CIRCULAR.] HEADQUARTERS HARDEE'S CORPS,

July 18, 1864.

Division commanders will each throw out 100 men to Peach Tree Creek, and deploy them to picket the creek on his front. Bate will picket at the point opposite the brigade of his own outpost. Cleburne left. Cheatham will connect with the left of Walker's pickets.

By command of Lieutenant-General Hardee:

T. B. ROY,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

GENERAL ORDERS,
HEADQUARTERS HOOD'S CORPS, Numbers 57.
In the Field, July 18, 1864.

Being the senior officer present with it, the undersigned hereby assumes command of Hood's corps.

C. L. STEVENSON,

Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF TENNESSEE,
July 19, 1864.

Honorable JAMES A. SEDDON,

Secretary of War, Richmond, Va.:

I thank you for your kind expressions in your dispatch of the 17th. If General S. D. Lee can co-operate with me by breaking the enemy's communication, I ask that it may be done with the least possible delay, I shall at all times be glad to receive any advice or suggestions from the authorities at Richmond.

J. B. HOOD,

General.

ATLANTA, July 19, 1864.

JAMES A. SEDDON,

Secretary of War:

I need a commander for my old corps. I have assigned Major-General Cheatham to it, although he did not desire it. I have no major-general in that corps whom I deem suitable for the position, and it was Hardee's opinion that Cheatham was the best man at my disposal, my corps commanders concurring also. It is my opinion that if the Department has no more fitting person in view and no strong objection thereto, that Major-General Mansfield Lovell might be assigned here for the purpose, to the great advantage of this army. If a lieutenant-general is to be appointed and sent to me, I know of no one that I would prefer to Major General Wade Hampton or S. D. Lee.

J. B. HOOD,

General.

CONFIDENTIAL.] HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF TENNESSEE,

July 19, 1864-11 a. m.

General WHEELER:

GENERAL: General Hood directs me to inform you that unless circumstances now not seen should prevent, Generals Hardee and Stewart