regiment of cavalry which has infested that country ever since we came down the river. A boat came down last night. Everything was all right then. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, JAS. B. MCPHERSON, Major-General, Commanding. KNOXVILLE, October 20, 1863-12.30 a. m. Major-General GRANT: The following is the disposition of the forces in this department: Three thousand cavalry, 1,000 infantry, and 10 pieces artillery at Jonesborough, with advance posts at the ford of the Holston, scouting well out on the north side of the Holston. One thousand cavalry and 4 pieces artillery at Rogersville, scouting in the direction of Kingsport. Four new Indiana regiments, with about 3,000 men for duty and 10 pieces of artillery, at Greeneville. One regiment of infantry, 400 strong, and a six-gun battery and 250 cavalry at Morristown. Two regiments new Ohio troops and one six-gun battery and a battalion of cavalry, 300 strong, at Cumberland Gap, with 13 captured pieces in position. Twelve hundred infantry, three batteries of artillery, and 1,000 cavalry at Knoxville. Nine hundred infantry at Concord. Twenty-seven hundred infantry and three batteries of artillery at Loudon. Twelve hundred cavalry and 4 mountain howitzers, under Colonel Wolford, with headquarters at Philadelphia, and outposts and scouting parties extending out to the Hiwassee River. Fifteen hundred cavalry and one battery of artillery, with headquarters at Post Oak Springs, 9 miles below Kingston, on the north side of the river, picketing down to Blythe's Ferry, connecting with General Rosecrans. Besides these, we have a column of 4,500 infantry, 18 pieces of artillery, and 350 cavalry of the Ninth Corps near this place under orders for Kingston. These estimates are given in round numbers rather than regiments, as it will give you a better idea of our real strength. Some 2,000 or 3,000 home guards have been armed in different parts of the State, and we have over 2,000 recruits for the three-years' service, all of whom are armed, but not clad. We have on hand twelve days' half rations of small stores and a good supply of beef-cattle and salt, with an abundance of breadstuffs in the country for present use. We have over 100 rounds of ammunition per man and 150 rounds per gun. Our horses are in fair condition, considering the amount of work they have done. We are suffering for want of clothing for recruits as well as for old troops, and also for want of horseshoes and nails, but we have commenced to manufacture the latter here. We find great difficulty in transporting supplies over the long line between here and Camp Nelson, and unless there is a fair prospect for driving the enemy below Dalton, so that the railroad can be opened, I think it would be well to establish communication by wagon train between Kingston and McMinnville. I have already taken steps to repair the road from Clinton to the mouth of the Big South Fork of the Cumberland, to which point stores can be transported by water as soon as that river becomes navigable, which may not be till January. (Copy same date to Halleck.) A. E. BURNSIDE, Major-General, Commanding. KNOXVILLE, TENN., October 20, 1863. Major-General HALLECK, General-in-Chief: (Received 11.45 p. m.) The indications from the front confirm me in the belief, expressed in my dispatch of last night, that the enemy are falling back from in front of Rosecrans. A. E. BURNSIDE, KNOXVILLE, October 20, 1863. His Excellency ABRAHAM LINCOLN, President: Your dispatch of this date received.* We have armed some 2,500 guards and have recruited nearly 3,000 men for three-years' service. We have not been able to clothe them yet, and a large majority of them are in a very destitute condition; but they are armed and fed, and seem to be anxious to make any sacrifice required of them. Í I think that 10,000 three years' troops can be raised in East Tennessee and Western North Carolina, particularly if we can drive the enemy south of Dalton. All our information tends to show that the enemy in front of Rosecrans has been decreased. It is said that the Mobile force has gone from Bragg; also forces under Johnston of 8,000 men. The enemy has left our front as far down as the Hiwassee, and his pickets are reported withdrawn from Tennessee River as far down as the mouth of Sale Creek. I have just sent to General Grant a dispatch giving details of the position of forces, a copy of which I have requested should be sent to General Halleck. Major-General BURNSIDE: A. E. BURNSIDE, NASHVILLE, October 20, 1863. Telegraph me the quantity of clothing you want, and what point you will have it shipped to; there is enough here to supply you. Repairing the road to McMinnville. All roads that can be used to get to supplies should be put in order as fast as possible. Can you not lay in large stores of forage, bacon, and supplies by purchasing? If so, do it. Have you tools for fortifying? Important points in East Tennessee should be put in condition to be held by the smallest number of men as soon as possible. Please inform me what you regard as the key-stone position in your department. I count Kingston to be the most important, but do not know now. Will be in Stevenson to-morrow night and Chattanooga next night. U. S. GRANT, *Probably refers to dispatch of October 17. See Series I, Vol. XXX, Part III, p. LOUDON, October 20, 1863. General BURNSIDE: My men are most entirely out of ammunition. Can you send some down to-night? We need ammunition for 200 Sharps rifles, caliber .56, and the balance for Burnside and Smith carbines and Enfield rifles. The battery is lost. WOLFORD, Major-General BURNSIDE: JONESBOROUGH, Your dispatch received. I thank you for your confidence. We have about 6,000 pounds of hard bread, and not so much sugar and coffee. Colonel Hoskins' command is about out. We will issue to him to-day. I sent two regiments, as you directed, to Rogersville-the Second Tennessee Mounted Infantry and Seventh Ohio Cavalry, with Phillips' battery. We will get all the flour we can. Must have wagon train at Bull's Gap brought up. I have no apprehension but that we can hold the enemy with our present force. J. M. SHACKELFORD, Brigadier-General. OCTOBER 20, 1863. General BURNSIDE: The infantry and battery I sent out proceeded about 2 miles, and met a part of Colonel Wolford's command. The enemy is immediately in front on the right flank. Their numbers are known only from Colonel Wolford's report. My men are well in hand, and I think if they attack here I can at least hold out until supported by the force you speak of. I am by no means certain they will give battle here, and I don't choose to fight outside of my proper defensive line. JULIUS WHITE. HDQRS. FIRST BRIG., FOURTH DIV., 23D ARMY CORPS, Lieutenant WELSH, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General: The firing heard to-day was probably at Philadelphia, where Colonel Wolford, with a brigade, is stationed. A citizen who saw a rebel force on the south side of the Tennessee River reports that they said they were Welcker's [Wheeler's ?] force and the advance of Bragg's army. They were within 3 or 4 miles of Kingston. The enemy in small force appeared at Kingston to-day and fired on the pickets. Can it be possible that they have turned on us now, thinking that Rosecrans is too strong for them? The withdrawal of the pickets from the river seems to indicate this movement. Nothing is known yet of the fight at Philadelphia, except heavy cannonading all the afternoon. Respectfully, &c., EMERY S. BOND, Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding. Capt. A. C. SEMPLE: MUNFORDVILLE, Dispatch from Lebanon reports 600 rebels on Greensburg road, moving in direction of railroad near Lebanon. I am not apprised of Federal strength at Glasgow. My cavalry are all at Glasgow; have about 300. Has Colonel Weatherford been mounted? E. H. HOBSON, Col. S. A. STRICKLAND, Glasgow: MUNFORDVILLE, October 20, 1863. Make requisition for the number of wagons you want. Captain Huntington will fill it. Send over the transportation he furnished you. The wagons can return with commissary stores after your quartermaster settles with him for them. Captain Stone left Columbia this morning. If you can by any means furnish mounted men to pursue rebels, do so. It would be well to send information to Captain Stone and let him get on track of rebels with his forces. E. H. HOBSON, MUNFORDVILLE, Capt. A. C. SEMPLE, Assistant Adjutant-General, Louisville: Fifty rebels passed between Glasgow and Columbia to-day, going north. I have instructed all the available mounted force of my command. It would be well to direct Colonel Weatherford to send 50 mounted men from Lebanon, via Greensburg, and get on their track. This should be done immediately. E. H. HOBSON, Abstract from tri-monthly return of the Department of the Cumberland, Maj. Gen. George H. Thomas, U. S. Army, commanding, October 20, 1863; headquarters Chattanooga. Aggregate present. 18,511 19,781 20,260❘ 24, 278 5,839 6,152 6, 101 7,239 480 8, 671 9,151 9,211 9,966 1,011 18,210 19, 221 20,057 24,412 406 7,458 7,864 9,185 1,227 88 1,555 1,643 1,691 128 1,930 2,058 2,162 2,573 214 5,209 5,423 5,319 6, 181 a Or "actually available for the line of battle on the date of the regimental reports." b Major-General Hooker commanding both corps. c Officers and men detailed from other organizations, and elsewhere accounted for in the columns "Aggregate present" and "Aggregate present and absent." LOUISVILLE, KY., October 21, 1863-11 a. m. Hon. P. H. WATSON, Assistant Secretary of War: Generals Garfield and Steedman are here on their way home. Their representations of the incidents of the battle of Chickamauga more than confirm the worst that has reached us from other sources as to the conduct of the commanding general and the great credit that is due to General Thomas. I expect to leave for home to-morrow, having completed all the arrangements in regard to railroad management and transportation. I will not make as quick time returning as I did coming here. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Major-General HOOKER, Stevenson: The general understands from your report that a steam-boat will be ready for use at Bridgeport by Sunday next, the 25th instant. |