have been ordered to attack the enemy at 1 p. m. to-day. General Cheatham, on the right, is ordered to hold in check any force of the enemy that may advance in that direction, and you are desired to give all the aid in your power to General Cheatham to carry out this part.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant.

A. P. MASON,

Major and Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF TENNESSEE,
Near Atlanta, July 19, 1864-2.15 p. m.

Major-General WHEELER,

Commanding Cavalry, &c.:

GENERAL: General Hood directs me to acknowledge the receipt of your note (hour not given) in which you express the opinion that the extreme left of the enemy's infantry is moving toward Decatur. It is important to get exact information of the state of affairs in that vicinity at night-fall. He therefore requests you to send your best scouts close in, so as to ascertain whether the left of the enemy's infantry crosses Peach Tree Creek, where it rests, and what is its strength, and notify him of the result.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

T. B. MACKALL,

Aide-de-Camp.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF TENNESSEE,
July 19, 1864-3.30 p. m.

Major-General WHEELER,

Commanding Cavalry:

GENERAL: Your dispatch about the force pressing Ferguson is received. General Hood directs that you will hold the enemy in check as much as possible, and strike him as you think best.

Yours, most respectfully,

A. P. MASON,

Major and Assistant Adjutant-General.

Please put the hour to your dispatches.

HEADQUARTERS,
July 19, 1864-7.15 p. m.

Major-General WHEELER:

GENERAL: Your dispatch of 5.45 is received. General Hood directs me to say that Cleburne's division is moving to your support. Communicate this to the men and urge them to hold on. General Hood desires to see you as soon as you can safely leave your command. We are now at General Stewart's, but will go presently to our own headquarters.

Yours,

A. P. MASON,

Major and Assistant Adjutant-General.