SPECIAL FIELD ORDERS,
HDQRS. ARMY OF THE OHIO, Numbers 91.
Before Atlanta, Ga., August 23, 1864.

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VI. The troops will be prepared to march on Friday, the 26th instant, with nine days' rations in haversacks. Until further orders three days' rations of all, except fresh beef, will be required to last five days. Full rations of beef will be issued. Regimental and headquarters transportation will be reduced to what is absolutely necessary to carry cooking utensils and previous for officers for twenty days. All surplus transportation will be sent across the Chattahoochee at Turner's Ferry on the 25th, and will be left in charge of Colonel Capron, commanding dismounted cavalry. All sick and wounded will be sent to the rear on the same day. Every effort must be made to preserve secrecy relative to the proposed movement. Conversation between pickets is strictly prohibited.

By command of Major-General Schofield:

J. A. CAMPBELL,

Major and Assistant Adjutant-General.

SPECIAL ORDERS,
HDQRS. SEVENTEENTH ARMY CORPS, Numbers 210.
Before Atlanta, Ga., August 23, 1864.

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By command of Major General F. P. Blair:

ROWLAND COX,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

NEAR ATLANTA, GA., August 24, 1864-7.15 p .m. (Received 12.15 a. m. 25th.)

Major General H. W. HALLECK,

Washington, D. C.:

Heavy firs in Atlanta all day, caused by our artillery. I will be all ready and will commence the movement round Atlanta by the south to-morrow night, and for some time you will hear little of me. I will keep open a courier line with Chattahoochee bridge by the way of Sandtown. The Twentieth Corps will hold the bridge, and I will move with the balance of the army, provisioned for twenty days.

W. T. SHERMAN,

Major-General.

HDQRS. MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI, In the Field, near Atlanta, August 24, 1864-8 a. m.

General THOMAS:

I will ride down to the bridge to-day to see the lay of ground and the character of the redoubts there. Go on an make all the preparations possible, so that our movement when begun may proceed