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movement back to Chattanooga simultaneously by different routes, without coming into contact.

The Fifteenth Corps will do all the labor of destruction of railroad required by General Grant to-morrow.

By order of Maj. Gen. W. T. Sherman :

R. M. SAWYER, Assistant Adjutant-General.

HDQRS. DEPT. AND ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE,
Graysville, Ga., November 27, 1863.

Maj. Gen. O. O. HOWARD,

Commanding Eleventh Corps:

GENERAL: General Sherman visited General Grant to-day at Ringgold by appointment, and the following movements were ordered: After the destruction of a section of the railroad from Dalton to Cleveland by your corps, and its return to Parker's Gap, the army will return to its original camps, at or near Chattanooga, by way of Chickamauga Depot. In anticipation of your return, the general has ordered General Davis' division, and your wagon train, to await your coming at or near Parker's Gap.

To-morrow the Fifteenth Corps will destroy railroads and all property of use to an enemy in this neighborhood, and General Hooker's command will, in like manner, destroy that in the neighborhood of Ringgold, and as soon as advised of your arrival at Parker's Gap, the general will make the necessary orders for the general movement back to Chattanooga. Therefore, as soon as you reach Parker's Gap, please report what you have done, and make all preliminary preparations for the return march. By order of Maj. Gen. W. T. Sherman :

R. M. SAWYER, Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE,
Graysville, Ga., November 28, 1863-2.10 a. m.

Major-General HOWARD,

Commanding Corps:

GENERAL: Your dispatch of 10 p. m. is received. The general desires that you hold your command at or near Parker's Gap until General Jef. C. Davis reaches that point from Ringgold. He is ordered to move up this morning at his leisure, and to bring with him your wagon train.

The pursuit of the enemy will be pushed no farther, and, after the destruction of railroad, mills, &c., at Ringgold and here, General Grant intends to move leisurely back toward Chattanooga. You may make all preliminary arrangements to that end, and cause the road back to Chickamauga Depot, via camp ground, to be reconnoitered, with a view to avoid returning either to Ringgold or this point. Instructions will be given to turn all parties of men and wagons belonging to your command to you at Parker's Gap, and, as soon as the general learns officially that your command is assembled at that point, he will send orders for the general movement, which will not, in all probability, occur until to-morrow (the 29th).

To insure the receipt of your wagon train, the general suggests that you send a staff officer to Ringgold to bring it up to Parker's Gap. Road from Ringgold to Parker's Gap is comparatively good. Road from Ringgold to this point is bad and much cut up.

By order of Maj. Gen. W. T. Sherman :

R. M. SAWYER, Assistant Adjutant-General.

Major-General SHERMAN,

HEADQUARTERS ELEVENTH CORPS,
November 28, 1863-6.30 a. m.

Commanding Army of the Tennessee:

GENERAL: The two brigades sent to Red Clay returned at 12.30 a. m., having destroyed the railroad for 2 miles effectually; they burned the ties and bent the rails. They also burned two cars, destroyed a water-tank and the depot, which has been a place for storing supplies. The brigades have marched 26 miles during the day. I shall march to Ringgold, starting at 7 a. m.

Very respectfully,

O. O. HOWARD, Major-General, Commanding.

General SHERMAN:

HEADQUARTERS ELEVENTH CORPS,
Cleveland, Tenn., November 29, 1863.

I left Parker's Gap with my command at daylight, and marched along the old Alabama road, communicating with General Davis through the gaps. Arrived here about sunset. A company of rebels left town a half hour before. I have sent a brigade to intercept any retreat on the Dalton road, but this company took a road to the left of the direct road to Dalton and escaped. My corps is encamped to the front and right of the town.

Respectfully

O. O. HOWARD,
Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE,
Cleveland, Tenn., November 29, 1863.

Maj. Gen. O. O. HOWARD,

Commanding Eleventh Corps:

GENERAL: The general commanding directs that you please move your command by the direct road to Charleston, starting between the hours of 8 and 9 to-morrow morning, communicating with General Davis on your left, on approaching the Hiwassee River. You will please secure all boats and bridges that may be found at the river. General Blair will destroy the Dalton railroad south of Cleveland, and follow on your track about 10 a. m.

By order of Maj. Gen. W. T. Sherman :

R. M. SAWYER, Assistant Adjutant-General.

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GENERAL ORDERS, WAR DEPT., ADJT. GENERAL'S OFFICE,
No. 68.
Washington, February 22, 1864.

PUBLIC RESOLUTION, No. 12.-JOINT RESOLUTION tendering the thanks of Congress to Maj. Gen. W. T. Sherman.

Be it resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the thanks of Congress and of the people of the United States are due, and that the same are hereby tendered, to Maj. Gen. W. T. Sherman, commander of the Department and Army of the Tennessee, and the officers and soldiers who served under him, for their gallant and arduous services in marching to the relief of the Army of the Cumberland, and for their gallantry and heroism in the battle of Chattanooga, which contributed in a great degree to the success of our arms in that glorious victory.

Approved February 19, 1864.

By order of the Secretary of War:

E. D. TOWNSEND, Assistant Adjutant-General.

No. 190.

Reports of Capt. Ocran H. Howard, Chief Signal Officer, Army of

the Tennessee.

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF SIGNAL OFFICER,

Memphis, Tenn., January 21, 1864.

COLONEL: I have the honor to transmit the following copies of messages sent and received by me at the battle of Chattanooga:

General GRANT,

(Sent.)

Chattanooga:

Howard's corps should unite with mine along the railroad toward Tunnel Hill. A deep ravine still exists between my hill and that occupied by the enemy. SHERMAN.

SHERMAN :

(Received.)

ORCHARD KNOB.

Am here. My right is closing in from Lookout Mountain toward Mission Ridge. THOMAS.

SHERMAN:

Thomas has carried the hill and lot in his immediate front. Now is your time to attack with vigor. Do so.

GRANT.

The above are selected as three of the most important messages sent or received during this battle.

I have the honor to be, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Col. A. J. MYER,

O. H. HOWARD, Captain, and Chief Signal Officer.

Signal Officer, U. S. Army, Cairo, Ill.

OFFICE OF CHIEF SIGNAL OFFICER,
Memphis, Tenn., January 25, 1864.

MAJOR: In compliance with General Orders, No. 4, office signal officer, Washington, D. C., dated February 10, 1863, I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of the signal corps of this department during the advance and attack on the northwest end of Mission Ridge, November 24 and 25, 1863:

At daylight on the morning of the 24th, reported, accompanied by Lieutenants Sample and Franklin, acting signal officers, and 6 enlisted men, to Major-General Sherman, on eastern bank of Tennessee River, at the point where the troops were crossing. Lieutenant Sample, with his men, immediately crossed in a boat, reported to Generals J. E. and M. L. Smith, and opened communication, from those officers to General Sherman. Several important messages by signals were transmitted, reporting progress made, topography of country in front, &c. This line of communication remained open until the completion of the pontoon bridge, and General Sherman crossed the river.

Upon the advance of General M. L. Smith's command toward Mission Ridge, Lieutenant Sample was directed to accompany that general, and to transmit, by signal or otherwise, as might be most expedient, all communications from him to General Sherman, and to make such other reports as might be deemed of interest or value to the commanding general.

As soon as possession of a spur of the ridge was obtained, a station was opened by Lieutenant Sample, which afforded Generals Blair and M. L. and J. E. Smith a means of communication with General Sherman through my station at the latter's headquarters.

This line was used by General Blair, General J. E. Smith, and by General Sherman in the transmission of important orders. This line was kept open during the night and until General Sherman moved his headquarters to the advanced position held by General

and the Fifteenth Army Corps.

During the night a station was seen which was supposed to be on Cameron Hill near Chattanooga. I immediately called this station, by order of General Sherman, and was promptly answered. I then signaled an important communication of some length from General Sherman to General Grant. I was permitted to signal this message entire, and at its termination was coolly told by signal that my torches were bad, and that my message could not be read. My torches were in as good condition as any ever used by me, and gave as brilliant a light, to which Lieutenants Sample and Franklin, who saw my work from the hill, can testify. However, I proceeded to improve them, and, by drawing the wicks to an extreme length, made my lights of unusual brilliancy. I again transmitted the message entire, and received the same reply as before. The messages from this station were read without difficulty by me.

On the following morning I opened communication from Mission Ridge, my station, to Fort Wood, which communication was kept open during the day. Through these stations important communications were transmitted by Generals Grant and Thomas to General Sherman, and vice versa.

On my station I was in readiness to communicate until General Sherman's forces left in pursuit of the enemy, when I accompanied General Sherman. During the last day on Mission Ridge Lieuten

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ants Sample and Franklin, by my direction, attempted to establish stations on the main ridge.

They advanced with the assaulting column, and with it were repulsed three several times, Lieutenant Sample receiving a bullet in his clothes in the second assault. They were finally unsuccessful, our troops failing to carry the position.

I cannot speak too highly of Lieut. Samuel S. Sample, whom I consider most zealous and untiring in his efforts to promote the interests of the corps, and to insure the success of our arms. That he

is totally regardless of personal danger can be testified to by every officer of General Sherman's staff who was on the field during the battle of Mission Ridge and the pursuit of the enemy in Georgia. At a skirmish near Graysville his clothes were again torn by the enemy's bullets. General Sherman spoke to me in the highest terms of commendation of this officer.

After pursuing the enemy to Ringgold, Ga., General Sherman returned to Graysville, with orders to destroy the railroad, thence to Chickamauga Depot, and then return to camp at Moccasin Gap.

Immediately upon our arrival at Graysville my party was ordered to accompany Captain Jenney, chief engineer, and to assist in making a survey and map of the battle-field of Mission Ridge. This in consequence of a representation to the general that signal officers were required to pass an examination in surveying and topography, and were proficient therein. This duty was performed to the satisfaction of the chief engineer. The signal corps then returned to camp at Moccasin Gap.

General Sherman, after detaching us on engineer duty, received orders to proceed to Knoxville, which he did, unaccompanied by the signal party.

I have the honor to be, major, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

O. H. HOWARD, Captain, and Chief Signal Officer.

Maj. WILLIAM J. L. NICODEMUS.

No. 191.

Report of Brig. Gen. Peter J. Osterhaus, U. S. Army, commanding First Division, Fifteenth Army Corps.

HDQRS. FIRST DIVISION, FIFTEENTH ARMY CORPS,

Near Bridgeport, Ala., December —, 1863.

GENERAL: The First Division, Fifteenth Army Corps, having been assigned to the command of Major-General Hooker on the evening of the 23d ultimo, I have the honor to report on the part taken by the division in the operations in the vicinity of Chattanooga from November 24 to November 27, inclusive.

The actual strength of the division on the morning of November 24, was:

First Brigade, Brig. Gen. C. R. Woods commanding: Seventysixth Ohio Infantry, 327 men; Thirteenth Illinois Infantry, 278 men; Third Missouri Infantry, 217 men; Twelfth Missouri Infantry, 241 men; Seventeenth Missouri Infantry, 143 men; Twenty-ninth Mis

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