SPECIAL ORDERS,
WAR DEPT. ADJT. GENERAL'S OFFICE, Numbers 552.
Washington, December 14, 1863.

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38. Permission to repair to his home and there await further orders is hereby granted Major General Lewis Wallace, U. S. Volunteers.

By order of the Secretary of War:

E. D. TOWNSEND,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

[31.]

HEADQUARTERS FOURTH ARMY CORPS,
Knoxville, Tenn., December 15, 1863.

Brigadier General T. J. WOOD,

Commanding Third Division:

The major-general commanding, with headquarters, will leave for Blain's Cross-Roads at 4 or 5 o'clock to-morrow morning. You will hurry up your remaining brigades as rapidly as possible, using the railroad facilities as may be for the best advantage in moving your troops. It is probable you may be able to send one brigade by rail as far as Strawberry Plains, and afterwards concentrate at Blain's Cross-Roads. Such wagons, ambulancese, &c., as you may deem necessary to take you will move by the direct road to the point of concentration (Blain's Cross-Roads). After your departure from this point you will report the probable hour of your arrival to the commanding general at Blain's Cross-Roads by courier.*

By command of Major-General Granger:

R. O. SELFRIDGE,

Lieutenant-Colonel and Assistant Adjutant-General.

[31.]

SPECIAL ORDERS,
WAR DEPT., ADJT. GENERAL'S OFFICE. Numbers 556.
Washington, December 16, 1863.

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36. Brigadier General W. W. Orme, U. S. Volunteers, is assigned to command at Chicago, Ill., including Camp Douglas. He will proceed to his post without delay.

By order of the Secretary of War:

E. D. TOWNSEND,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

[31.]

HEADQUARTERS FORCES IN THE FIELD,
Blain's Cross-Roads, December 16, 1863-12 m.

Major-General SHERIDAN:

Your disaptch is just received.+ My forces are just coming in at this point and will be posted about half a mile to the front of this. Please gather all information you can regarding the river road that runs between the river and the Knoxville road. Will you also pleasure cover it with some of your men? We have some cavalry that can be placed at your service. I can give you no definite information regarding the

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*For reply, see Wood to Granger, VOL. XXXI, Part III, p. 426.

+See Sheridan to Parke, VOL. XXXI, Part III, p. 425.

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