HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY DIVISION,
January 16, 1865.

Colonel D. C. JENKINS,

Assistant Adjutant-General:

COLONEL: Our pickets report the enemy advancing on the road from here to Gillisonville. The picket has seen only about twenty Yankees. We do not know in what force they are advancing.

Respectfully,

G. G. DIBRELL,

Colonel, Commanding Cavalry Division.

HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY DIVISION,
Beaver Dam, January 16, 1865.

Colonel D. C. JENKINS,

Assistant Adjutant-General:

COLONEL: The enemy has fallen has fallen back to a point a short distance this side of Gillisonville, but a small party came near our camp. Our pickets are skirmishing with him a little. A regiment has been sent forward to ascertain his strength, &c. The firing of a few guns has been heard upon road leading to General Humes'camp. The enemy this morning captured a wagon and mules, and four men from Kanapaux's battery. The wagon was going to Gillisonville, without my knowledge, after baggage belonging to the battery.

Respectfully,

G. G. DIBRELL,

Colonel, Commanding Division.

HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY DIVISION,
January 16, 1865 - 2. 30 o'clock.

Colonel JENKINS,

Assistant Adjutant-General, Wheeler's Corps:

COLONEL: The enemy have retired, going in the direction of Grahamville. Their force was about fifty men. I have withdrawn my force and am moving on to new camp. I have left a picket, beyond old camp, of thirty men, with instructions to scout every twelve hours.

Respectfully,

G. G. DIBRELL,

Colonel, Commanding, &c.

RICHMOND, VA., January 17, 1865.

Governor A. G. MAGRATH,

Charleston, S. C.:

Yours of the 15th received to-day. I had no information of the withdrawal of troops by General Bragg. Will communicate with General Lee, who commands department including Wilmington. Major-General Butler's division was directed to proceed as rapidly as possible to South Carolina. General Hampton has, I suppose, gone also. General Beauregard is at headquarters of Hood's army, with orders to bring all the troops which can be spared and resume control of operations against Sherman. I am fully alive to the importance of successful resistance to Sherman's advance, and have called on the governor of Georgia to give all the aid he can furnish. Had you not better correspond with him on that point?

JEFF'N DAVIS.