Sweet Water Creek as far as possible. I have ordered General K. to hold the bridge at Sandtown with dismounted men and guard the line of Sweet Water, posting the First Brigade of Garrard's division on his right. I design posting the remainder of Garrard's division at Powder Springs, extending to Dallas, sending scouting parties westward to learn the movements of the enemy. I am, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. L. ELLIOTT, Brig. Gen. and Chief of Cavalry, Dept. of the Cumberland. [Indorsement.] Howard has no cavalry. He will send two divisions of infantry to Fairburn to-day. Don't hold lines at all, but keep the cavalry in motion to study the enemy's lines. I don't fear Hood's attacking across Sweet Water. All I want to know is, are his infantry moving to Blue Mountain, or are they in position below Sweet Water? Garrard might send a lookout to Lost Mountain, but all his cavalry in mass should move from point to point, drive back the enemy's line, and develop infantry. We are superior in cavalry here, for all of Forrest's and Wheeler's are at Huntsville. W. T. SHERMAN, HDQRS. CHIEF OF CAVALRY, DEPT. OF THE CUMBERLAND, Capt. L. M. DAYTON, Atlanta, Ga., October 1, 1864. Aide-de-Camp, Hdqrs. Military Division of the Mississippi: CAPTAIN: The following dispatch received from Major Kimmel, Ninth Pennsylvania Cavalry, stationed at Whiteside's to scout up Will's Valley: WHITESIDE'S, October 1. My scouts, returned from Lebanon at 12 m. to-day, report several small squads of rebel cavalry through the valley, pressing horses to mount men; encamped near Gadsden. On approaching Lebanon were informed of a brigade of rebel cavalry marching from Gadsden to that place. On arriving there learned they had taken the road at Van Buren for Guntersville. Sent scout of six companies at 1 p. m. to-day, under Major Appel, to come down the valley in two columns. Will learn any demonstrations of the enemy in this direction. I am, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant, HDQRS. MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI, General McCook, Cartersville: I think only a part of Hood's infantry is across the Chattahoochee, and it is reported they are bound for Blue Mountain or the Talladega road. I don't think he will go toward Rome, but toward Decatur or Stevenson. I want you to picket about Burnt Hickory. Corse is at Rome. W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General, Commanding. General K. GARRARD: HEADQUARTERS CHIEF OF CAVALRY, The enemy's infantry is reported to have crossed Chattahoochee and camped near Sweet Water. Your division should move as soon as possible and take post at or near Powder Springs. Supplies will probably be drawn from Marietta. I have ordered General Kilpatrick to hold Sandtown bridge with dismounted men, and guard the line of Sweet Water Creek as far up as possible, posting your First Brigade on the right. Do not leave any of your division. General Cox has been directed to use his cavalry. I desire to see you here on your way to the bridge. W. L. ELLIOTT, Brigadier-General and Chief of Cavalry. HDQRS. THIRD CAV. DIV., DEPT. OF THE CUMBERLAND, Brigadier-General ELLIOTT, Chief of Cavalry: GENERAL: All the bridges are burned on the Sweet Water and Noyes' Creek. The Sweet Water and Noyes' Creek is the enemy's line of picket; neither of these streams can be forded at present. I forced the enemy back, swam the creek at Sweet Water town or bridge, at 1 p. m. to-day, but was driven back after a severe skirmish. At 4 p. m., under cover of my artillery, I made another attempt and was successful. Have about completed a bridge; it will be finished before morning, when I will push forward my reconnaissance. I hold the Sweet Water and Noyes' Creek from Chattahoochee to a point near the crossing of the Powder Springs and Marietta road. Cavalry should be sent in the direction of Powder Springs from Marietta; that is certainly the road upon which the enemy will advance, from all I can learn. If the First Brigade reports by morning I will send it immediately to watch the country in that direction. I have sent scouts in every direction toward the railroad and railroad bridge, and I can learn nothing of the First Brigade, Second Division. A large train of wagons parked last evening on Sweet Water (a branch of Sweet Water) three miles from Powder Springs; scouts just report heavy rebel picket-post this side Noyes' Creek on road to Marietta. I fully realize the importance of gaining reliable information, and will make every effort to see the rebel infantry to-morrow. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. KILPATRICK, Brigadier-General, Commanding. First Brigade is marching to join me. All O. K. [Indorsement.] Received 7 a. m. October 2, 1864. By this time the courier-line from General K.'s headquarters to railroad bridge is established and telegraph operator at bridge. W. L. ELLIOTT, Brigadier General, &c. HDQRS. MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI, General KILPATRICK, Sweet Water: I am anxious that Hood should stretch over to Blue Mountain, but want to know it as soon as possible. If his infantry passes Carrollton he will go across, but if he march up toward Dallas he means our railroad about the Etowah bridge or Acworth. All I want the cavalry to do is to develop Hood's design. I don't care about picket-lines, but keep cavalry in hand and motion, and watch, of course, Sweet Water bridge, Powder Springs, and Dallas. W. T. SHERMAN, HDQRS. MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI, Major-General HOWARD: To-morrow General Garrard will feel well out beyond Powder Springs, and I want Ransom to develop the nature of the force at Shadna. Tell him to use his skirmish line and supports in front, and feel the flank toward the west, as though interposing between Shadna and the river. General Cox will have a division down to Flat Rock. General Thomas reported to-day that Forrest had made his appearance at Huntsville, and he had sent General Morgan's division there. The road and telegraph to Nashville in good order yet. W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE, General SHERMAN: Your message of last night just received. Ransom will do substantially what we wish, though it is too late now to communicate with him. I have no cavalry. O. O. HOWARD, Major-General HOWARD: ATLANTA, October 1, 1864. I have not yet heard from Lieut. Gen. U. S. Grant as to my proposed campaign, but it is well for you to bear in mind that if Hood swings over to the Alabama road and then tries to get into Tennessee, I may throw back to Chattanooga all of Major-General Thomas' men as far down as Kingston, and draw forward all else; send back all cars and locomotives; destroy Atlanta, and make for Savannah or Charleston via Milledgeville and Millen. If Hood aims at our road this side of Kingston, and in no manner threatens Tennessee, I will have to turn on him. Keep these things to yourself. The march I propose is less by 200 miles than I made last fall, and less than I accomplished in February, and we could make Georgia a break in the Confederacy by ruining both east and west roads, and not running against a single fort until we got to the seashore and in communication with our ships. W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General, Commanding. (Same to General Cox.) HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE, Major-General SHERMAN: Your dispatch received. I like the plan. I wish we had more forage on hand. The enemy having burned bridges across the Sweet Water indicates a wider sweep. I am yet loath to believe that Hood will throw his entire army across the Chattahoochee. O. O. HOWARD, HDQRS. MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI, Maj. Gen. O. O. HOWARD: W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE, Major-General SHERMAN: The following just received: October 1, 1864. MEMPHIS, September 28, 1864. Forrest made a speech at Tupelo on the 16th, and told his men that he was going to Middle Tennessee, to operate on Sherman's communications, and promised that he would compel Sherman to evacuate Georgia within sixty days; also promised all the horses they wanted. On the 20th he was at Cherokee, near the Tennessee, with most of his command. He probably has about 5,000. A small force has crossed the Tennessee lower down. Staff officer from you has not arrived. The information in regard to Forrest is entirely reliable. You are aware, I suppose, that I am now weak. All the Sixteenth Corps have gone; the 100-days' men gone, and nearly half of my eavalry sent after Price and Shelby, and one regiment to Saint Louis. C. C. WASHBURN, O. O. HOWARD, HDQRS. DEPARTMENT AND ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE, Maj. Gen. W. T. SHERMAN, Commanding Military Division of the Mississippi: General Ransom moved out with two divisions this p. m., and is now in camp within eight miles of Fairburn; says in report: "The enemy intrenched near Shadna or Sideling, either infantry or cavalry, cannot learn." Found enemy's cavalry pickets four miles out, who disappeared on his appearance. 10. O. HOWARD, Major-General. SPECIAL ORDERS, HDQRS. DEPT. AND ABMI OF, October No. East Point, Ga., 1, 1864. VII. Brig. Gen. T. E. G. Ransom, commanding Seventeenth Army Corps, will, with two divisions of his command, immediately move down the Newnan road to or below Fairburn, driving any of the enemy's cavalry he may find, but not engaging infantry. The command will be in light marching order and provided with three days' rations. Having accomplished the object of this reconnaissance he will return and take up his old position. XIII. Maj. Gen. P. J. Osterhaus, commanding Fifteenth Army Corps, will cover the front with his troops, made vacant by the movement of General Fuller's division. It is reported that Hood has crossed his army over the Chattahoochee to the west, and may attempt to make a lodgment on our road. If you see signs of this I want you to hold securely the Allatoona Pass and Etowah bridge, and I will move.against him with my whole force the moment I know that he will attempt it. As long as our road is endangered by cavalry only no change need be made. W. T. SHERMAN, CHATTANOOGA, October 1, 1864. Acting Assistant Adjutant-General: Captain BUDLONG, Has Colonel Raum assumed command yet? Report often. Send scouts out below Stilesborough. JNO. E. SMITH, HDQRS. MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI, General CORSE, Rome: If General Hood has evidently crossed a part, if not the whole, of his army across to the west bank of the Chattahoochee, below Sweet Water. His soldiers think he is going for Blue Mountain. I think not. He may attempt to get on our road this side of Allatoona or near Cassville. at the latter, hold fast. If you hear of him this side of Allatoona, leave a small force to guard the bridge across Oostenaula and join your forces to General John E. Smith's and act against Hood from Allatoona. I will employ him from this quarter. He cannot tarry long, and will expose |