Brigadier-General GARFIELD, DUNLAP, August 23, 1863-12 m. Chief of Staff: Minty dispatches* from Smith's Cross-Roads, dated 3 a. m. this morning, that the enemy is crossing at Blythe's Ferry and at the mouth of Sale Creek. He moved back in direction of Poe's Tavern. A small force of Forrest's men attacked his forage party yesterday, and were driven through Washington by his scouts there. He further reports that five pieces of artillery and 900 men arrived at Blythe's Ferry night before last. All this is on the information of six men that he sent to the river last night. He gives no intimation as to the number that had crossed, and I have dispatched Van Cleve to know if he retired on Poe's by his orders; if not, he must reoccupy his position as indicated in general orders to watch the movements of the enemy, and if forced to retire, must do so on Pikeville. I am much annoyed at this movement of Minty's, as I deem it of the utmost importance that he should be with Van Cleve. I am anxious to hear from you about supplies at Tracy City. CRITTENDEN, Major-General. CAMP SECOND BRIGADE. 19 MILES FROM CHATTANOOGA, August 23, 1863. (Via Cowan, 8.30 a. m., 24th.) General GARFIELD, Chief of Staff: GENERAL: Yesterday evening, owing to the condition of the atmosphere, the camp of the enemy could be located very correctly by the smoke. There seem to be but few troops near Chattanooga, there being but one camp and that not large. The next encampment is at the mouth of Lookout Creek, and still another can be seen at Kelley's Ferry; then up the river the first force is at Friar's Shoals, 4 miles from Chattanooga, one at Harrison's, and still another at Cleveland, which is not on the river, but on the railroad. Judging from the smoke the force at all these points is about equal to the force in the city, except that at the shoals, which is only a regiment. From the best information we can get there is one brigade at each place named; this would make about five brigades in all in this part of the country, say 20 miles of front. So far as the city is concerned it is impregnable from the front. There are but two guns at the shoals. The river is fordable there. From where I am now encamped there is an old road, called the old pike, running to the right, and strikes the river at Williams' Island; this is a very good way, by a little work, and is the only crossing place not guarded by the rebels. I have had some fears they may some night throw across a force there, to cut off our advance and place a strong picket on it. Colonel Wilder had another bout with the batteries at Chattanooga, and the sharpshooters have frequent and sometimes sharp work, so they say. I cannot vouch for the fact. I now think the enemy is of the opinion that an attack is not to be made in this direction with a large force, and have consequently left at Chattanooga, and at each of the crossings, only sufficient force to * See Minty to Otis, p. 139. man the works and guard the crossings against a small force. The main force is no doubt below somewhere. You may ask me, how we can do anything to change this? If they do not send re-enforcements, we can cross the river at least and cut the railroad above and below the city, and if they re-enforce this place strongly and prevent our crossing we still have done some good, as there will be less men to fight somewhere else. Wilder insists he can ford the river and cut the railroad, if supported. Whether this is so or not you can tell as well as any one, possibly better. I send to you McGraw, who will give you all explanations about the matter. I must have rations, as we are out; I have found plenty of water for the whole division, if it is desired at any time to move up here, but it will not last long. Very respectfully, yours, TH. J. WOOD, P. S.-This is the latest news from General Wagner. STEVENSON, ALA., Major-General CRITTENDEN, August 23, 1863. Commanding Twenty-first Army Corps, Dunlap: Your dispatch received, also Wagner's and Palmer's reports. Empty part of your wagons into the rest and send to Tracy City for supplies. Minty's movement is as strange to me as yourself. Your directions correct. The movement of Burnside, who will be in Jamestown by Tuesday night, will cover that flank. Notify Van Cleve and direct him to open communications with Burnside, if possible. This movement will renew the apprehensions of many that we mean to advance in that direction. Direct Van Cleve to keep himself supplied and ready to move. Capt. J. R. MUHLEMAN, W. S. ROSECRANS, HEADQUARTERS U. S. FORCES, Poe's Tavern, August 23, 1863-4 p. m. Assistant Adjutant-General, &c.: A conscript just in from Harrison (having swam the Tennessee early this morning, and being well known in this neighborhood as truthful) says that two brigades passed up the river in great haste last evening for Blythe's Ferry and Hiwassee; that they went so rapidly that a great many stragglers were left in the rear, and their train of 40 wagons went at a trot. I have reports to-day, which I believe reliable, that all the crossings near here and above have been considerably re-enforced. The conscript says they are expecting an attack above. I have sent Funkhouser to-day 12 miles above. Very respectfully, W. B. HAZEN, HDQRS. THIRD DIVISION, TWENTY-FIRST ARMY CORPS, Lieut. Col. LYNE STARLING, Chief of Staff, Twenty-first Army Corps: COLONEL Dispatch of last evening received during the night. Do not know the extent of supplies now at McMinnville. They are abundant, and are coming there more rapidly than I can haul them to this point. Much of the bacon that is brought here is damaged— one fourth of the last lot. It is trying, to transport damaged bacon at this time. Colonel Minty has every available man and horse with him, and urges sending him more. Have not heard from him since my last report. We thought we heard artillery occasionally in the direction of Blythe's Ferry yesterday. Sent my engineer and a party to repair road over the mountain, yesterday. He has returned, and gives a very favorable report of it. I am, very respectfully, your most obedient servant, H. P. VAN CLEVE, Brig. Gen., Comdg. Third Div., Twenty-first Army Corps. HDQRS. THIRD DIVISION, TWENTY-FIRST ARMY CORPS, Lieut. Col. LYNE STARLING, Chief of Staff, Twenty-first Army Corps: COLONEL: I inclose copy of letter just received from Colonel Minty. The courier from Colonel Minty says he did not hear any firing of artillery yesterday. Very respectfully, H. P. VAN CLEVE, Brigadier-General, Commanding Division. [Inclosure.] HDQRS. FIRST BRIGADE, SECOND CAVALRY DIVISION, Captain OTIS, Asst. Adjt. Gen., Third Div., Twenty-first Army Corps: SIR: I sent a scout of 6 men to the river last night; they have this moment returned, with the information that the enemy are crossing at Blythe's Ferry and at the mouth of Sale Creek. My position here is, as I stated in my last, not good. The enemy, crossing at Sale Creek, can place themselves between me and our forces at or near Poe's; those crossing at Blythe's can attack me in front, with the ground in their favor, while Forrest can take me in flank and rear, completely surrounding me. I will move immediately in the direction of Poe's Tavern, so as to prevent their coming between me and that place, and to enable me in case of an attack by a superior force to fall back there for support. Until you hear further from me all communications from you will have to be sent via Poe's. Lieutenant Roys arrived with the wagons last evening. I am, respectfully, your obedient servant, R. H. G. MINTY, A small force of Forrest's men attacked one of my forage parties yesterday, but the scout at Washington drove them through that place. Five pieces of artillery and 900 men arrived at Blythe's the night before last. HEADQUARTERS TWENTY-FIRST ARMY CORPS, General VAN CLEVE, Pikeville: Minty's dispatch received. If he has fallen back in direction of Poe's Tavern on your orders or without orders, he has acted very imprudently and must return to watch the enemy, and if forced to retire must do so on Pikeville. If by this fatal step he cannot reoccupy his position he must in some way rejoin you without fatiguing his horses. Being on the ground you must act on the above by your own judgment, and always have in mind the exposed condition of your left. P. P. OLDERSHAW, Captain and Assistant Adjutant-General. HDQRS. THIRD DIVISION, TWENTY-FIRST ARMY CORPS, Lieut. Col. LYNE STARLING, Dunlap: Pikeville, August 23, 1863. Your dispatch by signal received. Colonel Minty fell back toward Poe's on his own responsibility, not by my order, but no doubt found it absolutely necessary to save his command. I am sending a dispatch to him with instructions in accordance with your order. I shall take care of my left. Respectfully, H. P. VAN CLEVE, Brigadier-General, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Major-General CRITTENDEN, Dunlap: Stevenson, August 23, 1863. Your dispatches received. All you have done approved of. There are 20,000 rations at Tracy City, and more ordered. You had better send some of your trains to McMinnville, not to Tracy City. Send name of company, regiment, brigade, and division of corps to which prisoners you have taken belong, to enable us to form some idea of number of enemy in that direction. By order of Major-General Rosecrans : R. S. THOMS, NASHVILLE, August 23, 1863-2.30 p. m. Brigadier-General GARFIELD : Colonel Stokes' command reached Alexandria at 8 a. m. yesterday. The commanding officer at McMinnville reports the road between that place and Tullahoma without guard. I have no force to guard it. My command is terribly scattered. Please order the general court, of which General Paine is president, to reconvene at Murfreesborough, for the trial of Lieutenant-Colonel Bloodgood. The Spears case is tried. Please answer at once. COMMANDING OFFICER, McMinnville: G. GRANGER, Major-General. STEVENSON, August 23, 1863. The general commanding directs that you furnish guards for the railroad as far as Manchester. General Gordon Granger has been directed to guard it from that point. R. S. THOMS, STEVENSON, August 23, 1863. Maj. Gen. GORDON GRANGER, Nashville: I have directed the commanding officer at McMinnville to guard the railroad to Manchester. You must guard it from that point. W. S. ROSECRANS, Lieut. HENRY M. CIST: Major-General. MURFREESBOROUGH, August 23, 1863. I sent cavalry from this post this morning to escort horses and mules from Wartrace to Nashville. We had no mounted men at Wartrace. JAS. B. STEEDMAN, Brigadier-General, Commanding Post. STEVENSON, ALA., August 23, 1863. Nashville: Brig. Gen. ROBERT S. GRANGER, A dispatch to Cincinnati Commercial, giving important information of location and destination of my troops, was presented for transmission over wires. The dispatch gives proper instructions in regard to correspondents sending their dispatches. W. S. ROSECRANS, Major-General. Stevenson, August 23, 1863. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Maj. Gen. D. S. STANLEY, Chief of Cavalry: GENERAL: The general commanding directs you to order Colonel Ray to report with his regiment to Major-General Reynolds, at Jas |