dered to return to Nashville by General Smith, and with your own regiment assume command of the post at Germantown for the present.

B. H. GRIERSON,

Brigadier-General.

WASHINGTON D. C.,

February 29, 1864-12.30 p.m.

Major General U. S. GRANT, Nashville, Tenn.:

I have directed that Nashville be put in direct telegraphic communication at 8 o'clock to-night. Please come into telegraph office at that hour. I desire to communicate with you.

EDWIN M. STANTON,

Secretary of War.

NASHVILLE, TENN., February 29, 1864-4 p.m.

(Received 6.30 p.m.)

Honorable EDWIN M. STANTON,

Secretary of War:

Dispatch received. Will be at telegraph office at appointed time.

U. S. GRANT

Major-General.

NASHVILLE, February 29, 1864

Major General J. M. SCHOFIELD, Knoxville:

Farmers in East Tennessee should be encouraged to cultivate all the grain they can the coming season. Quartermasters may sell them what can be spared for seed purposes, and seed of all kinds will be permitted to pass over the roads. Orders were issued from these headquarters on the 22nd, permitting merchants to bring grain and grass-seed to Nashville for sale to citizens of Tennessee for seed purposes.

U. S. GRANT,

Major-General.

WASHINGTON,

February 29, 1864-3.30 p.m.

Major-General GRANT, Nashville, Tenn.:

Have you any further information of Longstreet's retreat? Please keep us advised here as far as possible of his movements.

H. W. HALLECK,

General-in-Chief.

NASHVILLE, February 29, 1864

Major-General SCHOFIELD:

What is your latest information from Longstreet's movements? How far up the valley has our cavalry been able to go?

U. S. GRANT,

Major-General.