no good camping-grounds at Calhoun, crossed the Hiwassee River and encamped at Charleston. Col. A. P. Campbell, commanding First Brigade, assumed command of division, Colonel McCook being on leave of absence.

March 11, received orders from General Elliott to proceed to Cleveland.

March 12, marched 12 miles to that place. Nothing of importance has occurred since. Good camping-grounds were selected, and good attention paid to the recruiting of the horses; the most unserviceable were, by order of cavalry commander, sent to Chattanooga, Tenn., for the purpose of being recruited. One or two alarms have taken place, which amounted to nothing. The enemy's pickets within 14 or 18 miles.

Second Cavalry Division, commanded by Brig. Gen. Kenner Garrard.

Headquarters division remained at Huntsville, Ala., with portions of the different brigades.

The First Brigade headquarters was stationed at that point until the 14th instant; by instructions moved to Nashville, Tenn., the greater portion of that command being in that vicinity; remained there balance of month. The Fourth Michigan Cavalry, of this brigade, was actively engaged with success in scouting the country in East Tennessee. The Fourth U. S. Cavalry, from Memphis, Tenn., and Seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers returning from veteran furlough, arrived at Nashville, Tenn., going into camp at that place on or about the 30th. The Fifth Iowa Cavalry still absent on furlough as veteran volunteers.

The headquarters of Second Brigade remained the greater part of the month at Ringgold, Ga., with Col. R. H. G. Minty, Fourth Michigan Cavalry, in command-while Colonel Long, Fourth Ohio Cavalry, was absent on veteran furlough-picketing the front of the Army of the Cumberland toward Dalton, the Third Brigade still remaining in camp at Mooresville, Ala.; nothing of interest occurred.

APRIL.

First Cavalry Division, commanded by Col. Edward M. McCook, Second Indiana Cavalry.

The division encamped at Cleveland during the whole month. Scouting parties were sent out toward Spring Place and some prisoners taken; nothing of importance occurred.

Second Cavalry Division, commanded by Brig. Gen. Kenner Garrard.

Division headquarters moved on the 4th instant from Huntsville, Ala., with three regiments Third Brigade and detachments First and Second Brigades, to Columbia, Tenn., for the purpose of concentrating at that point the command preparatory to its reorganization and refitting for the summer campaign. Upon the reorganiza

tion of the cavalry, the Fifth Iowa and Third Indiana Cavalry (First Brigade), Second Kentucky and Tenth Ohio Cavalry (Second Brigade), and Ninety-second Illinois Volunteers (Third Brigade) were transferred from this division to the Third Division. Colonels Minty, Long, and Wilder reported with complete commands (with the exception of the First Ohio, Second Brigade, at Nashville, Tenn.) on the 25th instant at Columbia, Tenn.

From the 25th to the 30th the division was active in completing arrangements for operations in the field. Under orders the command, with First and Third Brigades, complete in arms, horses, and equipments, moved for Chattanooga, Tenn., on the 30th. Second Brigade remained at Columbia, Tenn., awaiting arms and horses.

The

Third Cavalry Division, commanded by Brig. Gen. Judson Kilpatrick.

This division was organized April, 1864. Colonel Minty, Fourth Michigan Cavalry, assumed command temporarily by order of chief of cavalry, and commanded until April 17, when he was relieved by Col. E. H. Murray, Third Kentucky Cavalry. Colonel Murray was relieved by General Kilpatrick by Special Field Orders, No. 16, headquarters Department of the Cumberland. The portion of the division reported had one engagement, as follows:

April 29, General Kilpatrick, with 500 men, moved through Hooker's Gap, Ga., at this place, and drove the enemy's pickets until they met a large force, estimated at 2,000; then attacked and drove them for some distance. After fighting them vigorously for some time he fell back; was charged by the enemy by overwhelming numbers, faced about and repulsed them handsomely. back to camp. Some casualties on both sides.

ENGINEER TROOPS.

Fell

Engineer Brigade, commanded by Col. Timothy R. Stanley, Eighteenth Ohio Infantry.

The

January 18, this brigade was organized under the command of Col. T. R. Stanley, Eighteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. Since that time the entire command has been actively engaged. Eighteenth Ohio engaged in the construction of two steam ferryboats; have charge of the swinging ferry, and cutting and rafting timber for store-houses. The Thirteenth Michigan Volunteers, stationed on Chickamauga Creek, engaged in cutting and rafting saw-logs. The Twenty-first Michigan Volunteers engaged in cutting logs and timber for building store-rooms. The Twenty-second Michigan Volunteers cutting and rafting logs and delivering them at the mills.

February 29, the brigade has been actively engaged during the past month in cutting, rafting, and sawing logs, hewing and framing timber for depot buildings, raising and inclosing the same, building flat and steam boats, and various other duties connected with the engineer department.

No. 3.

Reports of Maj. Gen. John G. Foster, U. S. Army, commanding Department of the Ohio, of operations January 1 to February 9.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE OHIO,

Knoxville, Tenn., January 29, 1864. GENERAL: I have the honor to make the following report of, the operations of this army during the past month:

After the engagement at Mossy Creek on the 29th ultimo, the cavalry and one brigade of infantry occupied that position and the region in front for several miles, subsisting as much as possible on the country, until the 12th instant, when it moved toward Dandridge.

The Fourth, Ninth, and Twenty-third Corps remained in their positions near Blain's Cross-Roads.

As soon as the bridge at Strawberry Plains was completed, the Twenty-third and Fourth Corps crossed and marched toward Dandridge. The Ninth Corps remained at Strawberry Plains.

The necessity for this move arose from the entire exhaustion of all grain and forage for a circuit of 20 miles around the position of the army.

The orders for the infantry were to march to Dandridge, where the cavalry had already arrived, there cross to the south side of the French Broad River by means of the fords (a bridge to be made of wagons and such boats as could be found), and then to occupy the country to the south of the river for the purpose of obtaining the corn and forage which were reported as abundant.

This force, under General Parke, arrived at Dandridge on the 15th, and Harker's brigade, Fourth Corps, commenced to build the bridge of wagons.

On the 16th the cavalry became hotly engaged with the enemy toward Kimbrough's Cross-Roads, and were driven back toward the town.

The enemy pressed hard on the following day, driving the cavalry close to the town and engaging some of the infantry. In the mean time the wagon bridge had been thrown across to what was supposed to be the south bank, and the brigade crossed over, but it was at length ascertained that they were on an island, and that another channel of the river remained to be bridged. As this would occupy six more hours, and as the coming rain would soon make it impossible to get up supplies, which were greatly needed, and as the whole of Longstreet's force was supposed to be in the immediate front, General Parke decided to fall back to Strawberry Plains.

This movement was commenced on the night of the 17th and completed during the two following days.

I immediately moved the whole Cavalry Corps through Knoxville to Sevierville to obtain forage, and gave orders that all stores should be sent down from Strawberry Plains, and that such parts of the bridge should be removed as would permit its being used immediately by the enemy; then to retire on this place preparatory to following our cavalry toward Sevierville.

Owing to the state of the roads the artillery could not be drawn by the animals in their weakened condition and had to be sent down by the railroad. This caused the loss of five caissons, which were

destroyed, the train sent to bring them having run off the track. Two pieces thus left were drawn in by the men of the Ninth Corps. Before the Fourth Corps had proceeded 5 miles beyond the river toward Sevierville, reports came from the cavalry that the estimates of the amount of forage and grain to the south of the French Broad were much exaggerated, and that there was in reality barely enough for the cavalry alone, the enemy having already foraged to a considerable extent there.

This fact, coupled with this pressing nature of the enemy's movements, induced me to change my plans in order to provide against an advance of the enemy in force. It was reported (thus apparently confirming the reports conveyed to me in your dispatch of the 17th instant) that he was largely re-enforced. This rendered it necessary to guard securely my communications to the rear, and at the same time to obtain, as far as possible, subsistence from the country for men and animals.,

I therefore placed the Twenty-third Corps in positions around this town. The Ninth Corps 5 miles south of the railroad, but still within supporting distance, if needed. The Fourth Corps guarding the rest of the railroad, Loudon and Kingston, with a division at Maryville, to collect the forage and grain of the neighboring country.

The cavalry were ordered to hold as far up the French Broad as possible, and to subsist themselves there.

All the animals and teams that could be spared were ordered to Camp Burnside. While these arrangements were in progress, the enemy's cavalry, on the 23d instant, made a dash upon and captured a drove of 800 cattle, which was being carelessly driven to this town from Cumberland Gap via Blain's Cross-Roads.

The guard, Company H, Tenth Michigan Cavalry, retired without firing a shot. I pushed out some infantry as soon as I heard of the affair, and recaptured about 200 of the cattle; the remainder had been hurried across the Holston by the rebels.

On the 24th instant the rebel cavalry made a dash at Tazewell, but was repulsed by Colonel Kise. General Garrard has since withdrawn the garrison of that place to Cumberland Gap, in order to concentrate his old regiments before the nine-months' regiments, whose terms of service have very nearly expired, shall leave for their homes.

On the 27th General Sturgis attacked the enemy's cavalry near Fair Garden, about 10 miles east of Sevierville, and after a sharp fight, lasting all day, defeated them with severe loss in killed and wounded, capturing over 100 prisoners and 2 steel rifled guns. Colonel McCook, with his division, was chiefly engaged, and finally cleared the field with a saber charge. Wolford's and Garrard's divisions came up after a forced march in time to join in the pursuit.

General Sturgis has orders to endeavor to cut the enemy's communications and make a raid in his rear, but I very much fear that the jaded condition of his horses will prevent the successful accomplishment of this object. General Garrard also has orders of the same purport.

The condition of the command is such as to demand rest for a time, if its services are expected to be of avail in the spring. The men are much weakened by their diet, which has consisted almost entirely of meat for the past two months, and are in such condition

that one or two more marches, at this time, will break them down entirely. The draft animals, also, are worn out, weak, and dying for want of forage. These things have convinced me that the safety of the army and the success of the spring campaign depend upon the disposition for rest that I have made.

By this means a very important object is gained, that of being able to permit the old regiments re-enlisting as veteran volunteers to go home at once for furlough and reorganization. This secures the hearty good-will instead of the dissatisfaction which would otherwise prevail among these men, with whom the privilege of a present furlough to go home is more powerful than the other inducements offered. The regiments will, in this way, also be sooner returned to the field in the spring, when their refilled ranks will be of more avail, in view of their own improved condition and that of the remaining troops.

The supplies are adequate in some respects, and entirely insufficient in others. We have plenty of pork and beef. Over half a million rations of pork have been salted and packed at this place; over half a million more rations of meat are now here on the hoof. Of bread and breadstuffs we have none. The hospitals are well supplied, but the scanty supplies obtained from Chattanooga furnish very little for the troops in the field, who have to be content with what they can glean from the country.

Since the opening of the line to Chattanooga, the following amount of bread, sugar, and coffee has been received: Of bread and flour, 136,201 rations; coffee, 598,150 rations; sugar, 640,732 rations; being on an average one-twelfth part of the rations of bread and three-eighths of coffee and sugar. To increase this supply, I am endeavoring to get the railroad in order through to Chattanooga as soon as possible. If there be sufficient rolling-stock placed on this road and the Nashville road, the Armies of the Ohio and the Cumberland can be well supplied. If sufficient rolling-stock cannot be supplied in time, I would respectfully suggest that the trains be used for carrying quartermaster's stores, bread and small rations, while beef-cattle be driven on the hoof to Chattanooga, as has been the practice in supplying this army.

The intentions of the enemy are satisfactorily ascertained from scouts and deserters. General Longstreet does not intend to advance, and if we advance he will resist at every favorable point, and fall back only when he is forced from these positions in succession, toward Bristoe and Abingdon. He will leave no supplies behind him. He has thus far lived on the country entirely, but that source is almost exhausted. The railroad will soon enable him to obtain supplies from Virginia, if they can be spared from that State. He has received re-enforcements, consisting of his Third Division (Pickett's) and some convalescents. Furloughs have been granted to 5 men from each company, for terms ranging from twenty-five to thirty-five days.

I believe that an advance on our part, with a view of driving him out of East Tennessee before we establish a base of supplies, especially over the bad roads of the winter, would be attended with disastrous consequences to this army; for Longstreet to advance will be equally disastrous to him and his army.

In the spring I can hold the present position and spare a whole corps for operations elsewhere, which of themselves would compel Longstreet's speedy departure from the State.