CHATTANOOGA, TENN.,

October 6, 1863.

Captain J. MERRILL,

Chief Signal Officer:

I have the report the following observations made from Fort Wood this afternoon. A regiment of rebel infantry passed by a small white house on crest of Mission Ridge, east of Fort Wood, in direction of Rossville. A carriage, followed by a covered spring-wagon, drove up to same house, stopped for half an hour, turned around, and drove back. I also saw fire covered wagons passing up a road apparently leading over ridge in direction 55 degrees east of south.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

W. W. HOPKINS,

First Lieutenant and Acting Signal Officer.

SIGNAL STATION Numbers 1.

Cameron's Hill, October 6, 1863.

Captain MERRILL:

Rebel battery of five guns, 40 degrees south of east, moving north.

HOWGATE.

HEADQUARTERS, October 6, 1863-3 p.m.

Lieutenants FORAKER and BERRY:

Look closely and report any dust you may see in the northeast and east.

MERRILL,
Captain and Signal Officer.

CRANE'S HILL, October 6, 1863- 3.30 p.m.

Captain MERRILL:

I seen no dust in front of our left and nothing in the northeast and north.

FORAKER.

WALDEN'S RIDGE

October 6, 1863-4 p.m.

Captain MERRILL:

Too dark and smoky to make anything out beyond town. See tents same as yesterday.

JONES,

Acting Signal Officer.

Brigadier-General GARFIELD:

Chief of Staff:

GENERAL: Officer at Loomis' battery reports the shot fired as from the enemy's lines on our right. Two large fires are visible in front