Please inform me what disposition I am to make of the Second Division [General Negley] and Third Division [General Brannan].

If I am well enough, I will call over to see you to-morrow afternoon.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

GEO. H. THOMAS,

Major-General U. S. Volunteers, Commanding.

WINCHESTER, TENN., August 8, 1863.

Brigadier General LORENZO THOMAS,

Adjutant-General:

For the information of the General-in-Chief, I report that our cavalry on the left have moved to Sparta, to attack the rebel advance there. Our forage trains are coming up, but we have not transportation enough to get our supplies up to five days ahead, until the cars lately bought arrive. No other movement of troops to-day.

W. S. ROSECRANS,

Major-General, Commanding.

WINCHESTER, TENN., August 8, 1863.

Major-General ROSECRANS,

Commanding Army of the Cumberland:

Estimate of cars required per day for supplying the Army of the Cumberland.

Supplies No.of No.of Pounds Tons No.of

animals men cars

Forage [grain 45,000 - 450,000 225 28

only]

Rations - 70,000 2,110,000 105 13

Quartermaster' - - 160,000 80 10

s stores

Medical stores - - 32,000 16 2

Contingencies - - 112,000 56 7

Total per day - - 2,864,000 482 60

Respectfully submitted.

JOHN W. TAYLOR,

Quartermaster.

PRIVATE.] HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, Washington, August 9, 1863.

Major-General ROSECRANS,

Army of the Cumberland:

GENERAL: After my private notes of the 24th and 25th of July, I did not intend to write any further, urging your advance; I will, however, add a few words in answer to yours of the 1st instant.

If you suppose the Secretary of War has any personal hostility to you, or would not rejoice at your success as much as that of any other general, I think you are mistaken. I do not think he would willingly do you any injustice, but, as I have before written, neither the President