HDQRS. THIRD DIVISION, TWENTY-THIRD ARMY CORPS,
Near Columbia, November 27, 1864,.

Major-General SCHOFIELD,

Commanding, &c.:

GENERAL: Your dispatch of this morning received. I have sent a reconnoitering party up the river five miles, and shall expect to hear from them early this evening. I will endeavor to keep in communication with General Wilson, though I am not informed where his headquarters may be found. If you send to him, will you please ask him to give me duplicates of any dispatches which might need my immediate action.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. D. COX,

Brigadier-General, Commanding.

P. S. - Nearly all the trains are now in the vicinity of Rutherford's Creek on the Franklin pike. I have an outpost of sixty men at the creek; should there be a stronger detachment there?

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE,
Duck River, Tenn., November 27, 1864

Brigadier General J. C. COX,

Commanding Third Division, Twenty-third Army Corps:

GENERAL; Our whole force will be across the river to-night. General Stanley has sent his artillery across the ford at Columbia; some of the artillery from the fort was sent over at the same place. Please see that they are cared for; also watch well the ford, and meet any attempt the enemy may make to cross at that place. I will probably come around to see you pretty early in the morning. I shall want the benefit of your information in selecting a position for the enemy.

Very respectfully,

J. M. SCHOFIELD,

Major-General.

HDQRS. THIRD DIVISION, TWENTY-THIRD ARMY CORPS,
Columbia, Tenn., November 27, 1864

Colonel J. S. CASEMENT,

Commanding Second Brigade:

COLONEL: In accordance with instructions received from Major-General Schofield, the general commanding directs that the force at Rutherford's Creek be increased to one regiment. You will therefore place one of your smaller regiments there, with directions to watch the country carefully to the right front as they face north.

I am, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

THEO. COX,

Captain and Assistant Adjutant-General.

HDQRS. THIRD Brigadier, THIRD DIV., 23rd ARMY CORPS,
Near Columbia, November 27, 1864.

Major CAMPBELL,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

MAJOR: I have nothing new to report this morning. Everything seems to be quiet in my front. The enemy seems to have advanced his