WYTHEVILLE, September 27, 1864.

Honorable JAMES A. SEDDON:

This department is in much peril. Troops are much needed. General John S. Williams in it with 2,500 men. He is under orders to go to Georgia. If he leaves, it is equivalent to our abandonment of this department. We do not think it can be defended without him; if he stays till the crisis passes it can be defended. We earnestly urge that he be ordered to report for duty temporarily to the commanding general of this department.

LANDON C. HAYNES.

T. L. BURNETT.

WAR DEPARTMENT, C. S. A.,

Richmond, Va., September 27, 1864.

ADJUTANT-GENERAL:

If you have not already, order General Williams, with the force brought by him from Middle Tennessee, to report at once for service to Major-General Breckinridge, commanding Southwestern Virginia and East Tennessee Department.

J. A. S.

Secretary.

SPECIAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. DEPT. OF ALA., MISS., AND E. LA., Numbers 138.
Selma, Ala., September 27, 1864.

I. Asst. Surg. A. L. East is relieved from temporary assignment in Way Hospital at Canton, Miss., and will report to Brigadier-General Chalmers for duty in the field.

II. On medical certificate of disability for field service, Asst. Surg. William R. Hodges is relieved from his present assignment and will report for duty to Surgeon Wilson, in charge of Way Hospital, Canton, Miss.

By command of Lieutenant-General Taylor:

E. SURGET,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

SOUTH OF PULASKI, TENN., September 27, 1864.

Lieutenant General R. TAYLOR,

Selma, Ala.:

I succeeded yesterday in capturing 4 trestles, 3 block-houses, and the fort at Elk River, with about 50 prisoners, without the loss of a man, and have entirely destroyed the railroad from Decatur to Pulaski and 5 large railroad bridges, which will require sixty days to replace.

N. B. FORREST,

Major-General.

(Telegraphed by Taylor to Secretary of War, October 2, 1864.)