instead of working without. I was with my company at skirmish drill at the same time, not more than half a mile from that place, and heard the hammering, but as I knew the workmen were there I had no suspicion. I remain, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, ADAM BUCK, Captain Company A, Commanding Post. Major HOFFMAN: TANTALON, December 4, 1864. I have just returned from Elk River bridge; there has been no enemy heard of in that vicinity, and neither the road nor telegraph has been disturbed to Murfreesborough. Breckinridge is reported at McMinnville. The officers at Elk River bridge say they have heard cannonading all day in the direction of Nashville. WM. J. PALMER, Colonel Fifteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. MURFREESBOROUGH, December 4, 1864. COMMANDING OFFICER, Chattanooga: Hood is now front of Nashville. No communication between this and that place. Heavy firing heard in that direction between 10 and 12 o'clock last night. It may be an effort was made to take some block-houses, or perhaps a fight at Nashville. A. J. Smith and force was at Nashville on the 30th with two corps and a piece. General Steedman was recalled on the 1st instant, though I fear two of his trains were captured; one of them got off the track, and both were delayed till the 2d instant. It is reported the trains were captured, but not the troops. A heavy battle was fought at Franklin on the evening of the 30th. The rebels charged and took two lines of intrenched riflepits, so they say, and wanted to take the third. Have Captain Leadenbetter prisoner here, who was at the fight. He says the rebels lost nine generals, five killed and four wounded, and between 5,000 and 8,000 killed and wounded. The battle began about one hour by sun and lasted until 11 or 11.30 o'clock. They made repeated efforts to take by assault our third line, but failed. I believe Schofield and Stanley only were in the battle. After the fight they withdrew toward Nashville. Captain Leadenbetter says all right here, and able to flog Hood, if he will come. Block-houses on road south of here garrisoned and all right, also up to and beyond La Vergne. ORDERS.] LOVELL H. ROUSSEAU, HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF THE ETOWAH, I. Captain Hotchkiss, acting chief of artillery, District of the Etowah, is relieved from further duty in that capacity, and will rejoin his company as soon as practicable. II. Captain Aleshire, Eighteenth Ohio Battery, senior artillery offi cer with this command, will act as chief of artillery during the present campaign. He will be respected accordingly. By command of Major-General Steedman: S. B. MOE, Major and Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Col. A. A. SMITH, Clarksville: Nashville, December 4, 1864-9 a. m. Do not allow any more transport steamers to come up the river until further orders. Get Colonel Thompson and command across the river as soon as possible. GEO. H. THOMAS, Major-General, U. S. Volunteers, Commanding. NASHVILLE, December 4, 1864. Col. A. A. SMITH, Captain Fitch has cleaned out the rebel battery down the river and recaptured the two steamers captured last night. He does not think it safe for transports to run up from Clarksville yet. WM. D. WHIPPLE, CLARKSVILLE, December 4, 1864—1.30 p. m. Brig. Gen. W. D. WHIPPLE: Just arrived; the head of my column is opposite; will be ready to cross in three hours; will bring teams first. It will probably take us all night to cross, as there are nearly 200 wagons. Have you any further orders? The command is in good condition; all we need is provisions. C. R. THOMPSON, Col. C. R. THOMPSON, Clarksville: NASHVILLE, December 4, 1864. Come to this place with your command, unless Colonel Smith desires another regiment, in which case leave one and come with the rest. WM. D. WHIPPLE, Brigadier-General, &c. ACTING ASSISTANT QUARTERMASTER'S OFFICE, Bvt. Brig. Gen. J. L. DONALDSON, Chief Quartermaster, Department of the Cumberland: GENERAL: I have the honor to report that, agreeable to my orders of the 3d instant, the U. S. tow-boat N. J. Bigley, under convoy of the U. S. gun-boat Newsboy, proceeded up the river to Young's Point, near Hartsville, 100 miles above this place, for the purpose of bringing to this post detachments from different batteries cutting timber at that point, arriving there at 11 a. m., leaving at 12.30 p. m. to-day, and reaching this post at 7 o'clock this evening with the troops on board. No enemy seen, or any evidence that he had been upon the river. I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, S. H. STEVENS, First Lieut., Chicago Board of Trade Battery, Illinois Vols., and Acting Assistant Quartermaster, U. S. Volunteers. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE OHIO, Major-General STONEMAN, Knoxville, Tenn. : I received a few days ago a telegram to General Schofield, from the War Department, directing him to relieve you from duty in this department and order you to Cincinnati to await orders. I sent it forward to him, and have heard nothing from it since. G. M. BASCOM, Lieutenant-Colonel and Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE OHIO, Maj. Gen. GEORGE STONEMAN, Knoxville, Tenn.: Richmond papers admit that Sherman will reach the sea-coast; he crossed the Oconee River some days ago. Great fears are expressed for the safety of Savannah. It is reported that Sherman captured Millen, on the Georgia Central Railroad, on the 29th ultimo. All quiet around Richmond. No heavy fighting near Nashville since the battle at Franklin. There are rumors that Hood is trying to cross the Cumberland River, G. M. BASCOM, Lieutenant-Colonel and Assistant Adjutant-General. Major WEST, LEXINGTON, KY., December 4, 1864. Eleventh Michigan Cavalry, Mount Sterling, Ky. : Send scouts to the front, toward Pound and Stony Gaps, and Hazard, to learn all they can about a force reported coming in that way; direct them to go as far as possible. Report the receipt of this order and what they learn. Press horses, if necessary, to mount men, and report how many men you can mount armed. By order of Brigadier-General McLean: J. S. BUTLER, Capt. J. S. BUTLER, MOUNT STERLING, December 4, 1864. Assistant Adjutant-General: SIR: I will send the scout immediately. Can mount seventy-five men in the Eleventh Michigan; have only thirteen carbines for them. I sent you a report last week that will show you how we stand. Respectfully, yours, Col. GEORGE W. GALLUP, GEO. J. WEST, LEXINGTON, KY., December 4, 1864. Louisa, Ky.: Send scouts immediately from Louisa to Pound and Stony Gaps and Louisa Fork, and direct them to go as far as possible and learn all about a force coming in that way. Report the receipt of these orders and anything you learn. If necessary, press horses to mount men. By order of Brigadier-General McLean: J. S. BUTLER, Brig. Gen. HUGH EWING, Louisville, Ky.: LEXINGTON, December 4, 1864. Dr. J. M. Bailey, Twenty-sixth Kentucky, telegraphs from Bowling Green that the Twenty-sixth leaves there to-day, and the rebels will take possession of the place as soon as the regiment leaves. No troops can be sent from General McLean's command to you at present. Is there not sufficient of the Twelfth [U. S. Colored] Heavy Artillery at Bowling Green to protect the place? Respectfully, |