on this side. I am now satisfied that the object of the enemy is reduced to foraging and conscripting Doubtless the moment of troops along the line of the road has caused them to abandon for the present designs upon the railroad.

To-morrow I shall send a cavalry force to Florence, sufficient to develop their whole force. I am inclined to think the force of the enemy has been exaggerated, but shall report [to] you the result of my expedition.

JNO. D. STEVENSON,

Brigadier-General.

HDQRS. THIRD DIVISION, FIFTEENTH ARMY CORPS,
Huntsville, Ala., May 12, 1864.

Brigadier General JOHN D. STEVENSON,

Commanding at Decatur;

GENERAL: By direction of Major General W. T. Sherman, you will turn over your command at once to Brigadier General C. L. Matthies, and report at Nashville, Tenn., to await the acceptance of your resignation.*

JNO. E. SMITH,

Brigadier-General, Commanding.

HDQRS. THIRD DIVISION, FIFTEENTH ARMY CORPS,
Huntsville, Ala., May 12, 1864.

Brigadier General W. Q. GRESHAM,

Commanding at Athens:

Brigadier General John D. Stevenson has been directed to turn over his command at Decatur to Brigadier General C. L. Matthies. You will sen Colonel Rowett in the direction of Florence to ascertain the whereabouts of the enemy.

JNO. E. SMITH,

Brigadier-General.

HDQRS. THIRD DIVISION, FIFTEENTH ARMY CORPS,
Huntsville, Ala., May 12, 1864.

Major General W. T. SHERMAN, Tunnel Hill, Ga.:

Brigadier General John D. Stevenson has been relieved from command at Decatur, and directed to report at Nashville. Gresham telegraphs me that Stevenson has nothing reliable in regard to the enemy's concentrating at Florence.

JNO. E. SMITH,

Brigadier-General.

ATHENS, ALA., May 12, 1864.

Major-General ROUSSEAU, Nashville:

The force that occupied Florence has recrossed the river, but a regiment of rebel cavalry is still in the neighborhood of Florence foraging.

W. Q. GRESHAM,

Brigadier-General.

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* The resignation of General Stevenson had already been accepted in Special Orders, Numbers 155, April 22, 1864, from War Department, Adjutant-General's Office. He was re-appointed Brigadier-General August 7, 1864, to rank from November 29, 1862.

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