General THOMAS: TULLAHOMA, October 1, 1864 4 p. m. Have preferred to send you the dispatches received without giving an opinion, except where I had outside matters to corroborate or contradict; most of the dispatches and reports I have considered worthless, though I felt it my duty to send them to you. I wish I could report what the real state of affairs is. I have given, from time to time, pretty much all the information I have received. My opinion is that there is. no force of any size near Mount Pleasant. Biffle may be there or some other small force. I think the efforts of the secessionists are to create a stampede by magnifying the rebel forces. There is no force at or about. Mount Pleasant, unless re-enforcements for Forrest, and no rebel infantry this side of the Tennessee as I believe. I believe there is no force on this side of the Tennessee except Forrest's, and that he has not or will not divide it, reports to the contrary notwithstanding, except to send out small parties of 200 or 300. He has shown no dash since his repulse at Pulaski; in fact, he has done no great things in the way of fighting in this raid, having met little less than negro troops whose character he well understands, and who were equally acquainted with him. I shall telegraph to the commanders on the Alabama railroad to keep cool and not allow themselves to be stampeded by the false reports of the rebels, and I think you need not fear that they will stampede. The reports of Colonel Sipes and operator at Spring Hill, &c., are doubtless based upon the appearance of small parties of rebels, and I do not rely on them. It is very probable that there are a few hundred men in those localities, but no large force. Since writing the above Major Polk telegraphs me that the telegraph is not working south of Franklin, and the Nashville operator says there was a heavy force near Spring Hill, which may be any number from 25 to 500 men. I am satisfied that detachments are trying to destroy the Alabama road and I think it certain that Forrest himself will try the same thing with his entire force. General THOMÁS: L. H. ROUSSEAU, TULLAHOMA, October 1, 1864-6.30 p. m. Major Waters, Fifth Tennessee Cavalry, just returned from a scout to Mulberry Village, twenty-one miles from this place and on Fayetteville road. He says on the evening of the 29th Forrest left the Fayetteville road fifteen miles from this place, taking the Columbia road, intending to strike the Alabama railroad at some point between Columbia and Franklin, with about half of his force, without artillery, owing to the bad roads; the balance of his force went down the New Market road, and on the left of Huntsville, taking artillery and wagons with them. He thinks this information reliable and I suppose it is. This corroborates Major Polk's dispatch in regard to force at Spring Hill, which I herewith forward:: Colonel Park, at Franklin, says in a telegram just received that he is satisfied that there is a large rebel force at Spring Hill, and that the forces there may be relied on. I have telegraphed him that it is not possible for Forrest's force to be there, as it is at or near Huntsville. CHATTANOOGA, October 1, 1864.. The Third Regiment Kentucky Cavalry had better be sent to Columbia to assist Colonel Sipes if that point is threatened. General THOMAS: GEO. H. THOMAS, Major-General, U. S. Volunteers, Commanding. TULLAHOMA, October 1, 1864-7.30 p. m. I have 3,000 cavalry here. The Ninth Ohio, Fifty-second Kentucky Mounted Infantry, and such force as can be mounted within a few hours in Nashville, will amount to 1,300. The Ninth Ohio is believed to be in Nashville to-night, just from Louisville, with 800 extra horses upon which that number of good infantry can be mounted. We can use wagons for 1,000 or 2,000 infantry, making 7,100; which force, with two or three batteries, can whip Forrest's. Could you not give me the Ninth Pennsylvania and a little more cavalry from Chattanooga? I hope to complete this organization to-morrow. In the mean time the cavalry here could march west and be ready to form a junction with the force from Nashville. General Johnson is here and has been with me all the time. He agrees with me. He will return and fit up the cavalry at Nashville, join me near Franklin, and have control of the mounted force. General Johnson has telegraphed to the Ninth Ohio, if not in Nashville, to hurry in by rail. When this force is organized Forrest's work will soon be over here, and I hope he will never get beyond the district. Your dispatch of 7.15 received. Where is the Third Cavalry? It has not been with me. What say you to this? Major-General ROUSSEAU, L. H. ROUSSEAU, CHATTANOOGA, October 1, 1864-8.45 p. m. Tullahoma: Your proposition is all right, and I hope to be at Tullahoma to see you, and will go to Nashville to do all I can to help you organize the force. The Ninth Pennsylvania Cavalry cannot be spared from where it is, and I think the mounted force you can raise will be sufficient, backed by the infantry, to whip Forrest. It was the Fifty-second Kentucky Mounted Infantry was meant in my last dispatch, instead of Third Cavalry, that was to go to Columbia as soon as their horses were shod. Major Polk reported six companies of the regiment, 315 men, in his dispatch. GEO. H. THOMAS, Major-General, U. S. Volunteers, Commanding. TULLAHOMA, October 1, 1864-9 a. m. Maj. B. H. POLK, Assistant Adjutant-General: General Thomas telegraphs that he is informed by General Granger that Forrest is in front of Huntsville, the surrender of which he has demanded. Morgan's division has been sent to its relief. I have sent a brigade to Decherd and the cavalry to Winchester, to lookout for any demonstration in that direction. General Milroy will command forces at Decherd. Show to Webster and Miller. Maj. B. H. POLK: -L. H. ROUSSEAU, Major-General. FRANKLIN, October 1, 1864. I have reliable information of about 100 rebels three miles east of Mount Carmel. Major-General ROUSSEAU, ́ J. B. PARK, Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding Post. NASHVILLE, October 1, 1864-10.15 p. m. Tullahoma: The following dispatch just received from Franklin: As sure as you live Forrest at Spring Hill at 3 this p. m.; General Lyon is with him; this you can rely on. I have good information Roddey was at Huntsville this a. m.; said to have 15,000 men and twenty-three pieces of artillery. I cannot get a piece of artillery on Roper's Knob without machinery. Shall I do it? You need have no fears of our being taken. He will not catch me napping, and I have full confidence I can whip any force that may come. J. B. PARK, Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding. I send down to Franklin this evening two 3-inch Parrotts and 400 rounds of ammunition. Shall any guns go upon Roper's Knob, or shall all go in the large fort? B. H. POLK, Major and Assistant Adjutant-General. NASHVILLE, October 1, 1864. -Col. J. B. PARK, Franklin: It is not possible for the force at Spring Hill to be that of Forrest. Scouts have constantly been out east and west from Columbia and Pulaski all the time, and Forrest could not have come up to Spring Hill unobserved. Forrest was in force before Huntsville this morning and made a formal demand for the surrender of the place. So certain was General Thomas of the truth of this that he was, at last advices, hurrying a division from Stevenson to Huntsville. The force at Spring Hill may be Biffle's. B. H. POLK, Major and Assistant Adjutant-General. PULASKI, October 1, 1864. Maj. B. H. POLK, Assistant Adjutant-General: We have scouting parties of fifty men on Elkton, Fayetteville, Cornersville, Lamb's Ferry, and Florence roads, besides secret service scouts out in every direction. I have no news as yet from any of them. Tank in fort full of water, rations all there. We have a large number of arms, accouterments, horse equipments, &c., that we cannot issue, the command being captured, which I would suggest should be sent to Nashville for storage, they being in the way here and of no use. Maj. B. H. POLK: JOHN C. STARKWEATHER, PULASKI, October 1, 1864. Scout just in from Cornersville road and reports that Forrest, with a reported force of 5,000 men, passed through Lewisburg yesterday at about 12 m., his advance guard moving in direction of Columbia. Have telegraphed Columbia to send out scouting party and see what is going on. Have ordered scouting party on Cornersville road to go on and learn everything possible. All quiet below. Officers reporting are reliable men. Have ordered the parties to continue on. Have a courier line between here and Lynnville. Maj. B. H. POLK: JOHN C. STARKWEATHER, PULASKI, October 1, 1864. Another courier from my scouting party on Cornersville pike received, confirming first information, but saying in addition that he, Forrest, had no artillery with him; thinks he has divided his force. Courier just in from scouting party Fayetteville pike reports Forrest moving. westward, which confirms Cornersville report so far. I send above for what it is worth. Small parties on road above me. Have sent out to drive them away. Report received from Athens that our forces are again in possession of that place. Report as to Forrest is from lieutenant in command of party. I send this as it is received.. JOHN C. STARKWEATHER, PULASKI, October 1, 1864. Major POLK, Assistant Adjutant-General: Scouting party on Fayetteville road just returned. Struck the enemy's pickets five miles this side of Fayetteville. Lost one horse killed only. Thinks Forrest's entire forces at said place. This news seems to confirm last dispatch that enemy had divided his forces, as entire force being at Fayetteville is a supposition of courier. JOHN C. STARKWEATHER, Brigadier-General. WINCHESTER, TENN., October 1, 1864-9 p. m. Major-General THOMAS, Chattanooga: (Via Decherd.). Forrest was at Mulberry Village Wednesday night. The next morn ing he moved to Lynchburg. At 5 p. m. the same day Buford, with 3,000 men and four pieces of artillery, passed back through Mulberry Village and took the New Market road. Forrest, with the remainder, moved back from Lynchburg and took a road toward Petersburg. Roddey reported to have been at Salem last night and went to New Market to-day. I feel it my duty to say that unless there is some change in the management of affairs in this district you need not expect suc cess. JNO. T. CROXTON, Brigadier-General. Major General THOMAS: NASHVILLE, October 1, 1864 Colonel Park telegraphs from Franklin that Forrest was certainly at Spring Hill at 3 p. m. to-day, and that General Lyon was with him, he states, is beyond question. JNO. F. MILLER, Brigadier-General. Major-General THOMAS: NASHVILLE, October 1, 1864-8 p. m. Colonel Park, commanding at Franklin, telegraphs that Forrest entered Spring Hill this morning on the Mount Carmel road, with a force estimated at 3,000, no artillery, and left Spring Hill at 11 a. m., going toward Columbia, destroying railroad, Colonel Park obtained this information from N. B. Aikens, a reliable citizen, well known here, who knows Forrest, and who talked with him and saw the force at Spring Hill. Men just arrived at Franklin on hand-car report rebels leaving railroad track near Spring Hill at 3 p. m. JNO. F. MILLER, GENERAL ORDERS, No. 71. HDQRS. NORTHERN DEPARTMENT, In conformity with Special Orders, No. 263, dated War Department, September 28, 1864, the undersigned assumes command of the Northern Department, embracing the States of Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. Cincinnati being more convenient and central for the dispatch of the business of the department headquarters will be removed to that city on the 6th instant. To promote uniformity in organization, the department is subdivided into four districts, each State forming one district; headquarters of the District of Michigan will be at Detroit, that of Ohio at Columbus. Officers of suitable rank will be assigned to these commands as soon as practicable. Until such assignments are made the official duties of the districts will be transacted as heretofore. The Districts of Indiana and Illinois will remain under their present commanders. The commanding general requires energy, earnestness, and fidelity in the performance of duty on the part of every officer and soldier in the department. The trust and responsibility reposed in each will be carefully and fully executed. No one will consider the day as ended until the duties it brings have been discharged. |