1.25 p. m., sent copies of said dispatch to division commanders, and directed them to re-enforce their picket-line, so as to make it a strong skirmish line, and to feel forward at 5 p. m. in accordance with the terms thereof. 5 p. m., there was a general advance along our lines by our skirmish line, which has been re-enforced by one regiment from each brigade in the corps. Along our whole front the enemy was driven into his skirmish rifle-pits. (These are nearly all united now, making a continuous line.) As soon as this advance commenced the enemy was observed to bring up troops from the rear and place them in his main works, and also to re-enforce his skirmishers by men taken from the main works. His (the enemy's) skirmish pits have been materially strengthened within the past two or three days. By our advance our skirmishers also discovered that the enemy's. main lines of works have also been strengthened, and they have placed in many places in front of the same triple rows of sharpened stakes; this in addition to their abatis. We did not find a place where it was possible to make a lodgment in the enemy's main works with one single line of battle (the whole corps is now stretched out in one line), or even where the strongest column could successfully assault them, if held by any considerable force. After skirmishing with the enemy until dark, our skirmishers were withdrawn to the positions we left when we advanced against the enemy. Did not try to take the enemy's skirmish riflepits.. We had about 12 men killed and wounded only. Day very hot and clear in the morning, with few clouds and little rain late in the afternoon. We succeeded in holding the enemy in his works to-day, and also in making him re-enforce the troops therein-the object of the demonstration. 8.45 p. m., directed General Newton to keep up a demonstration against the enemy to-morrow, as he did to-day, by engaging the enemy's skirmishers, in favor of General Kilpatrick. To assist and favor General Kilpatrick the following demonstrations are to be made to-morrow, 20th: 8.45 p. m., ordered General Wood to engage the enemy's skirmishers to-morrow and to send two regiments at 3 o'clock in the morning to report to General Kimball, for the purpose of strengthening his left. 9.10 p. m., ordered General Kimball to station three regiments at daylight tomorrow so as to cover the ravine between his left flank and the burnt house on the railroad, and to put these regiments behind the abandoned earth-works on the battle-field of July 22; also to make a reconnaissance with a brigade at daylight toward the position where we supposed the enemy's right flank to rest to-day, and to maneuver so as to lead the enemy to believe that we are hunting for his right and trying to turn him. This, it is supposed, would make the enemy throw a force in that direction and hold it there all day, thus preventing him from sending troops off after Kilpatrick.

August 20.-At daylight this morning General Wood's two regiments that were sent to our left reported to General Kimball, and at the same time General Kimball commenced to make his reconnaissance toward the enemy's right-that is, toward the right of his infantry. The reconnaissance was made, under General Kimball's direction, by General Grose, with six regiments of his brigade, and with three regiments of Colonel Opdycke's brigade supporting his left. From the burnt brick house on the Augusta railroad the course of march was nearly due south. Near this house the rebel skirmishers were met, and they were driven about one mile back to

miles of the Atlanta and Macon Railroad completely and ten miles at intervals. He had hard fighting; found the enemy's infantry and cavalry on the ground. He was opposed by one division of infantry and one brigade, and three brigades of cavalry. Day very hot and clear. Nothing of unusual interest occurred along our lines this morning. Lost a few men wounded to-day.

August 23.-Signal officers at the Howard house report no change in the appearance of rebel forces within their lines. A few men can be seen at work on their forts, &c. Deserters who came into our lines to-day report that the enemy has nearly 40,000 veteran troops and about 35,000 militia; also that Hood is expecting us to move around his flank right or left. Orders have been received today from department headquarters requiring our quartermaster and commissary of subsistence to at once provide fifteen days of forage and subsistence. General Stanley was also verbally informed by General Thomas that a flanking movement, to be made by all of the army save one corps, would commence on the night of the 25th instant. Nothing of importance occurred to-day. Usual picketfiring and very little artillery firing from either side. Lost 5 men killed and wounded to-day. Day clear and very hot. 8 p. m., Major-General Thomas verbally instructed General Stanley to make every preparation for the movement indicated in Special Field Orders, No. 57, headquarters Military Division of the Mississippi, dated August 16, which movement has been delayed, and that it would commence just after dark on the night of August 25. The orders from department and military division headquarters have already been issued for this movement.

August 24.-7 a. m., the signal officers at the Howard house report that there appears to be no change within the enemy's lines this morning, and that there was more firing than usual on the skirmish line last night. 8 a. m., information of the contemplated movement of the corps was given to staff officers, and they were instructed to have everything in readiness in their respective departments for the same. 9 a. m., instructed division commanders to carry out the instructions given to them on the 17th instant in reference to said movement; that the movement will commence just after dark to-morrow evening, August 25; to send all surplus men, horses, wagons, and material not necessary for the success of the expedition to the rear to-day and to-morrow morning; to have every preparation for this movement made by to-morrow noon, and to place good and reliable division officers of the day on duty to-morrow. Instructions in reference to withdrawing the pickets will be given tomorrow. 5 p. m., signal officer reports that there is nothing new within the rebel lines; that at present there is a large fire near the business part of the city; that it has been burning for two hours, and that our shells burst just at the fire. 7.30 p. m., sent instructions to Colonel Hayes to move his trains on Friday down the river on the north side thereof; that it will not be safe to move on the other side; that he must cross the river over the bridge at Sandtown on the same day, and park near the same. It is reported this evening that the enemy has been withdrawing from the front of the Army of the Tennessee. If this be true he may be making preparations to attack our left to-morrow. There has been more skirmishing than usual to-day. The usual artillery firing. Lost 10 men killed and wounded to-day. Day very hot.

August 27.-8 a. m., in accordance with General Thomas' order, the corps started on the march for Mount Gilead Church. Woods' division took the lead, Kimball's followed, then the artillery and ammunition and hospital trains, and then General Newton's division. 12.10 p. m., General Wood reached Mount Gilead Church. His division passed it a short distance until it reached Camp Creek. Here he halted and formed a line of battle, facing east and running north and south, his right resting on the creek. This line ran along the road on which we marched. 1 p. m., General Kimball went into line of battle on the prolongation of General Wood's line, his right joining General Wood's left. General Schofield's corps (Twenty-third) is now on our left, and it is facing nearly in the same direction. His right is not far from General Kimball's left. 6 p. m., General Newton arrived with his division at Mount Gilead Church. He had been delayed by the passage of the Fourteenth Corps trains across the road on which he was moving (this train having cut into the train which was moving on the road ahead of General Newton, and which he was covering and was protecting from the enemy's cavalry). This division was posted on a ridge on the south side of Camp Creek, and was placed in line of battle, also running north and south and facing toward the east. The left of the division is just across the creek from General Wood's right. When General Wood arrived at the position he now occupies he met the enemy's skirmishers (dismounted cavalry), and he drove them across Camp Creek. When General Newton crossed the creek he also drove them, and he skirmished with them until dark. The enemy fired a few artillery shots at us from a ridge about one-quarter of a mile beyond the creek. We replied with artillery and silenced his guns. Very hot and clear to-day. Lost in wounded about 6 men to-day. General Thomas verbally instructed General Stanley this evening to march from the railroad to-morrow; to be ready to march at 7 a. m., and to follow General Davis' corps; also to move our trains on the road to the right of the one on which we march.

August 28.-5.45 a. m., published the order of march for the day (August 28) for the Fourth Army Corps:

The corps will be ready to move at 7 a. m., but it will not move until further orders are given. General Kimball's division will lead, General Newton's will follow, and then General Wood's. The line of march will be directly southward to the railroad. Two batteries will accompany General Kimball's division, and one will accompany each of the other divisions. Headquarters trains will follow the divisions to which they belong. All other trains and the surplus artillery will move on the road to the right of the road on which the troops are to march. On this road the artillery will march first, then the hospital trains, then the ammunition trains, then the general supply train. These trains will move in the order in which the divisions march, and they will be conducted by Captain Schoeninger, assistant chief quartermaster. Fifteen ambulances and five ammunition wagons will accompany each division.

8.15 a. m., in accordance with instructions received from department headquarters, General Kimball was ordered to keep his pickets in position until the whole corps passes on the line of march from our present position. General Wood was directed to send one brigade about one mile and a half to the rear, nearly to the Patterson house, and to remain there for a short time after General Kimball's division passes, as a party of observation, to watch for any attempt of the enemy to pass a column between us and General Schofield, and also to send one brigade to march in the rear of our trains (on the road to the right) and to cover them. 8.25 a. m., the Army of the Tennessee is now marching for Fairburn on the railroad, and General Davis'