WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, December 22, 1864-9 p. m.

Major-General THOMAS,

In the Field:

I have seen to-day General Halleck's dispatch of yesterday and your reply. It is proper for me to assure you that this Department has the most unbounded confidence in your skill, vigor, and determination to employ to the best advantage all the means in your power to pursue and destroy the enemy. No Department could be inspired with more profound admiration and thankfulness for the great deeds you have already performed, or more confiding faith that human effort could accomplish no more than will be done by you and the gallant officers and soldiers of your command.

EDWIN M. STANTON,

Secretary of War.

CITY POINT, VA., December 22, 1864.

Major-General THOMAS,

Nashville, Tenn.:

You have the congratulations of the public for the energy with which you are pushing Hood. I hope you will succeed in reaching his pontoon bridge at Tuscumbia before he gets there. Should you do it, it looks to me that Hood is cut off. If you succeed in destroying Hood's army, there will be but one army left to the so-called Confederacy capable of doing us harm. I will take care of that and try to draw the sting from it, so that in the spring we shall have easy sailing. You now have a big opportunity, which I know you are availing yourself of. Let us push and do all we can before the enemy can derive benefit either from the raising of negro troops or the concentration of white troops now in field.

U. S. GANT,

Lieutenant-General.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Columbia, Tenn., December 22, 1864. (Received 2 p. m. 23rd.)

Major General H. W. HALLECK,

Chief of Staff:

The Fourth Corps crossed Duck River to-day, and has advanced about two miles beyond town, in the direction of Pulaski. Cavalry will cross by daylight to-morrow and the rest of the infantry during