HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Nashville, February 27, 1865-8 p.m.

Lieutenant General U. S. GRANT,
City Point, Va.:

Your telegram of 11 a.m. to-day is received. I am sorry that the expedition under General Stoneman could not get off sooner than this, but he has not had time to prepare fully since I received your instructions. I will direct him to throw his forces into Southwestern Virginia, as you direct; and, in anticipation of probable operations in East Tennessee this spring, have already thrown into Knoxville over 2,000,000 rations, and have given orders to have the store-houses filled to their full capacity. Orders were also given, some weeks since, to accumulate forage at Knoxville, which order is now being complied with by the quartermaster's department. Unless you wish otherwise, I shall send General Stanley's entire corps to East Tennessee, as soon as a sufficient number of new regiments report to enable me to withdraw it from Huntsville, Ala. I shall also concentrate the surplus of new regiments at Chattanooga, as the most available point from which to re-enforce the troops in East Tennessee, if necessary.

GEO. H. THOMAS,

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

SPECIAL FIELD ORDERS, HDQRS. DEPT. OF THE CUMBERLAND, No. 52. Nashville, Tenn., February 27, 1865.

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VII. The One hundred and fifty-fourth Illinois Infantry, Colonel McLain F. Wood commanding, will report at once to Major General L. H. Rousseau, commanding District of Tennessee, for assignment to duty with Major-General Milroy's command. The quartermaster's department will furnish transportation.

VIII. The One hundred and forty-third Indiana Volunteers will report at once to Major General L. H. Rousseau, commanding District of Tennessee, for assignment to duty with General Milroy's command. The quartermaster's department will furnish transportation.

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XI. The One Hundred and eighty-fourth Ohio Infantry, Lieutenant Colonel C. W. Carroll commanding, will report at once to Major General L. H. Rousseau, commanding District of Tennessee, for assignment to duty with General Milroy's command. The quartermaster's department will furnish transportation.

By command of Major-General Thomas:

HENRY M. CIST,

Captain and Assistant Adjutant-General.

SPECIAL ORDERS, HEADQUARTERS CAVALRY CORPS, No. 40. MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI, Gravelly Springs, Ala., February 27, 1865.

I. Brigadier General J. T. Croxton will assume command of the First Division, Cavalry Corps, Military Division of the Mississippi, in the absence of General McCook. General Croxton will at once enter into the discharge of his duties as division commander.

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By command of Brevet Major-General Wilson:

E. B. BEAUMONT,
Major and Assistant Adjutant-General.