Second Brigade was repulsed by one brigade of cavalry and two of infantry near Poplar Springs. They attacked the fortifications. I have lost severely both in officers and men; among the rest Colonel La Grange.

I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

E. M. McCOOK,

Colonel, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Tunnel Hill, Ga., May 9, 1864.

Brigadier General J. KILPATRICK,
Commanding Third Cavalry Division:

(Care of Major-General Hooker.)

GENERAL; The major-general commanding the department directs that you improve all possible means of watching the effect on the enemy of McPherson's movement through Snake Creek Gap until Garrards is up, which will be surely to-day. Should the latter road be crowded by McPherson's troops, scout the road between Villanow and Ray's Mill.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

WM. D. WHIPPLE,

Brigadier-General and Chief of Staff.

HEADQUARTERS THIRD CAVALRY DIVISION, Snake Creek Gap, May 9, 1864-3 p. m.

Major-General HOOKER,
Commanding Twentieth Army Creek:

GENERAL; Major-General McPherson has passed through the gap; his advance is near the railroad. My cavalry should, I think, pass through the gap to protect his flanks. I can hear nothing of General Garrard. My scouts report the valley as low down as Ray's Mill, a distance of some seventeen miles, full of the enemy. I cannot learn that any force whatever is on this side of the mountain.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. KILPATRICK,

Brigadier-General, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS THIRD CAVALRY DIVISION, Villanow, May 9, 1864-8.30 p. m.

Brigadier-General ELLIOTT,

Chief of Cavalry:

GENERAL; Captain Stansburry, of my staff, has just returned from Sugar Valley Post-Office. Two divisions of General McPherson's corps occupy the country from that point to the gap this side. General McPherson, with the other three division of Resaca. At 6 p. m. his advance had reached a point about one mile from the railroad. Considerable firing of infantry and artillery had been heard for an hour. The rebel General Martin, with a brigade of brigade of cavalry, was operating on the right of General Smith's position, and the right and rear of General McPherson's advance. Individual scouts and scouting parties from my com-