[CHAP. XLII.

BRIDGEPORT, ALA., October 15, 1863.

Major General J. J. REYNOLDS,

Chief of Staff, Chattanooga:

Colonel Simmons and myself are kept here by high water in Sequatchie; bridge will be done to-day. Plenty of forage in Nashville, and orders are given to provide all the country can afford in vicinity. I have plenty of money now. We shall leave to-morrow. General Meigs left last night.

HENRY C. HODGES,

Lieutenant-Colonel and Chief Quartermaster.

HEADQUARTERS PIONEER BRIGADE,
Chattanooga, Tenn., October 15, 1863.

Brigadier-General SMITH,

Chief Engineer Department of the Cumberland:

COLONEL: The officer in charge of the bridge reports great quantities of drift lodged against it; enough in his opinion to carry it away. I will proceed immediately to the bridge, and see that everything is done to cut away the drift if possible. I would like to have instructions.

Respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. ST. C. MORTON,

Brigadier-General of Volunteers.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND,
TOPOGRAPHICAL ENGINEER'S OFFICE,

Chattanooga, October 15, 1863.

Lieutenant-Colonel GODDARD,

Assistant Adjutant-General, Army of the Cumberland:

COLONEL: I most respectfully request that 6 mounted men be detailed to accompany an expedition ordered to the north side of the river to survey the country down to our lowest batteries. They will report to Captain G. A. Lemert, topographical engineer, General Wagner's headquarters, with three days' rations.

I have the honor to be, yours, very respectfully,

WM. C. MARGEDANT,

Captain and Superintendent Topographical Engineer's Office.

FIRST BATTALION, PIONEER BRIGADE,

October 15, 1863.

Captain CHARLES J. STEWART,

Commanding First Battalion, Pioneer Brigade:

CAPTAIN: I have examined the Anderson road between Jim Connor's and the foot of the mountain, and find it in a very bad condition. There are two very sharp angles near the top of the mountain over which (to-day_ there is a very strong current of water running. The road at that place will have to be repaired with timber placed so as to allow the water to pass under. The remainder of the road is very badly gullied, and there are also a number of places where horses and mules sink in very deep which will have to be causewayed. There are four companies of the Twenty-first Kentucky in