line. The general directs that you send small force from picket-post once an hour during the night a short distance down the road, say one-quarter of a mile.

Yours, &c.,

JOHN J. KESSLER,

Captain and Provost-Marshal.

HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY CORPS,
Nashville, November 25, 1864.

Major-General WILSON,

Columbia, Tenn.:

MY DEAR GENERAL: I arrived late last night, and have received orders to take command of the Fourth Tennessee and Ninth Indiana Cavalry. From what I can learn and see they can be ready to start Sunday evening or Monday morning. I will take five day's full rations and what forage the wagons will carry. The clothing, &c., is good. Fourth Tennessee armed-Maynard's carbines; Ninth Indiana will be to-night-same arms. Horses in fair condition. Aggregate strength about 1,200 for duty. Enough dismounted, &c., for camp guards. Hope to reach you in short two days' march.

I am, general, with great respect, your obedient servant and friend,

J. H. HAMMOND,

Brigadier-General.

[Inforsement.]

Write Beaumont to telegraph to Upton to come on at once. Recommend Alexander, Hammond, Miller, La Grange, for promotion by brevet, and request assignment accordingly. Beaumont may order a court-martial. Publish general order to division commanders to keep up condition and discipline. Hurry forward Knipe, Noyes, Van Antwerp, Watkins, McCook, and Long. Transfer one of Watkins' regiments to Knipe. Write to Colonel Porter for Captain Read as chief commissary of subsistence.

HDQRS. CAVALRY CORPS, MIL. DIV. OF THE MISSISSIPPI,
Nashville, Tenn., November 25, 1864.

Commanding OFFICERS FOURTH TENNESSEE CAVALRY

AND NINTH INDIANA CAVALRY:

You will report to General Hammond at 12 m. to-day at these headquarters.

By command of Brevet Major-General Wilson:

E. B. BEAUMONT,

Major and Assistant Adjutant-General.

HUNTSVILLE, November 25, 1864.

Major-General THOMAS:

Athens and Decatur have been evacuated as ordered. Public property, except some forage at Decatur, for which there was no transportation, has been removed; the forage destroyed. There is yet a large amount of stores here, which will be shipped as soon as transportation arrives, which has been detained by an accident on the road near Larkinsville. Six cars thrown off and the track partially torn up; dam-