HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND,
Pulaski, December 28, 1864.

Brigadier General J. L. DONALDSON,

Chief Quartermaster, Dept. of the Cumberland, Nashville:

As soon as the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad is opened, I wish all deficiencies in supplies at Chattanooga to be made up at once, and hereafter supplies for 40,000 men for four months should be kept on hand constantly at that point.

GEO. H. THOMAS,

Major-General, U. S. Volunteers, Commanding.

NASHVILLE, December 28, 1864.

Major General GEORGE H. THOMAS:

Telegram received. Will push matter of supplies to Chattanooga as soon as the road is open.

J. L. DONALDSON,

Chief Quartermaster.

NASHVILLE, December 28, 1864.

General WHIPPLE,

Chief of Staff:

Superintendent of railroad reports that he can send a train through to Murfreesborough and so to Chattanooga, by 6 o'clock [this] afternoon, if desired. Regular train will leave at 2 a.m. Friday. Please answer which hour you decide upon, and I will have train ready.

J. L. DONALDSON,

Chief Quartermaster, Department, of the Cumberland.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND,
Pulaski, December 28, 1864.

Brevet Brigadier-General DONALDSON,

Chief Quartermaster, Department of the Cumberland:

Your dispatch of this date, relative to the sending of rations and supplies up the Tennessee River to Clifton, received. Commence sending trains regularly to Chattanooga on Friday a.m. when you have every preparation made for it.

WM. D. WHIPPLE,

Brigadier-General and Chief of Staff.

NASHVILLE, December 28, 1864.

General W. D. WHIPPLE:

Lieutenant W. D. WHIPPLE:

Lieutenant-Colonel Le Duc, acting chief quartermaster of the army, telegraphed yesterday that General Thomas directed that no horses be allowed to go by cars to Franklin. Is this order positive and peremptory, or may I use my discretion as to shipping horses by railroad? Regimental officers are daily arriving here with their commands to go to front, and sometimes general and staff officers; and I would respect-