not engaged. My loss has been quite severe, particularly in horses, having lost upward of 200 in killed and wounded. As I am now marching in the rear of the army it is impossible to supply myself with fresh animals. I most respectfully suggest that captured horses now with the different army corps, and not needed by them, be sent to me, or left at some convenient point along my line of march. The enemy's loss is not known; certainly could not be less than 500 killed and wounded, judging from his dead left upon the field, a large percentage being officers. My command is somewhat jaded, but I will make every effort to bring it up. All I need is some few hundred horses to supply the place of those broken down. These I could supply myself, were I marching upon the flank or in front. It is impossible, however, to find a single horse, or mule in rear of the infantry; and would again most respectfully urge that a few hundred horses be turned over to me from one or more of the army corps marching on roads parallel or near to my line of march. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, General J. KILPATRICK, J. KILPATRICK, Brigadier-Generai, Commanding Cavalry. HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY CORPS, Commanding Cavalry, U. S. Army: GENERAL: Your letter of yesterday was received to-day. I assure you Captain Norton has and will receive every attention which can be bestowed upon a wounded soldier. I am pleased to inform you that he was doing well and out of pain at last accounts. Since the commencement of this sad war I have used untiring exertions to maintain in my soldiers principles of chivalry and true soldierly honor. They have been taught to despise and spurn the cowardly instincts which induce low men to frighten, abuse, and rob defenseless women and children. You allude to old associations, and promise to return any kindness to Captain Norton. I have only to ask, for the sake of these old associations, for your own sake, and for the sake of the institution where military honor was taught, that you will offer some protection to the families necessarily left defenseless, and not to leave them at the mercy of a brutal soldiery. By so doing, not only will other advantages be gained, but your name will stand before the world in a much more enviable light. It is useless for me to recount the atrocities committed; suffice it to say, that the history of no war, however barbarous, can teli of atrocities equal to those daily and hourly committed by your command. Respectfully, general, your obedient servant, Maj. Gen. J. G. FOSTER, J. WHEELER, Major-General, C. S. Army. HILTON HEAD, S. C., December 5, 1864. Commanding Department of the South: GENERAL: The telegraph operator here has just received a dispatch from Port Royal Ferry, stating that a rebel officer who has deserted brings information that General Sherman is within sight of Savannah, and that all of the women and children were sent out of the city last night. I send you by the Charles Houghton some letters handed me by Captain Burger, and also a package from Mrs. Foster. Colonel Mulford has just returned from Charleston, but brings no news. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, C. W. THOMAS, Major and Chief Quartermaster. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH, Brig. Gen. J. P. HATCH, Commanding Field Division: GENERAL: You will have all the white regiments of Brigadier-General Potter's command prepare at once two days' rations (cooked, if time permits), and twenty extra rounds of ammunition in pockets, and move to the landing to-night as early as possible, for embarkation on transports. The naval brigade will be relieved immediately and report to the admiral, the horses, carts, &c., to remain as at present, in charge of the naval brigade. You will have Day's battery also, with two days' rations, report at the dock at daylight to-morrow, to embark to follow and join Potter's brigade. The remaining regiments of your command you will dispose of to the best advantage, to hold your present position as long as possible. One of the batteries, with a regiment in reserve, may, if you prefer, be placed on the interior line of defense. Have this movement made as silently as possible, so as not to betray it to the enemy. By order of Maj. Gen. J. G. Foster: W. B. DEAN, Lieut., 127th New York Vols.. Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. Maj. Gen. W. T. SHERMAN, On reflection since sending my letter by the hands of Lieutenant Dunn I have concluded that the most important operation toward closing the rebellion will be to close out Lee and his army. You have now destroyed the roads of the South, so that it will probably take three months, without interruption, to re-establish a through line from east to west. In that time I think the job here will be effectually completed. My idea now, then, is that you establish a base on the sea-coast, fortify, and leave in it all your artillery and cavalry, and enough infantry to protect them, and, at the same time, so threaten the interior that the militia of the South will have to be kept at home. With the balance of your command come here by water with all dispatch. Select your. self the officer to leave in command, but you I want in person. Unless you see objections to this plan, which I cannot see, use every vessel going to you for purposes of transportation. Hood has Thomas close in Nashville. I have said all I could to force him to attack, without giving the positive order until to-day. To-day, however, I could stand it no longer, and gave the order without any reserve. I think the battle will take place to-morrow. The result will probably be known in New York before Colonel Babcock, the bearer of this, leaves New York. Colonel Babcoek will give you information of all operations now in progress. U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. CONFIDENTIAL.] Bvt. Brig. Gen. S. VAN VLIET, Quartermaster, New York: DECEMBER 6, 1864. GENERAL: General Sherman appears to be approaching the Atlantic coast, and it is determined to send supplies to meet him at Port Royal, or rather to await there until he establishes his base of supplies. In the letter of this office dated November 3 last an estimate of supplies was sent to you for a force of 30,000 men. It is believed that the force with General Sherman will reach 60,000 men, of which 10,000 will be cavalry, and that he will have with him from sixty to eighty pieces of artillery and about 30,000 horses and mules. The supplies ordered on 3d of November were divided, one-half to Pensacola, one-half to Port Royal. Col. S. L. Brown, chief of the forage division, has been ordered to send daily to Port Royal forage for 30,000 animals. I notice that in the letter of 3d of November last no blankets were ordered. I presume, however, that under the general order to send clothing to refit 30,000 men, General Vinton turned over to you a proper proportion of blankets. You will call upon General Vinton for the following clothing and equipage, which you will send to Port Royal as soon as possible, there to await news from General Sherman, which will determine the ultimate destination of the supplies. They will be subject to the orders of General Foster, through the chief quartermaster of the Department of the South, Maj. C. W. Thomas: Clothing.-30,000 sack coats; 30,000 trowsers; 60,000 shirts;. 60,000 pairs drawers; 60,000 pairs socks; 100,000 pairs shoes and boots; 20,000 forage caps; 10,000 greatcoats; 20,000 blankets, unless this number has already been shipped; 10,000 waterproof blankets. Equipage.-10,000 shelter-tents; 100 hospital tents; 10,000 knapsacks; 20,000 haversacks; 10,000 canteens; 2,000 camp kettles; 5,000 mess pans; 5,000 felling axes, two handles each; 1,000 hatchets, handled; 2,000 spades; 2,000 picks. You will also send the following quartermaster's stores: Transportation.-Wheel harness for 400 mules; lead harness for 800 mules; 10,000 pounds bar-iron, assorted; 5,000 pounds steel; 1,000 pounds harness leather; 40 sets shoeing tools and 40 extra hammers; thread, wax, needles, awls, &c., for repairing harness; 500 pounds wrought nails; 20 buttresses; 200 horse rasps; 100 large files, assorted; 50 shoeing knives, extra; 4,000 pounds manilla rope, assorted; 15,000 bushels smith's coal (this coal will be ordered from Washington); 200 extra wagon wheels; 50 extra ambulance wheels; 100,000 pounds horse and mule shoes; 10,000 pounds horse and mule shoe-nails. All this should be done in such manner as to attract as little attention as possible, and it is desirable to give the enemy no clue to the preparations making for reception of General Sherman. I am, respectfully, your obedient servant, M. C. MEIGS, Quartermaster-General, Brevet Major-General. CONFIDENTIAL.] Col. HERMAN BIGGS, QUARTERMASTER-GENERAL'S OFFICE, Quartermaster, Philadelphia: COLONEL: You will send to Port Royal, to Maj. C. W. Thomas, the following quartermaster's stores (probably they can be taken on board one of the light-draught steamers built by Messrs. Cramp & Sons, which I suppose to be ready to sail): 50 extra king bolts; 500 linch pins; 200 wagon tongues; 400 extra whippletrees; 50 double trees, ironed ready for use; 100 coupling poles; 200 front hounds for wagons; 100 hind hounds for wagons; 200 mule hames, ironed ready for use; 200 mule collars; 500 wagon bows; 100 wagon whips; 1,000 open links, for repairing trace chains; 500 open rings; 100 water buckets. I am, respectfully, your obedient servant, M. C. MEIGS, Quartermaster-General, Brevet Major-General. SPECIAL FIELD ORDERS, HDQRS. MIL. DIV. OF THE MISSISSIPPI, I. Each army corps commander will, on the receipt of this order, collect from his command 100 horses, the best adapted to cavalry uses, together with a sufficient number of mounted negroes to lead them, and dispatch them to General Slocum's headquarters, for delivery to the cavalry command of General Kilpatrick. General Slocum's command is at this moment near the intersection of the road running through Statesborough and Armenia to Halley's Ferry, on the Savannah River, about six miles north of Ogeechee Church, and will march by the middle road toward Springfield. II. The officer charged with these horses will be instructed to deliver them to any officer whom General Kilpatrick may appoint to receive them. By order of Maj. Gen. W. T. Sherman: L. M. DAYTON, HDQRS. DEPARTMENT AND ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE, Maj. Gen. W. T. SHERMAN, Commanding Military Division of the Mississippi: Two divisions of the Fifteenth Corps (First and Fourth) are nearly opposite Station No. 3, and the other two divisions are about four or five miles distant and abreast of us, on the direct road from Statesborough to Eden Station. Reconnaissances are being made to-day toward Wright's Bridge and the bridge to Eden Station, and both of them will be secured, if possible. Preparations were being made last night to cross the river near Station No. 3, but when I learned that they, the enemy, had left. Ogeechee Church, I did not deem it necessary to lay the pontoon bridge. I shall be ready to move forward with this command when General Blair leaves Ogeechee Church. I agree with you that Eden Station is the point to be made now, and it may be necessary to cross still lower down, as I learn the enemy intends to make a stand at that place. Lieutenant Harvey, who was sent over last night with a select party to strike the Gulf railroad, found the bridges across the Cannouchee all burned and the approaches strongly guarded by rebel cavalry, and was compelled to return without accomplishing his object. Another party has been sent out to strike for a point still higher up, but I am fearful that they will find all the approaches well guarded, and that they will not succeed in crossing the river. As soon as I reach Eden Station, I will make a strong demonstration of infantry toward the Cannouchee, sufficient to enable me to cross a party and strike the road. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, O. O. HOWARD, Major-General. HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI, In the Field, Ogeechee Church, December 6, 1864-3.45 p. m. Major-General HOWARD, Commanding Army of the Tennessee: GENERAL: Your dispatch of to-day is just received. Reports from General Slocum and General Kilpatrick have also been received. The former will camp to-night on Turkey Creek, in advance of this column, with his command well closed up. The latter attacked Wheeler near -Thomas' Station, and drove him through Waynesborough and across Brier Creek in confusion, killing and wounding a number and capturing 100 of his men; he also burned all the bridges on Brier Creek, including (for good) the railroad bridge. To-morrow the entire army will move, General Slocum's left reaching Ebenezer; himself, Springfield; and the Seventeenth Corps, Guyton. The general-in-chief desires you, in conjunction, to reach Eden, opposite No. 2, and while General Blair threatens No. 2 by moving on No. 3 (Guyton), to effect a crossing at or below No. 2. II. The following movements will be made by this army to-morrow, the 7th instant: First, Major-General Osterhaus, commanding Fifteenth Army Corps, will move forward his command, leaving one division to make a demonstration at Wright's Bridge, concentrating the balance opposite Eden (No. 2), from which place he will push one division at least two or three miles below, and thence make a demonstration with one brigade on the Cannouchee River, crossing a party at some point to strike and break the Savannah and Gulf Railroad. He will push his pontoon trains well in advance. Second, Major-General Blair, commanding Seventeenth Army Corps, will move his command toward Eden (No. 2), as heretofore ordered, opposite which point the Fifteenth Corps |