boats he might find, except such as Major-General McPherson, commanding Army of the Tennessee, should need, and the boats at Decatur or Larkin's Ferry, which will be the only points at which communication across the river will be permitted, notifying the inhabitants of the same. April 11 the cavalry command of the army was reorganized, forming four divisions, of three brigades each, averaging three regiments to a brigade. Brigadier-General Geary returned to Bridgeport on the 15th, reporting the result of his expedition down the Tennessee to be that he proceeded as far as Triana, Ala., where he came upon the enemy in heavy force on both sides of the river; that deeming it advisable to proceed no farther, General Geary returned, having destroyed a considerable number of boats both going and coming. Information gained from deserters and others estimate the strength of the rebel army at Dalton to be 45,000 infantry and about 12,000 cavalry. The enemy has two brigades of cavalry at Tunnel Hill, watching our movements at Ringgold and the gaps through Taylor's Ridge, and one brigade on the road leading from Dalton to Cleveland, picketing the approaches from that direction. The Fourth Army Corps, Maj. Gen. O. O. Howard commanding, having been relieved from duty with the Army of the Ohio, was concentrated at Cleveland on the 22d, and camped at that place and vicinity. The First Division of Cavalry, Col. Edward M. McCook commanding, was still at that point picketing and patrolling the country. Frequent skirmishes have taken place during the month all along our front, between our own and the enemy's cavalry. In quite a sharp little affair near Leet's farm, on the 23d, we lost 5 killed and 10 wounded, besides 1 officer and 12 men taken prisoners; the enemy having had an overwhelming force, succeeded in gaining our rear. A scout, who left Dalton on the 16th, reports that two divisions from Hardee's corps were to be sent to re-enforce Lee in Virginia; this force to be replaced by Loring's division from Mississippi. This man passed through the enemy's defenses at Buzzard Roost, and reports them very strong. On the 29th a reconnaissance was made toward Tunnel Hill from Ringgold, composed of 300 cavalry under Kilpatrick and Van Derveer's brigade of infantry. They advanced to within a short distance of Tunnel Hill, driving the enemy before them until they developed a largely superior force, when the expedition returned to Ringgold. About this time preparations were commenced for the proposed advance on Dalton in May. The Second Division of Cavalry, Brig. Gen. Kenner Garrard commanding, started from Columbia, Tenn., under instructions to report to General McPherson for further orders. The Twentieth Army Corps, Major-General Hooker commanding, was directed to concentrate in Lookout Valley. General Rousseau's division, of that command, to garrison the block-houses and other points along the line of the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad; the balance of the corps to be placed in marching order immediately. The Fourteenth Corps, Maj. Gen. J. M. Palmer commanding, was to concentrate at Ringgold, Ga., as soon as possible; and the Fourth Corps was in readiness to move from Cleveland as soon as ordered. Garrard's division of cavalry being under orders to report to Gen eral McPherson for duty, McCook's division (First) was to move on Howard's left, and Kilpatrick's (Third) to operate with Palmer's corps from Ringgold. Reliable information was received on the 30th from Atlanta (27th) that heavy re-enforcements to Johnston had been passing that point since the 20th, said to be from Mobile, estimated at 10,000. The same person reports from Rome (28th) that part of Polk's corps was there, numbering about 5,000, and still more arriving. Two trains with artillery, fourteen pieces, had arrived that day. Martin's cavalry division was also there, about 4,000 men; also, part of Polk's corps had reached Dalton the same day (28th). A reliable scout, sent to Dalton from Chattanooga, reaching Dalton on the 25th, returned on the 30th, reporting that the whole of Hood's corps had been moved to the front from its old position in the immediate vicinity of Dalton. He went to Atlanta on the 27th, but learned nothing of importance there. At Resaca he saw the camps of Armstrong's division of cavalry, and at Rome he learned that Loring's and another division had arrived from Mississippi, thus corroborating information received from a different source. During the month there have returned to this army from furlough, as veteran volunteers, eighteen regiments of infantry, one of cavalry, and four batteries of artillery, with an aggregate of 2,697 recruits gained while absent. The quartermaster's department has been particularly active constructing store-houses, &c., at Chattanooga. I have the honor to inclose herewith lists of steamers and other transportation employed by the quartermaster's department on the Upper Tennessee, and of the military store-houses at Chattanooga and Bridgeport; also the monthly report of the transactions of the provost-marshal's depart ment. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant, GEO. H. THOMAS, Major-General, U. S. Volunteers, Commanding. Lieut. Col. R. M. SAWYER, A. A. G., Military Division of the Mississippi. [Inclosure No. 1.] List of military store-houses constructed at Bridgeport, Ala., up to May 1, 1864. L. C. EASTON, Lieutenant-Colonel and Chief Quartermaster. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, [Inclosure No. 2.] List of military store-houses built and in process of construction at Chattanooga, Tenn., May 1, 1864. L. C. EASTON, Lieutenant-Colonel and Chief Quartermaster. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, [Inclosure No. 3.] LIST OF U. S. STEAMERS PLYING ON THE UPPER TENNESSEE RIVER, MAY 1, 1864. Chickamauga, built by quartermaster's department at Bridgeport, Ala. Ala. Chattanooga, built by quartermaster's department at Bridgeport, Kingston, built by quartermaster's department at Bridgeport, Ala. Lookout, built by quartermaster's department at Bridgeport, Ala. Missionary, built by quartermaster's department at Bridgeport, Ala. Paint Rock, captured at Chattanooga. Gun-boat A, built by quartermaster's department at Bridgeport, Ala. Gun-boat B, built by quartermaster's department at Bridgeport, Ala. Fourteen barges, built by quartermaster's department at Bridgeport, Ala. Three more boats have been built at Bridgeport, and are now receiving their engines and joiner-work. L. C. EASTON, Lieutenant-Colonel and Chief Quartermaster. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Chief Quartermaster's Office, Ringgold, Ga., May 6, 1864. [Inclosure No. 4.] HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Capt. S. C. KELLOGG, Chattanooga, Tenn., May 3, 1864. Aide-de-Camp, Department of the Cumberland: CAPTAIN: In compliance with your instructions of the 1st instant, I have the honor to submit the following report of prisoners of war, rebel deserters, and oaths administered during the month of April, 1864: Lieut. and Acting Assistant Provost-Marshal-General, Itinerary of the Army of the Cumberland, commanded by Maj. Gen. George H. Thomas, U. S. Army, January 1-April 30.* FOURTH ARMY CORPS.† JANUARY. January 14 and 15, under orders from department commander, the Second and Third Divisions broke up camp near Blain's Cross-Roads and moved, with all trains, toward Dandridge, Tenn., for forage and subsistence, Third Division in advance; crossed Holston River on railroad bridge at Strawberry Plains, and by ford and ferry at ; head of column reached Dandridge at night. January 16, encamped at Dandridge early in the morning. I *From monthly returns. + Commanded by Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger from October 10, 1863, to April 10, 1864; Maj. Gen. Oliver O. Howard to July 27, 1864. The return of First Brigade, Second Division, reports: "Immediately after arriving had a skirmish with Longstreet's cavalry, driving the enemy back from his position; casualties, 1 corporal and 2 privates slightly wounded." January 17, slight skirmish with the enemy; under orders fell back to Strawberry Plains at night; Third Division in the rear. January 18, encamped at Flat Creek, Tenn., and beyond Holston River, in vicinity of Strawberry Plains. January 20, ordered and moved to Sevierville via Knoxville. January 21, passed through Knoxville and went into camp south of the Holston. January 23, two brigades of Second Division ordered to Loudon and one brigade to Kingston; two brigades of Third Division ordered to Maryville and one brigade to Lenoir's;* moved on same day. January 25, in position with headquarters at Loudon. January 26 to 28, First Division brigade camps at Bridgeport, Shellmound, and Whiteside's broken up and division moved toward Chattanooga. January 29 and 30, in position near Tyner's Station. FEBRUARY. First Division. Broke up camp at Tyner's Station and moved First Brigade to Blue Springs on the 5th; Second Brigade toward Ooltewah on the 3d, thence to Blue Springs on the 6th; Third Brigade toward Charleston on the 2d, thence to Cleveland on the 4th, toward Ooltewah on the 5th, and to Blue Springs on the 6th. The First Brigade at Blue Springs during month guarding East Tennessee and Georgia Railroad; Second and Third Brigades engaging in reconnaissance toward Dalton, Ga.; on the 22d skirmishing with enemy, and on the 28th returning to camp. Brigadier-General Cruft in command of division from 13th until close of the month, Major-General Stanley being temporarily absent. Second Division. The First Brigade broke up camp at Kingston, and was moved to Loudon under department orders of the 31st ultimo. Division encamped at Loudon during the month, procuring forage and subsistence, guarding depots and railroads and establishing ferries. Four regiments from Third Brigade and section of artillery moved to Sweet Water on the 17th and returned on 22d. During absence of Major-General Sheridan Brigadier-General Wagner in command from the 24th instant.. Third Division. Under orders from department commander to concentrate at Knoxville, was moved on the 15th, and reported at Knoxville to Major-General Schofield on 16th. Moved to Flat Creek on 24th, to Strawberry Plains on 27th, and to New Market on 28th. BrigadierGeneral Wood returning from absence resumed command on the 12th. Headquarters of the corps during the month at Loudon, Tenn. *The return of Third Division reports that the Forty-fourth Indiana, Eighth Kansas, Twenty-third Kentucky, and Thirteenth, Fifteenth, Nineteenth, Forty-first, and Forty-ninth Ohio Regiments were sent home during the month on veteran furlough. |