HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND,
Pulaski, Tenn., December 30, 1864

Major General A. J. SMITH,

Commanding Detachment Army of the Tennessee:

GENERAL: Yours from your camp of last night has been received. If you learn that Hood has gone to Corinth, and when re-enforced by the cavalry you think it advisable to attack him, the major-general commanding consents to your doing so.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

WM. D. WHIPPLE,

Brigadier-General and Chief of Staff.

HEADQUARTERS DETACHMENT ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE,
Camp in the Field, Tenn., December 30, 1864

Brigadier General J. McARTHUR,

Commanding First Division,

Brigadier General K. GARRARD,

Commanding Second Division.

Colonel J. B. MOORE,

Commanding Third Division.

The major-general commanding directs that each of you have your divisions in readiness to move to-morrow morning, December 31. The order of march will be as follows: Third Division at 7 a.m.; First Division at 8 a.m.; Second Division at 9 a.m.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. HOUGH,

Major and Assistant Adjutant-General.

HDQRS. CAVALRY CORPS, MIL. DIV. OF THE MISSISSIPPI,
Blue Water Creek, Ala., December 30, 1864-9 a.m.

Brigadier General THOMAS J. WOOD,

Commanding Fourth Corps:

Your dispatch of last night is just received. I have ordered Hammond's brigade up Blue Water, for the purpose of getting him nearer forage, and will tell him to look for the guerrillas. Captain Kneeland, of my staff, returned from Florence last night. The gun-boats had been there on Sunday and captured two batteries, but when the captain arrived they had gone back down the stream. The citizens reported that a party of troops from Memphis had torn up the railroad for fifteen miles, beginning seven miles beyond Tuscumbia and going toward Corinth. Couldn't learn who they were, cavalry or infantry, or where they had gone. The rebels had all disappeared from the opposite side of the river. They had made several strong lines of works at Bainbridge. Captain Kneeland could learn nothing of supplies.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. H. WILSON,

Brevet Major-General.