ATHENS, ALA.,

March 25, 1864.

Major General W. T. SHERMAN:

Mr. W. S. Johnson, from La Grange, Tenn., has arrived here. Crossed the Tennessee at Eastport on Tuesday. Two gun-boats and two transports were there. Transports brought cavalry to Clifton. There was heavy cannonading at Hamburg Monday night and gun-boats went down. Forrest was reported there with a large force. Met my force near Rawhide, this side of Eastport.

G. M. DODGE,

Brigadier-General.

HDQRS. SECOND DIVISION, SIXTEENTH ARMY CORPS,
Pulaski, Tenn., March 25, 1864.

Major FRANK EVANS,

Commanding Detach. 81st Ohio Inf. Vols., at Nance's Mills:

MAJOR: Lieutenant-Colonel Adams, commanding at Lynnville, reports that small parties of rebels, wearing gray uniforms, are hovering around the line se at Culleoka, well armed and mounted.

Send down your mounted men in that direction, to move cautiously and ascertain what force is there, and all facts possible in reference to the same. Captain De Hews, secret service, with 10 men, goes to Culleoka to-day for the same purpose. Co-operate with him if possible.

Advices from General Dodge at Athens say that two regiments, rebels, have crossed the river at Eastport and are still crossing.

You will be extremely vigilant and use your mounted force to the best advantage in gaining information of the enemy and his movements, reporting the same to these headquarters.

By order of Brigadier General T. W. Sweeny, commanding:

LOUIS HH. EVERTS,

Captain and Assistant Adjutant-General.

CAIRO, March 25, 1864.

Colonel S. G. HICKS,

Paducah:

What news from your scouts? Do you need help? Lose no time in advising General Brayman of your situation and the whereabouts of the enemy when last heard from.

By command of Brigadier-General Brayman:

C. B. SMITH,

Lieutenant and Aide-de-Camp.

HDQRS. FOURTH DIVISION, SIXTEENTH ARMY CORPS,
Cairo, Ill., March 25, 1864.

Colonel JAMES H. HOWE,

Commanding Second Brigade:

The dispatches to-night say that Paducah is attacked and is likely to be overpowered by a rebel force. You will embark one regiment of your command immediately and run up near Paducah, communi