General Cox, Decatur, Ga.: ATLANTA, October 2, 1864. Make all preparation to send into Atlanta tents and baggage, and to start for Chattahoochee bridge on short notice. Send word and recall that division at Flat Rock. Hood has evidently crossed Chattahoochee with two corps and left one on this side of the Chattahoochee River near Campbellton. I propose to attack the force on the other side. W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General, Commanding. Major-General SHERMAN, DECATUR, October 2, 1864. Atlanta: Your dispatch received, and preparations will be immediately made accordingly. J. D. COX, Brigadier-General, Commanding. HDQRS. SECOND DIVISION, TWENTY-THIRD ARMY CORPS, Capt. THEODORE COX, Flat Rock, Ga., October 2, 1864-12 m. Assistant Adjutant-General: I have the honor to inform you that the division has arrived at this place. We have met no force of the enemy. A citizen living here informed me that the force that was encamped at this place has fallen back to Stockbridge. I also received information from a boy that the rebels are moving toward Jonesborough. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, JOSEPH A. COOPER, Brigadier-General, Commanding Division. Major-General SHERMAN, Atlanta: TULLAHOMA, October 2, 1864-10 p. m. I arrived here at 6 p. m. to-day. Rousseau had already gone to Nashville to organize his infantry and cavalry, and will start to-morrow for Columbia, in which direction Forrest was moving this morning. He will follow Forrest by that road with his command, Steedman commanding the infantry and Croxton the cavalry. I have ordered Morgan to move to-day to Athens, for by so doing he moves directly on Forrest's line of communications, and covers the construction parties on the railroad between Decatur and Athens. As soon as he can get supplies he will move from Athens to Bainbridge for the purpose of getting Forrest's bridge, whilst Rousseau pushes him by way of Columbia. If by that move I can run Forrest off toward Florence, or farther down the river, I have great hopes of capturing many of his men. Granger reports to-night that Buford withdrew from Huntsville yesterday about 11 a. m. on the Athens road and attacked the fort at Athens, which Granger had reoccupied by my orders with the Seventy-third Indiana, Colonel Wade, but made no impression; repeated his attack this morning at 6 o'clock, and was handsomely repulsed. He then withdrew toward Elk River. Major McBath, with 200 Second Tennessee Cavalry, followed him. Granger does not report by which of the roads from Athens to Elk River the enemy withdrew, but I am inclined to think that it was the Elkton road, for the purpose of concentration and a final withdrawal. I will get to Nashville to-morrow and commence disposing the troops for the security of the road at once and finish as soon as possible. GEO. H. THOMAS, Major-General, U. S. Volunteers. Maj. T. T. ECKERT, NASHVILLE, TENN., October 2, 1864-8 p. m. Washington, D. C.: The enemy passed Huntsville without attacking, and telegraph is again working that far. Our General Morgan, with his division, has pushed on toward Decatur to relieve Granger, and prevent Forrest from crossing the Tennessee without a thrashing. Some cavalry still on the line of the railroad between here and Decatur, but doing no damage; only covering retreat of main body. Lines working well to Knoxville and Atlanta. Captain RAMSEY, On Train: J. C. VAN DUZER.. HUNTSVILLE, ALA., October 2, 1864. My command reached here at 8 p. m. yesterday; the road has been but slightly torn up, once at a point twelve miles from Stevenson and again six miles from Huntsville. The forces threatening Huntsville left yesterday morning toward Athens. From all I can learn the number was not large. I am satisfied that Forrest himself was not here. Athens and Pulaski road no doubt is badly torn up. I found the Huntsville and Stevenson road poorly protected. I hold my trains here. Am issuing rations to the command. The balance of Third Brigade has not arrived. I do not feel at liberty to move from here until I hear from you. Respectfully, J. D. MORGAN, Brigadier-General, Commanding. WHITESIDE'S, TENN., October 2, 1864-12 m. Brig. Gen. J. D. MORGAN: Your dispatch of this a. m. received. The major-general commanding desires you to remain at Huntsville until you receive further orders from him. You will assist in protecting the working parties while repairing the railroad during your stay in Huntsville. The Third Brigade of your division will join you to-day. After the brigade joins you the major general commanding desires you to move your command in the direction of Athens, and if the enemy is there move upon the place and drive him away. Send back all the trains but one, which you can keep for your own convenience, and send back your orders for supplies unless you are fully provided for at Huntsville. We are on the way to Tullahoma where we shall stay to-night. ROBT. H. RAMSEY, Assistant Adjutant-General. Captain RAMSEY, HUNTSVILLE, October 2, 1864. A. A. G., Maj. Gen. Thomas' Staff, Bridgeport and Stevenson: Your dispatch just received. The Third Brigade just arrived. Working party on the Decatur railroad will probably complete the road to the junction to-day. The road from thence to Athens I am in hopes will also be completed. If so I shall move with my whole command by rail, understanding that to be your order. Please answer if I misunderstood. J. D. MORGAN, Brig. Gen. J. D. MORGAN: BRIDGEPORT, October 2, 1864-1 p. m. The major-general wishes you to move with your division up the road toward Athens, not waiting for a completion of the railroad, but going before so as to cover the working parties in their operations. Can you get rations at Huntsville, or will you send back for them? ROBT. H. RAMSEY, Captain RAMSEY, HUNTSVILLE, ALA., October 2, 1864. Assistant Adjutant-General: I understand your last dispatch to move by railroad up to obstructions and then to cover working parties toward Athens. This I shall at once do unless you otherwise order. Plenty of bread and coffee here, short everything else. I will send the train back as directed. J. D. MORGAN, Brigadier-General, Commanding. General MORGAN: STEVENSON, October 2, 1864. The general wishes you to move on to Athens without reference to railroad being repaired as you go. That can be done after you have passed on. Your advance will cover working parties necessarily. If you find the enemy at Athens he wishes you to drive them out. RAMSEY, Captain, Assistant Adjutant-General. Brig. Gen. J. D. MORGAN: STEVENSON, October 2, 1864-2 p. m. Am here on the way to Nashville, but will stay at Tullahoma until 3 o'clock to-morrow morning. Send dispatches to Tullahoma till that time, and afterward to Nashville. ROBT. H. RAMSEY, Assistant Adjutant-General. Brigadier-General MORGAN: TULLAHOMA, October 2, 1864-10 p. m. We hear that Forrest is moving toward Columbia from Spring Hill, where he went from Lynchburg. General Rousseau will follow him tomorrow by the Columbia road, and I believe will be able to drive him toward his crossing-place, at or near Bainbridge. I therefore want General Morgan to take all General Granger's wagons at Huntsville and Decatur to haul his supplies and move direct on Bainbridge, General Granger furnishing him with competent guides, General Morgan will secure, if possible, the crossing at Bainbridge, and strike Forrest as he falls back before Rousseau. General Granger will hold the road to Stevenson and the posts of Decatur, Huntsville, and Athens securely, and place under General Morgan as many of his best cavalry as he can spare. He will also keep the country north of Huntsville well scouted to detect any movements of Forrest toward the east threatening his railroad. General Granger will also see that supplies are furnished sufficient for all the forces which may be expected in that vicinity. General Milroy has been ordered to keep thoroughly posted as to the movements of the enemy and report promptly all reliable information he may get. GEO. H. THOMAS, Major-General, U. S. Volunteers, Commanding. (Same to Generals Granger and Rousseau.) HUNTSVILLE, October 2, 1864. Major-General THOMAS, Whiteside's: The enemy left our immediate front yesterday about 2 p. m. This force no doubt began to withdraw from our neighborhood early in the morning, leaving Buford's division to occupy our attention, going in the direction of Athens, in which direction firing was heard yesterday morning, and it is said this morning. I recommended general, who arrived here last evening at 7 p. m., to send on the construction train to repair road to Decatur, which I thought was but little damaged, and I thought would be repaired this morning, and move his force to Athens, where he could have been at 8 a. m. to-day. General, however, still believes Forrest threatens the Nashville and Chattanooga road in person, with only Buford's division here. He will await your orders. Forrest was certainly at Fayetteville on the morning of the 27th. It appears to me that he would long since have struck the Nashville and Chattanooga road if he had not changed his mind and re turned this way. I don't think Forrest would divide his force in presence of such a heavy column; he has thus far held his command well in hand. I am satisfied myself that he was in person six miles from this place on the night of the 29th at or near the Pulaski road. I start a party of troops this morning to repair road to Decatur. R. S. GRANGER, Brigadier-General. Major-General THOMAS: HUNTSVILLE, October 2, 1864. Mr. Copland, who left Elkton yesterday for this place, reports to me that about 1,800 rebels, he should judge, passed him at Madison crossroads, about fifteen or sixteen miles from Athens, on their way to that place; took from him his mule and buggy. Some time after that another regiment passed, who reported that they had taken this place; that when two miles and a half of this place he saw signs of a train having passed, with large signs of cavalry accompanying it; that he heard firing at Athens up to 10 o'clock to-day. Mr. Copland is reported to me as being a very reliable man. R. S. GRANGER, Major-General THOMAS: HUNTSVILLE, October 2, 1864-5.15 p. m. General Morgan's force is just passing out from here, I am afraid too late to be of service at Athens. You may not be aware that General Morgan ranks me and that he has control of the entire expedition in pursuit of Forrest. R. S. GRANGER, HUNTSVILLE, October 2, 1864-7.10 p.m. Gen Major-General THOMAS: The following report has just been received: Athens was attacked yesterday by a portion of General Forrest's command at 3 p. m. eral Buford's command, well equipped with artillery, resumed attack this morning; cannonading very severe between 6 and 8 a. m. to-day. Lieutenant-Colonel Wade, with his regiment, Seventy-third Indiana, which I sent there by your order to reoccupy the place, repulsed the enemy handsomely; he moved off in the direction of Elk River, Major McBath, with 200 Second Tennessee Cavalry, pursuing. R. S. GRANGER. [OCTOBER 2, 1864.-For correspondence between A. Buford and A. B. Wade, in reference to the surrender of Athens, Ala., see Part I, p. 511.] |