The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-10-14
WAR DEPARTMENT,
WASHINGTON, Oct. z. 1864. !

WASHINGTON, Oct. 7, 1864
To Major-General Dir:
In q recent dispatch it was mentioned that
Sherman was taking measures to protect his
communications from the rebels operating
against them.
Dispatches received last night show the full
fillment of this expedition.
Gen. Thomas was sent to Louisville to Or
ganize the troops in his district and drive For
est from our rear while the attention of Sher-
man was directed to the movements of the
main rebel army in the vicinity of Atlanta.
On the 4th the rebels had reached Big Shan
ty, but were followed up closely by Sherman.
On the Gin severe engagement was fought
by our forces under Gen. French, in which
the rebels were driven from the field with heavy
loss, leaving their dead and wounded in our
hands. Details are given in the following
from Gen. Thomas:
NASHVILLE, Oct. 6, 11:30 P. NJ.
To Hon. +. NJ. Stanton, Secretary Of War:
The following telegram is received from
Chattanooga:
Gen. Smith, who left here yesterday (5th),
telegraphs that the enemy retreated last even
ing from Altoona, moving in the direction of
Dallas, leaving his dead and from 400 to 600
wounded in our hands. Our loss was about
100 killed and 200 wounded.
The Reseca bridge will be repaired by to-
morrow and the trains will be able to run as
far as Altoona, going via Cumberland and
Dalton.
Nothing further has been heard from Sher-
man since my dispatch of yesterday, but the
retreat of the enemy towards Dallas indicates
that he was close on their rear near Altoona.
have not heard from Generals Rosseau or
Washburne to-day, but presume they are push
ing Forrest rs rapidly as the condition OF the
roads will admit.
We have had heavy ard continuous rains for
the last five days. rendering roads and streams
almost impossible.
have just received the following from Gen.
Granger, dated Huntsville. Oct. 6. 10 A. NJ:
The courier reported drowned in crossing
Elk River is in. He lost the dispatches while
crossing the river. He reports that two rebels
were captured yesterday who say that they left
Forrest at Lawrenceburg the night before,
skirmishing with the enemy this morning near
Slave Creek, he being unable to cross on ac-
count OF high water. He hopes TO be able to
cross by tomorrow morning, when he will
push them still further on. The Alabama rail-
road will be repaired from here to Pulaski in
one week."
GEO. H. THOMAS, Major General
LATER.
Dispatches to-day report as follows: The
telegraph is being repaired to Altoona to-day.
The action yesterday was severe. The rebel
General attacked with his division, seven
thousand strong, and suffered heavily, leaving
his dead and wounded in our hands to the
number of 1000, while we lost only 800. The
fight lasted six hours altogether.
From Florence we hear that Morgan has
Forest cornered and has captured his transport
tation train, and that the gunboats prevent all
retreat across the Tennessee river.
Satisfactory reports of the operations in pro-
gress before Richmond and Petersburg have
been received, but their details are not at pres
ent proper for publication.
a dispatch from Gen. Stevenson represents
that an officer of Gen. Sheridan's staff had just
arrived. Gen. Sheridan was still at Harrison
burg. His supply trains were going on all
right, but were occasionally interrupted by
guerillas--the only rebel force on the road.
This officer brought in the remains of ST.
John Il. Meigs of the Engineer Corps, the
only son of Brevet Major General Meigs, Quar-
terlnaster General. He was killed by BUSH
whackers last Monday while making militia
ry survey.
Gen. Rosecrans reports that Gen. Ewing
made good his retreat to Rolla lOosing only a
few stragglers, and those killed and wound
ed by the way are very few in number. From
the number OF the wounded rebels, the enc
my's loss won't fall much short of LOCO.
TSigned, E. NJ. STANTON
Secretary of War.