SPECIAL FIELD ORDERS
HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT, AND ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE, Numbers 162.
Smyrna Camp-Ground, Ga., November 9, 1864.

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IV. In accordance with instructions from Major-General Sherman, commanding Military DIVISION of the Mississippi, corps commanders will have their commands in readiness to march at a moment's notice to commenced the complete destruction of the railroad.

The apportionment of the road will be as follows: From Big Shanty to a point eleven miles south will be destroyed by the Seventeenth Army Corps, and thence to the Chattahoochee bridge by the Fifteenth Corps. The destruction will be most complete, the ties burned, rails twisted, &c., as heads been done heretofore. Corps commanders will assign their several DIVISIONS and brigades that portion of the work which may be nearest to them, as so to avoid delay in proceeding to and from it. The picket-line of each corps will remain as now established. Major-General Osterhaus will send one brigade of his command (selecting one that has been paid if possible) to-morrow morning, at 6 o'clock, to Turner's Ferry to guard the bridge.

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By order of Major General O. O. HOWARD:

SAMUEL L. TAGGART,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

HDQRS. MILITARY DIVISIONS OF THE MISSISSIPPI,
In the Field, Kingston, Ga., November 9, 1864.

Brigadier-General CORSE, Rome, Ga.:

The general directs me to notify you to be ready to move to-morrow evening; Colonel Spencer's party can move coincident with us some later than the 11th.

L. M. DAYTON,

Aide-de-Camp.

ROME, November 9, 1864.

Captain L. M. DAYTON, Aide-de-Camp:

Do you mean by ordering "to be ready to move to-morrow evening" that I should commence the work of destroying? I am ready and have been ever since the 4th instant. I will send six men and one officer to destroy the wire between Opelika and Montgomery to- morrow night. Please ask the general for detailed instructions. The train I sent for forage yesterday returned to-night, and reports no enemy near Gainesville. The prisoners they brought in say that Wheeler, with a large cavalry force, is at Jonesborough. Answer.

JNO M. CORSE,

Brigadier-General.

HDQRS. MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI,
In the Field, Kingston, Ga., November 9, 1864.

Brigadier-General CORSE, Rome, Ga.:

The notice of to-day was only precautionary, as the probability is we will get off as indicated. When the storm is over all is ready. You will receive further notice. The general wishes the detailed party to