NASHVILLE, TENN., November 15, 1864—10.30 p. m. Maj. THOMAS T. ECKERT, Washington, D. C.: Further reports from Knoxville state that the loss in killed, wounded, and missing will not exceed 300, but that all our transportation and artillery was captured. Breckinridge's force is estimated at 5,000 to 8,000, and is reported crossing Holston River, twelve miles above Strawberry Plains, threatening Cumberland Gap. Colonel Brownlow is only field officer missing, supposed to be prisoner. Hood making no movement; river too high yet; but small cavalry force attacked wagon train near Columbia to-day and were whipped by guard. J. C. VAN DUZER. NASHVILLE, November 15, 1864. Major-General SCHOFIELD, Pulaski: To be forwarded to General Hatch for his information. DECATUR, November 14, 1864. Lieut. B. E. Shaw, Second Michigan Cavalry, is just in. He escaped from the enemy at Cherokee Station on Thursday evening last. He reports one corps (Lee's) across the river; Stewart's and Cheatham's corps were about Tuscumbia. He says the impression among the men was they were going into West Tennessee. He passed, on his way to Cherokee Station from Tuscumbia, a train of, he supposed, 700 wagons, without a guard-the largest, he says, he ever saw. He reports a large regiment at Moulton, and a brigade between this place and Courtland. He heard nothing of the movements of Hood this way. R. S. GRANGER, This statement of Lieutenant Shaw is confirmed by a citizen who had reached Decatur a few hours previous. I therefore believe that the story of the Russian prisoner to General Hatch is substantially true, and that the general may take such measures accordingly as to enable him to act with the greatest force and with the greatest effect against the enemy's position. GEO. H. THOMAS, Major-General, U. S. Volunteers. NASHVILLE, November 15, 1864. Major-General SCHOFIELD, Pulaski : The following dispatch_received. The major-general commanding directs that you send to New Market and find the rebel force spoken of, and notify General Granger. Major-General ROUSSEAU: WM. D. WHIPPLE, DECATUR, November 15, 1864. Colonels Russell, Mead, and Johnson, with their combined forces, 600 strong, were at New Market on Thursday, November 11. They are conscripting largely. My informant is reliable; he counted the force as they passed his house. ED. W. BLAKE, Commanding Thirteenth Wisconsin Volunteers. If the general concludes to send cavalry after this party, as I have strongly recommended, I should like to know about the matter, as they would probably return down Flint River if approached from the north, and might be waylaid by other infantry. R. S. GRANGER, Brigadier-General. PULASKI, TENN., November 15, 1864. Brigadier-General WHIPPLE, Chief of Staff, Nashville: I have just received your dispatch of this morning, directing me to send to New Market to find a rebel force referred to by General Granger. Since sending Colonel Capron to Mount Pleasant I have no cavalry available for that purpose, and in view of the last report from General Hatch it would be probably unwise to send infantry. Please inform me of the general's wishes on the subject. J. M. SCHOFIELD, Major-General SCHOFIELD: NASHVILLE, November 15, 1864. The Fifth Tennessee Infantry is here. Where do you wish it sent? W. D. WHIPPLE, PULASKI, TENN., November 15, 1864. Brigadier-General WHIPPLE, Nashville: Please send the Fifth Tennessee Infantry to this place. J. M. SCHOFIELD, Major-General. Major-General THOMAS: PULASKI, November 15, 1864. I have nothing from General Hatch since 1 o'clock this morning, but hope he will give me reliable information of the enemy's movements to-morrow morning. I will have everything ready to move promptly if it becomes necessary. I do not believe Hood will come this way with his infantry. He may move north, via Centerville, or possibly Columbia; but, I think, more probably will send his cavalry on a raid, while he occupies our attention and holds the ground necessary to cover their retreat. When will Smith be at Nashville? 57 R R-VOL XLV, PT I J. M. SCHOFIELD, Major-General SCHOFIELD, NASHVILLE, November 15, 1864—10 p. m. Pulaski: Your two dispatches of this date received. The Fifth Tennessee will be sent to you as soon as it can be placed in condition to move; it is now very badly off for everything. You need not send any cavalry to New Market for the present, until you ascertain positively whether or not Hood is moving. The whole of the cavalry should be kept in front. GEO. H. THOMAS, Major-General, U. S. Volunteers, Commanding. II. The commanding officer of the section of the Twenty-fourth Indiana Battery now with the Third Division, Twenty-third Army Corps, will turn over to the other batteries of said division, under the direction of Maj. H. W. Wells, chief of artillery, the horses belonging to the section, and will proceed without delay, with the guns, &c., to Columbia, Tenn., and report to Col. S. A. Strickland, commanding Third Brigade, Second Division, for duty. The quartermaster's department will furnish the necessary transportation. By command of Major-General Schofield: CLINTON A. CILLEY, Captain and Assistant Adjutant-General. Colonel STRICKLAND, PULASKI, TENN., November 15, 1864. Comdg. Brigade, Second Division, Twenty-third Army Corps: It is reported that Hood started from Florence yesterday on the Waynesborough road. He will probably strike for Columbia; if so, we will meet him there. I want you to intrench a strong bridge-head to cover the crossing of the river at Columbia. Keep the pontoons in order, and have the railroad bridge floored, so that we can use it for crossing troops and trains if necessary. Send the accompanying dispatch to Colonel Capron; he left here with his brigade yesterday and should be near Mount Pleasant to-day. Answer. Colonel CAPRON, J. M. SCHOFIELD, PULASKI, November 15, 1864. Comdg. Cavalry Brigade, Mount Pleasant. General Hatch reports cavalry and infantry moving from Florence toward Waynesborough. I think Hood's entire army is moving toward Columbia. General Hatch is moving his entire force in that * See next, post. 2 direction; communicate with him as soon as practicable, and when your forces meet act under his orders. Push out well to the front; keep in presence of the enemy, and inform me of his movements, also inform Colonel Strickland, at Columbia. J. M. SCHOFIELD, Major-General. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE OHIO, Brig. Gen. EDWARD HATCH, Commanding Cavalry Division, Taylor's Springs : GENERAL: I have just received your dispatch to General Stanley, dated 1 a. m. to-day, giving the information from Colonel Coon of the enemy's movement toward Waynesborough. I send you a copy of a dispatch from General Thomas, giving information sent by General Granger.* This appears to be not later than last Thursday, since which time Hood may have crossed his whole army, and be now moving north from Florence. Yesterday I sent Colonel Capron with his brigade to Mount Pleasant, with orders to scout toward Waynesborough, and have now sent him the substance of your dispatch, with orders to communicate with you and act under your orders when your forces meet. Please advise me frequently of the enemy's movements, in order that I may meet him on whatever road he may take. Very respectfully, J. M. SCHOFIELD, HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY DIVISION, Near Bough's Mills, November 15, 1864-2 p. m. Major-General THOMAS: I am extending my right flank. Learn that the movement of cavalry and infantry on the Florence and Waynesborough road yesterday was only a reconnaissance in force. Lee's corps alone was all there was of the enemy's infantry yesterday on this side of the Tennessee River. A prisoner just taken reports the pickets from the military road are from Johnson's division, of Lee's corps. (Same to General Schofield, Pulaski.) EDWARD HATCH, HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY DIVISION, Near Bough's Mills, November 15, 1864–2 p. m. Major-General SCHOFIELD, Commanding, Pulaski, Tenn.: I have not cavalry enough to close in my right to the Tennessee River. If you could spare me Capron's brigade think we can close them in so effectually not a forage party can get out of Florence without a fight for it. Very truly, your obedient servant, EDWARD HATCH, *See p. 896. DECATUR, November 15, 1864. Major-General THOMAS: Two negroes came in late last night from Tuscumbia; they left there Sunday night last; everything was quiet; been no movement for several days. R. S. GRANGER, Brigadier-General, Commanding. (Same to Major-General Rousseau.) NASHVILLE, TENN., November 15, 1864. Brig. Gen. R. S. GRANGER, Decatur: General Thomas has telegraphed General Schofield to look after the force in the vicinity of New Market. Colonel CULVER, B. H. POLK, Major and Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF THE ETOWAH, Chattanooga, November 15, 1864. Thirteenth Michigan Volunteers: COLONEL: You will proceed with your command by rail to Dalton. On your arrival at that place you will assume command of the post and garrison, making such disposition of your troops and giving such orders as in your opinion may be necessary to protect the railroad and trains and cover the withdrawal of the troops at Resaca and Tilton. You will report promptly by telegraph any approach or movements of the enemy you may hear of. By command of Major-General Steedman: M. DAVIS, IV. Pursuant to instructions from Major-General Milroy, Col. Thomas C. Boone, commanding One hundred and fifteenth Ohio Volunteers, is directed to detail a garrison of about twenty men to be stationed at Christiana, and a like force to be stationed at Fosterville. Both stations will be under command of an intelligent and reliable officer, to be selected by Colonel Boone. The men will be instructed to protect the wood-yards, water-tanks. telegraph office, and all other Government property, and to patrol the railroad twice during the night, connecting with the patrols from Stone's River bridge and the block-house at Bell Buckle Creek. The command will at once construct winter quarters, which will serve at the same time the purpose of defense and comfort. They should be constructed of logs and loop-holed for musketry. This order will be carried into effect with the least possible delay. By command of Brigadier-General Van Cleve: E. A. OTIS, Assistant Adjutant-General. |