HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Crawfish Spring, September 16, 1863-4.30 p. m. Major-General THOMAS: The general commanding desires you to report to-night the position of all your command. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Lieutenant-Colonel and Assistant Adjutant-General. (Copy to Major-General McCook, Major-General Crittenden, and Brig. Gen. R. B. Mitchell.) CIRCULAR.] HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Crawfish Spring, September 16, 1863. The general commanding directs you to see that your men have three days' rations in their haversacks, and as near 20 rounds of ammunition in the pocket of each man, in addition to having his cartridge-box full. There are some indications that the enemy is massing for an attack on our left. The general commanding desires to know how your divisions are now posted before giving further orders. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. A. GARFIELD. Brigadier-General and Chief of Staff. (Copy to Major-General McCook, Major-General Crittenden, and Brigadier-General Mitchell.) HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Widow Gordon's, Crawfish Spring, Sept. 16, 1863-8.05 a. m. Major-General THOMAS, Commanding Fourteenth Army Corps: The general commanding directs that you concentrate your corps between Gower's and Bird's Mill, so as to hold the road. Fave Wilder get ready to move up as soon as practicable. Do it to-day, and as secretly as possible. Your spare transportation should be put on the Chattanooga Valley road. Foraging should be done in front, and all the corn that can be gathered. Have the men move with as little fatigue as possible. General Halleck telegraphed that three divisions from Lee's army are with Bragg or on their way to join him. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, FRANK S. BOND, Major and Aide-de-Camp. Direct Colonel Wilder to make his arrangements to move early to-morrow morning. By command of Major-General Thomas: GEO. E. FLYNT. Assistant Adjutant-General and Chief of Staff. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Major-General THOMAS: The general commanding desires to know if you received his order dated 8.05 a. m. to-day signed by Major Bond, and if you have moved accordingly. It is important that the position indicated therein be assumed to-night. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, C. GODDARD, Lieutenant-Colonel and Assistant Adjutant-General. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Major-General THOMAS, Commanding Fourteenth Army Corps: The general commanding directs you, in the movement indicated in the order of this morning, to bring your left as far down the Chickamauga as Owens' Ford, so as to connect with the right of General Crittenden. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. A. GARFIELD, Brigadier-General and Chief of Staff. SEPTEMBER 17, 1863-9.40 a. m. P. S.-The above dispatch was sent yesterday, but we have reason to believe it was lost, as the courier has not been heard from. J. A. GARFIELD. Brigadier-General and Chief of Staff. HEADQUARTERS FOURTEENTH ARMY CORPS, Brigadier-General GARFIELD, Chief of Staff: GENERAL: Your dispatch received. General McCook's troops have not yet arrived. I will send Generals Baird and Negley to take position to-morrow morning, and Reynolds and Brannan the day following. Wilder will be directed to move this evening. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, GEO. H. THOMAS, Major-General, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Major-General THOMAS: The general commanding directs you to order Colonel Wilder's brigade, with the exception of one regiment, to report to these headquarters to-morrow morning for temporary duty on the left flank of the army. Direct Colonel Wilder to report here in person for orders in advance of his column. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. A. GARFIELD, Brigadier-General and Chief of Staff. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Crawfish Spring, September 16, 1863-8.45 p. m. Maj. Gen. GEORGE H. THOMAS : Your dispatch of 3.30 p. m. is just received. The general commanding directs me to say in answer that he fears the movement will be too late if delayed till the time you mention. The enemy seems to be massing on our left, and the general commanding desires that our flank movement to the left may be accomplished as soon as practicable. He has not heard from your reconnaissance to-day to the gap of Pigeon Mountain. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. A. GARFIELD, Brigadier-General and Chief of Staff. Journal of operations of the Fourteenth Army Corps. SEPTEMBER 16, 1863. No alterations in the positions of the divisions since last reported. General Turchin, commanding Third Brigade, Reynolds' division, went out on a reconnaissance toward Catlett's Gap. The enemy's sharpshooters fell back as our troops advanced, until he came upon the enemy posted in a gorge of the mountain. Could not tell the strength of the enemy, as he had no orders to push them farther. Orders were sent him to make a more thorough reconnaissance at 2 p. m. HEADQUARTERS FOURTEENTH ARMY CORPS, Brig. Gen. J. A. GARFIELD, Chief of Staff, Hdqrs. Department of the Cumberland: GENERAL: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the order to concentrate my corps between Gower's and Bird's Mill, on the Chickamauga. The movement will commence to-morrow morning at daylight by Negley's and Baird's divisions moving along the Ridge road and entering the Valley road at Alley's; thence to Bird's Mill, the right resting at Bird's Mill, and thence extending down the creek to the right of General Crittenden's corps. Should Johnson and Davis arrive in time to-morrow morning, Reynolds and Brannan will be moved to the left and take post, the right resting at Gower's and the left reaching Bird's Mill. We have received news of Johnson and Davis at Rope Gap, and they are expected here early tomorrow morning. General Crook, with his division of cavalry, holds Dougherty's Gap. General Lytle, with two brigades of McCook's corps, is there also. Colonel Harrison, Indiana Mounted Infantry Regiment, was ordered by me to reconnoiter the vicinity of Dug and Blue Bird Gaps, and to go as far as Rope Gap to meet the cavalry. He has just returned and reports the position of Crook's and McCook's troops as above; he also reports a good road from Rope or Dougherty's Gap along the top of Pigeon Ridge, in rear of Blue Bird Gap, and thinks that a force moving by that road might capture the force holding Blue Bird Gap. The southern or upper part of the cove is reported clear of rebels. Turchin's brigade, of Reynolds' division, started at 2 p. m. to-day to reconnoiter Catlett's Gap. I have not received any report from him yet; will forward it as soon as received. I propose to make my headquarters at Alley's, about half way between Gower's and Bird's Mill, to-morrow night. Inclosed I forward reports from deserters for the information of the general commanding. The courier line is established between here and General Mitchell's headquarters. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, GEO. H. THOMAS, Major-General, U. S. Volunteers, Commanding. [Inclosure No. 1.] PROVOST-MARSHAL'S OFFICE, 14TH ARMY_CORPS, Col. G. E. FLYNT, Stevens' Gap, September 16, 1863. Colonel and Chief of Staff: COLONEL: I have the honor to report that 3 deserters came in today from the Forty-fifth Mississippi Infantry, Wood's brigade, Cleburne's division, Hill's corps. They report that they left Dug Gap last evening at 8 o'clock; that Dug Gap is blockaded by felled trees; that one brigade is in the gap, and the balance of Cleburne's division is at Pigeon Mountain, on the other side of the gap; that the transportation is at La Fayette; that yesterday a detail was sent to La Fayette for rations; that three days' rations were issued. I remain, colonel, your obedient servant, J. G. PARKHURST, Colonel and Provost-Marshal. [Inclosure No. 2.] HDQRS. 14TH ARMY CORPS, INSPECTOR-GENERAL'S DEPT., Crawfish, September 16, 1863. Statement of F. J. McKinney, Walker's escort, deserter: I left La Fayette on last Friday evening, at which time Bragg's headquar ters were at that place. It was reported among the men at General Walker's headquarters that Bragg had 80,000 men. It was the talk that Lee had sent one corps of his army to Bragg, and that most of Johnston's army had arrived and were arriving. Bragg's army was said to be at La Fayette, Ringgold, Rome, and the surrounding country. The army was in poor spirits; considerable confusion among them. The army is on quarter rations. The country about Rome is very poor. Most of the forage has been consumed. Two months ago the escort numbered 100 men. They had all deserted but 15 when I left, and thrown away their arms. Captain SEITER, SIGNAL STATION AT STEVENS' GAP, Acting Signal Officer in Charge: A squad of rebel cavalry, about a regiment, I saw come up the Chickamauga Creek to Blue Bird Gap, and go down the Valley road to the right. Saw large clouds of dust all afternoon toward La Fayette. Think troops were arriving there from some point south or east. FULLER, Lieutenant and Acting Signal Officer. [Indorsement.] Respectfully referred to Colonel Flynt for information of the general commanding. H. C. JONES. PROVOST-MARSHAL'S OFFICE, FOURTEENTH ARMY CORPS, Col. G. E. FLYNT, Stevens' Gap, September 16, 1863-9.15 p. m. Assistant Adjutant-General and Chief of Staff: COLONEL: I have the honor to report that a deserter, Z. W. Thomason, of the Thirty-fifth Tennessee Infantry, Polk's brigade, Cleburne's division, Hill's corps, who has just been brought in, reports that he left his command about 3 o'clock yesterday evening at a point 2 miles below Blue Bird Gap, on the south side of the mountain; that soon after he left he heard firing to the left of La Fayette toward Gordon's Mills; that heavy firing was kept up till after dark; that he could see the smoke and dust, and the armies seemed to move off to the right and beyond La Fayette; at evening was about 2 miles beyond and to the right of La Fayette; that he heard a good deal of musketry as well as artillery. I remain, colonel, your obedient servant, J. G. PARKHURST, Colonel and Provost-Marshal. HEADQUARTERS FOURTEENTH ARMY CORPS, Major-General NEGLEY, Commanding Second Division: You are directed by Maj. Gen. George H. Thomas to move with your command via Valley road, running through Bailey's CrossRoads to Bird's Mill, taking up a position on the right of General Baird's division, your left resting on the Chickamauga Creek as far down as Owens' Ford, so as to connect with the right of General Crittenden's command. A guide will be sent you early to-morrow morning to show you the most direct route. Foraging should be done from the front, and all the corn that can be gathered. Have the men move with as little fatigue as possible. Should you have any spare transportation put it on the Chattanooga Valley road. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, GEO. E. FLYNT, Assistant Adjutant-General and Chief of Staff. P. S.-Move with your command at 8 o'clock to-morrow morning. |