his flanks and trains, which should be harassed. We have more than a month's provisions and a large well-appointed army, and can operate from this point. General Grant has ordered large reserves to Nashville, and General Thomas is there to manage them. W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General, Commanding. ROME, GA., October 1, 1864. Major-General SHERMAN: No infantry force discovered yet. I send in every direction and ob tain no authentic information of any large force of either cavalry or infantry within twenty-five miles of this point. Hood not arrived at Blue Mountain day before yesterday. Cars still run there. JNO. M. CORSE, Brigadier-General, Commanding. Major-General SHERMAN: ROME, October 1, 1864-10 p. m. I have had two or three spies in to-day from Villa Rica; came through Buchanan, Cedartown, and Cave Spring, and say no great force at those points, only a few scouts. They could learn nothing of Hood's moving on Blue Mountain nor of infantry at Carrollton. Reports through the country, they say, are very conflicting; in fact, no one knows where the army is or where it is going. Another spy reported to-day that a cavalry force was moving around west of me, as if to strike the railroad above Resaca. They all agree as to the fact of there being no large force of troops at or near or north of Blue Mountain. They all seem to be puzzled as to Hood's movements, and some, I am confident, are honest in their ignorance. I will have more in to-morrow and let you know further. I am ready to co-operate with Smith in the event you speak of. JNO. M. CORSE, KENESAW MOUNTAIN, GA., October 1, 1864-11 a. m. Captain BACHTELL: All quiet. FISH, Signal Officer. ALLATOONA, GA., October 1, 1864—6 p. m. Captain BACHTELL: All quiet at Allatoona to-night. ADAMS, KENESAW MOUNTAIN, October 1, 1864-9 p. m. Captain BACHTELL: All quiet here. FISH, Signal Officer. HDQRS. MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI, General MCARTHUR, Marietta: I hear the enemy is on the west bank of the Chattahoochee. I have cavalry watching them, but you should keep your men well in hand, and if possible hold fast to Marietta and the apex of Kenesaw. General John E. Smith will do the same at Allatoona, and should Hood attempt to interpose his army between us and the Etowah I will at once come against him with my whole army. General Garrard will move toward Powder Springs and Dallas to-morrow. W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General, Commanding. LOUISVILLE, KY., October 2 [1], 1864-1.10 p. m. Major-General SHERMAN: I have received your dispatch of yesterday,* expressing surprise at my absence. I thought you understood all about it, for I informed you that I wished to attend to private business, as well as to visit East Tennessee and Kentucky. I have been ready all the time to go to the front whenever you should call me, and understood that you were to telegraph me as soon as you heard from General Grant. My official business here is much more important than at Knoxville, or even at the front, while the army is not in motion. I will go forward as soon as the road is open, or if Forrest keeps it broken as soon as I can get my cavalry here I will go after him and help to dispose of him. I have no desire to be away from the field longer than absolutely necessary, and would gladly wash my hands of this whole Kentucky business if I could do so. Major-General SHERMAN: J. M. SCHOFIELD, LOUISVILLE, KY., October 1, 1864-5 p. m. General Ammen started on Tuesday from Bull's Gap in pursuit of the enemy toward Virginia. General Burbridge was to be at Pound Gap on the 26th. I have not heard from them since. I have sent an order through General Tillson for them to return via Knoxville and move against Forrest. I am mounting my dismounted cavalry here for the same purpose as rapidly as possible. I consented to the expedition into: Virginia because General Halleck advised it. J. M. SCHOFIELD, *As recorded in Sherman's letter-book it bears date of October 1, but the copy filed with Schofield's records is dated September 30, and marked "Received October 1," See Part II, p. 540. General SCHOFIELD, Louisville: NASHVILLE, October 1, 1864. The telegraph is working to Chattanooga, and I am trying to find out whether a train can get through. There seems to be no definite knowledge where Forrest is. Will advise you of everything important when known. J. D. WEBSTER, General Cox: ATLANTA, October 1, 1864. Let that division feel down to Flat Rock and not beyond. Howard has two divisions down toward Fairburn. I will send all of Kilpatrick's and Garrard's cavalry over to Powder Springs, and we will find out if Hood is drawing over to Alabama. I hope he will, for I think he makes a mistake, and I think I see how we can take advantage of it. Keep me advised of all symptoms. Forrest is now threatening Huntsville, and Thomas has sent there Morgan's division. Road and telegraph to Nashville all right yet. Major-General SHERMAN, W. T. SHERMAN, DECATUR, GA., October 1, 1864. Comdg. Military Division of the Mississippi, Atlanta: Your dispatch of to-day received. You may rely on us for the heartiest and most earnest work in whatever direction we may go. Artillery horses and harness are much needed by our batteries, but in other respects we are in pretty good condition and full of the right faith. J. D. COX, Brigadier-General, Commanding. HDQRS. MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI, General Cox, Decatur, Ga.: General Sherman directed you by telegraph to send to-day a division to Flat Rock in the nature of a reconnaissance, while General Howard sends to Fairburn, but to-morrow will answer for yours. This will enable you to understand his intention if you have not received his first message. Capt. L. M. DAYTON, Aide-de-Camp, Atlanta: L. M. DAYTON, DECATUR, October 1, 1864. The general's first dispatch did not come to hand, and this made me uncertain of the meaning of the second. It is all understood now, and the division under orders to move. J. D. COX, Brigadier-General. General SCHOFIELD: KNOXVILLE, October 1, 1864. Your dispatch received. General Ammen left Bull's Gap on Tuesday last in pursuit of the enemy, who were retreating toward Virginia. General Ammen expected to reach Jonesborough Thursday night. No news from General Burbridge. DAVIS TILLSON, LOUISVILLE, KY., October 1, 1864. Brevet Major-General BURBRIDGE: (Through General Tillson, Knoxville, Tenn.) General Sherman directs that you return at once and move against Forrest in Middle Tennessee. Return via Knoxville, where further instructions will be given you by General Sherman or by myself. Major-General SHERMAN: J. M. SCHOFIELD, Major-General. CHATTANOOGA, October 1, 1864-12 m. General Granger reported last evening from Huntsville that the enemy had appeared before Huntsville and had demanded the surrender of the town. He had no doubt but that he could hold the place, but asked for re-enforcements, as he did not have force enough to assume the offensive. I have sent General Morgan's division to him this morning. I hear from General Rousseau, who says he has sent General Milroy with Culver's brigade to Decherd, with instructions to send out cavalry scouts and to report promptly anything of interest. Main cavalry force has been ordered to Winchester, with instructions to push out scouting parties on all roads west of railroad. From the best information, he does not believe the enemy is in the vicinity of Tullahoma or Decherd. The operator at Decherd reports an engine in from the tunnel, and all is quiet there. No excitement and no signs of the enemy. The indications are that the road is clear to Nashville. I am just about sending out a construction train for Nashville to test the road, and if all is right I will start the trains through again. GEO. H. THOMAS, Major-General. General G. H. THOMAS, ATLANTA, GA., October 1, 1864-1 p. m. Chattanooga: Hood has evidently crossed the Chattahoochee to the west, but has not gone to Blue Mountain. Kilpatrick, on the Sweet Water, reports he could hear drums at reveille. There is too much ostentation in this move of Hood's, and he may attempt to swing his cavalry on our road. I have ordered General Garrard over to Powder Springs. I will watch him close. Make as quick work with Forrest as you can, and get back to co-operate with me. W. T. SHERMAN, HDQRS. MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI, General G. H. THOMAS, Chattanooga: I have your dispatch of noon. Use your own discretion as to the matters north of the Tennessee River. If I can induce Hood to swing across to Blue Mountain I shall feel tempted to start for Milledgeville, Millen, and Savannah, or Charleston, absolutely destroying all Georgia, and taking either Savannah or Charleston. In that event I would order back to Chattanooga everything the other side of Kingston, and bring ng forward all else, destroy Atlanta and the bridge, and absolutely sever the Southern Confederacy. In that event Hood would be puzzled, and would follow me, or if he entered Tennessee he could make no permanent stay; but if he attempt the road this side of Kingston or Rome I will turn against him. Forrest will not attack our forts, that is manifest, but will try and get possession of Decatur. All the infantry and cavalry not in forts or block-houses should be directed against him by roads, say by the Shelbyville pike and Fayetteville. W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General, Commanding. Major-General SHERMAN: CHATTANOOGA, October 1, 1864–9 p. m. Your dispatch of 2 p. m. is received. I will make the best arrangement I can with what force I have to drive Forrest out of Middle Tennessee. General Rousseau reports that he has 3,000 cavalry with him, and can make up 1,300 more by to-morrow night. He has wagon transportation for 2,000 or 3,000 infantry, which will give him a force between 6,000 and 7,000. I shall direct him to use the wagons to carry rations, and start him with his force, when organized, after Forrest. Then I will make arrangements for the distribution of the re-enforcements expected, and return to Atlanta as soon as possible afterward. GEO. H. THOMAS, HDQRS. MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI, General Howard has two divisions down toward Fairburn, and tomorrow will make a strong demonstration along that road. General Cox sends a division to Flat Rock. General Elliott goes to-morrow with General Garrard over to Powder Springs. I will keep you well advised. Let me know everything as fast as possible, that I may judge of Hood's game. If possible, drive Forrest across the Tennessee, and hurry down to Nashville the reserves ordered by Grant, for I want to make a big move. W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General, Commanding. |