BRIDGEPORT, ALA., October 26, 1863-6.30 p.m.

Major-General REYNOLDS,

Chief of Staff, Chattanooga:

Telegram of 2.30 p.m. received.* Movement will commence at sunrise to-morrow.

JOSEPH HOOKER.

OCTOBER 26, 1863-6.40 p.m.

General REYNOLDS,

Chief of Staff:

The enemy's pickets have been doubled opposite Brown's Ferry. Lookout can be taken.

W. C. WHITAKER,

Brigadier-General.

HDQRS. SECOND DIVISION, TWELFTH ARMY CORPS,
Bridgeport, Ala., October 26, 1863-8.15 p.m.

Lieutenant Colonel H. C. RODGERS,

Asst. Adjt. Gen., Twelfth Army Corps, Wartrace, Tennessee:

I move at sunrise. Have only three regiments here and four effective pieces of artillery. Please push my troops forward. Those who do not arrive in time are to follow my route.

JNumbers W. GEARY,

Brigadier-General, Commanding.

BRIDGEPORT, October 26, 1863.

Major-General REYNOLDS:

Two citizens from Lookout Mountain report that there is no enemy except near the foot of it, near Chattanooga. Some prisoners were repairing roads leading toward Nickjack Gap, about 3 miles south of Summertown. Stevens', and Cooper's Gaps held by small parties, not exceeding 200 in all, and a small force of cavalry. At Trenton, they say that 8,000 cavalry, under S. D. Lee, joined Wheeler at Muscle Shoals, with a view to strike our communications. If successful, Bragg intends to turn our right by roads below this point. If that expedition failed he should fall back nearer supplies. Bragg said to Jeff. Davis that it would take 10,000 lives to carry Chattanooga by storm. Davis objected to the sacrifice. There are rumors that a part of Longstreet's force have been withdrawn to La Fayette.

O. O. HOWARD,

Major-General.

CIRCULAR.] HDQRS. ELEVENTH AND TWELFTH CORPS,

Bridgeport, Ala., October 26, 1863.

1. The movement on the south side of the Tennessee River will commence at sunrise October 27.

2. The mounted men from Alabama will precede the corps of Major-General Howard (the Eleventh), which will have the advance.

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*See p. 43.

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