HDQRS. THIRD DIVISIONS, FOURTH ARMY CORPS,
Athens, Ala., October 31, 1864.

Colonel P. SIDNEY POST,

Commanding Second Brigade:

COLONEL: We are ordered to move at once without transportation for Pulaski, Tenn. The garrison at this post will be immediately with-drawn, and no troops or guards will remain. You will, therefore, order Colonel McConnell, Seventy-first Ohio, to destroy the ordnance and ordnance stores shown by the accompanying invoice,* for which he has applied for transportation, as it cannot be furnished. As we will be obliged to ford Elk River you will give similar orders to all your regimental commanders who have ordnance stores on hand that have to be transported.

By command of Brigadier-General Wood:

M. P. BESTOW,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS DISTRICT OF THE ETOWAH,
Chattanooga, October 31, 1864.

Major-General SHERMAN:

The following just received from Decatur, 1145 a. m., this date:

Reliable information has been received that Wheeler, with his force, is between Somerville and this place; his advance is now within sight of our pickets.

Respectfully,

J. B. STEEDMAN,

Major-General.

CHATTANOOGA, October 31, 1864.

Major-General SHERMAN:

General Granger telegraphs from Decatur at 4. 30 this p. m. that couriers report enemy's cavalry at 12 m. to-day on WEST side of Elk River at ford on Athens and Florence road; that enemy made his appearance opposite Brown's Ferry at 9 this a. m. and attacked our pickets; also that General Croxton reports that the enemy has crossed at Bainbridge and captured small portion of Second Michigan and Eighth Iowa Cavalry. The cannonading last night was at that place. They are reported crossing in force at Shoal Creek and pressing General Croxton back.

JAS. B. STEEDMAN,

Major-General.

HDQRS. MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI,
In the Field, Rome, Ga., October 31, 1864.

General STEEDMAN,

Chattanooga, Tenn.:

Allow nothing to come to the front but such supplies as General Easton orders transportation for. Tell Mr. Anderson he must work smart or he will lose all his trains south of Chattanooga; notify Mr. Taylor also.

W. T. SHERMAN,

Major-General.

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*Not found.

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