HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF WEST TENNESSEE, Maj. Gen. N. J. T. DANA, Commanding Sixteenth Army Corps, Vicksburg, Miss.: GENERAL: When every movement of the enemy appeared to point to the attack of Memphis, and the force for its defense was principally colored and detachments from General Mower's division, I sent an urgent appeal to General Dennis for help, and he responded by sending up about 3,000 men, and upon the receipt of inclosed dispatch* from General Halleck, and not having heard anything from General Washburn since the 13th instant, and the immediate danger being passed here, I sent 1,500 men to Paducah, with orders to return as soon as the danger passed there, unless otherwise ordered by General Washburn. I will write you by every boat. Your obedient servant, M. L. SMITH, Brigadier-General of Volunteers. LOUISVILLE, October 21, 1864. Maj. W. H. MORGAN, Assistant Adjutant-General: DEAR MORGAN: I telegraphed General Smith last night that I should leave Nashville this morning for Memphis. Seeing from the papers on arriving here that the Forrest scare is over I shall delay my return for a few days and run home to La Crosse. I have got to go home anyhow within two or three weeks, and as I am now so far on my way I can save considerable time by keeping right along. I left General Hatch at Clifton, Tenn., in good shape and ready to co-operate in a move, which I hope Sherman will order, to pursue Forrest and break up the Mobile and Ohio Railroad. It will be some days before the force to do this can be organized, and before that time I shall be back to Memphis. Hoge I have sent back, and Townsend left Nashville this morning and returned via Johnsonville. Say to General Smith that I hope he will make use of every meaus in his power to obtain accurate information in regard to Forrest and his force and intentions, and when he has any information telegraph it to Maj. Gen. George H. Thomas, at Nashville, and to respond to any dispatches that may come to me from Generals Sherman, Thomas, or Howard. I will not remain away an hour longer than I am obliged to. I have had rather an interesting campaign and am in perfect health. I leave in a few moments for Chicago. Telegraph me at La Crosse if anything of interest transpires, but retain all my letters until I return. Write me yourself as I possibly may remain in Wisconsin long enough to get a letter from you. Truly, yours, C. C. WASHBURN. Major-General. HDQRS. MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI, General GRANT, I feel perfectly master of the situation here. I still hold Atlanta and the road, with all bridges and vital points well guarded, and I have in hand an army before which Hood has retreated precipitately down the valley of the Coosa. It is hard to divine his future plans, but by abandoning Georgia, and taking position with his rear to Selma, he threatens the road from Chattanooga to Atlanta, and may move to Tennessee by Decatur. He cannot cross the Tennessee except at Muscle Shoals, for all other points are patrolled by our gun-boats. I am now perfecting arrangements to put into Tennessee a force able to hold the line of the Tennessee whilst I break up the railroad in front of Dalton, including the city of Atlanta, and push into Georgia, and break up all its railroads and depots, capture its horses and negroes, make desolation. everywhere, destroy the factories at Macon, Milledgeville, and Augusta, and bring up with 60,000 men on the seashore about Savannah or Charleston. I think this far better than defending a long line of railroad. I will leave General George H. Thomas to command all my division behind me, and take with me only the best fighting material. Of course I will subsist on the bountiful corn-fields and potato patches, as I am now doing luxuriously. I have now all your dispatches, and there will be time to give me any further instructions. Canby should be most active as against Selma from the direction of Mobile, and I will order similar movements from the Mississippi River and Decatur, provided Beauregard follows me, as he will be forced to do by public clamor. Col. S. L. BROWN, W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General, Commanding. Quartermaster's Department, New York: OCTOBER 22, 1864. The orders in relation to shipment of supplies suspended by my telegraphic dispatch of 16th instant from City Point are renewed. Let the supplies as shipped be sent to Hilton Head to be stored there if there is storage, or until the store-houses are filled; the remainder to be held afloat for instant transfer to some other point when needed. I will add to the list by mail. M. C. MEIGS, Quartermaster-General, Brevet Major-General. (Same to Maj. Stewart Van Vliet.) SPECIAL FIELD ORDERS, In the Field, Gaylesville, Ala., Oct. 22, HDQRS. MIL. DIV. OF THE MISS., No. 100. 1864. I. Application having been made by Maj. Gen. O. O. Howard, commanding Department of the Tennessee, Maj. Gen. George Stoneman is hereby temporarily assigned to command the Seventeenth Corps during the absence of General Blair, in order that division commanders may remain with their proper commands. By order of Maj. Gen. W. T. Sherman: L. M. DAYTON, Lieut. Col. J. S. FULLERTON: ALPINE, GA., October 22, 1864-9 a. m. By direction of General Schofield, on arriving here yesterday, I halted here with one brigade, sending the other to General Grose to cross Lookout Mountain to Valley Head. I expect General Bradley, with my other brigade, to arrive here to-day or to-morrow from Chattanooga. Have subsistence, bread, four days' half rations; plenty of beef, plenty of corn, and have started a mill grinding flour. I was ordered to report to the general my position and condition. No news of the enemy. Will await further orders. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE CUMBERLAND, Brigadier-General WAGNER, Commanding Second Division, Fourth Army Corps: GENERAL: The general commanding directs me to say that you will remain at Alpine until further orders. He is informed that you have on hand five days' rations; these he wishes, you to make last ten days if possible; in order to do this you will forage liberally on the country, sending sufficient guard to secure your trains and parties. You will at once send a brigade up Henderson's Gap over the mountain to the gap leading down to Winston's or Valley Head. They will not go down in the valley to Winston's, but the commanding officer will send scouts down to drive out any small force from the valley, and gain information. The brigade sent will remain on the mountain at Winston's Gap to-morrow, and return to Alpine the next day in the p. m. Instruct the commanding officer of the brigade to watch the valley closely and report any indications of the enemy. It is probable you will receive orders to move in two or three days. WM. H. SINCLAIR, Assistant Adjutant-General. HDQRS. SECOND DIVISION, FOURTH ARMY CORPS, Brigadier-General GROSE, Alpine, Ga., October 22, 1864-5 p. m. Commanding Second Brigade, Second Division: GENERAL: The above order is just received. The general directs me to say to you, if you are down in the valley, to move back onto the mountain, remain there to-morrow, and return to Alpine day after tomorrow p. m., and otherwise fully comply with General Stanley's order. Respectfully, your obedient servant, E. G. WHITESIDES, Captain and Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE CUMBERLAND, Major-General DAVIS, Near Gaylesville, Ala., October 22, 1864. Commanding Fourteenth Army Corps: GENERAL: The general commanding directs that foraging parties be sent to Shinbone and Broomtown Valleys, and that you do not send them across the Coosa River. J. S. FULLERTON, Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE CUMBERLAND, Major-General DAVIS, Commanding Fourteenth Army Corps: GENERAL: The general commanding suggests that you send your train to Rome to-morrow, via Price's Bridge and Chattoogaville. More forage can be obtained on this route, and it is supposed that the Army of the Tennessee and the Twenty-third Corps will send their trains by the direct road that leads from Gaylesville. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. S. FULLERTON, Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS TWENTIETH CORPS, Brig. Gen. A. S. WILLIAMS, Commanding First Division: GENERAL: The major-general commanding directs that you have one of your brigades in readiness to march at once with three days' rations. Call in the fatigue details. The general desires that the commanding officer of the brigade detailed will report at once to him for orders. I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, H. W. PERKINS, Lieutenant-Colonel and Assistant Adjutant-General. HDQRS. CHIEF OF CAVALRY, DEPT. OF THE CUMBERLAND, Little River, Ala., October 22, 1864. CAPTAIN: I have received General Sherman's communication of 11 p. m., October 21. In accordance with paragraph IV, Special Field Orders, No. 99, and verbal instructions from the general, the reconnaissance was made to King's Hill. Being a reconnaissance, the packs were left at camp on the river. The supply train and ammunition wagons are with those of the Army of the Cumberland. If it is desired that I should go to Gadsden or Will's Valley it will be necessary to bring up supplies required. Does the general wish me to push on to Gadsden to-day? If so, where will the command cross the Coosa, should the army cross to the east side? The First Ohio, a small regiment, was with the train, and, being short of ammunition, was detailed for the courier-line. Orders were sent to it. The messenger sent reported the regiment sent by some one to Rome as guard for a train. Another has been detailed. W. L. ELLIOTT, HDQRS. MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI, General ELLIOTT, Commanding, &c.: GENERAL: Your note by Captain Langdon is to hand. Your train will be sent to Little River. The general does not care about your pushing into Gadsden, but to press the enemy until you know he has not turned toward the Tennessee. A division of infantry is at Alpine and a brigade at Valley Head. General Schofield is up and the army remains as before reported. Yours, &c., L. M. DAYTON, HDQRS. CHIEF OF CAVALRY, DEPT. OF THE CUMBERLAND, Col. L. D. WATKINS, Little River, Ala., October 22, 1864. Commanding Third Brigade, First Cavalry Division: You will march with your brigade upon the Gadsden road and report in person to these headquarters, in advance of your command, for orders. By command of Brigadier-General Elliott: J. E. JACOBS, Captain and Assistant Adjutant-General. HDQRS. CHIEF OF CAVALRY, DEPT. OF THE CUMBERLAND, Little River, Ala., October 22, 1864. Col. L. D. WATKINS, Commanding Third Brigade, First Cavalry Division: I am directed by the general commanding to inform you that you will move to-day with your command. Send in to Gaylesville for what you need and hold your command in readiness to move as soon as ordered. Cavalry headquarters are with those of Second Division, near Little River. I am, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant, General SMITH: KINGSTON, October 22, 1864. Last night near a stockade occupied by the Fifty-sixth Illinois one man of that regiment was killed and one wounded. The patrols from the stockade occupied by the Tenth Iowa, hearing the firing, went to their assistance; they also had one man killed and one wounded. I have no further particulars. Major-Generals Mower and Wilson are here on their way to General Sherman. B. D. DEAN, Colonel, Commanding. |