municate this to him at once. General Sill will also oin him at the same point. Communicate this order to General Sill. Leave at Decherd the force designated to occupy that point, and see it is in proper condition for defense. Be prepared in all respects for active service and to move as light as possible. Take such precautions that your dispatches shall not be intercepted.

D. C. BUELL.

HEADQUARTERS, Huntsville, August 19, 1862.

Mr. GOODHUE, Nashville:

Have a train in use at Decherd at once to run on the Tracy City road.

D. C. BUELL.

HEADQUARTERS, Huntsville, August 19, 1862.

Colonel HAZEN, Murfreesborough:

Have you any word of General Johnson?

D. C. BUELL.

MURFREESBOROUGH, August 19, 1862.

Major-General BUELL:

Not a word from General Johnson. All quiet here. We had a slight skirmish with 20 mounted men 10 miles from here this morning.

W. B. HAZEN,
Colonel, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS, Huntsville, August 19, 1862.

Colonel HAZEN, Murfreesborough:

Were the cipher instructions sent to him (General Johnson) and did he receive them?

D. C. BUELL.

BATTLE CREEK, August 19, 1862.

General D. C. BUELL:

One of my men was in Chattanooga yesterday; he left opposite there this morning.

Three hundred cavalry and about 3,000 infantry crossed the river yesterday. The wagons that brought their baggage over went back empty. They have one small steamboat, three flats, and one horse ferry-boat. The regiments are under marching orders. Bragg returned to Chattanooga four days ago; Cheatham is there. Their force is estimated 80,000; rations short; arms mostly poor; report says their force crossed