Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1864-10-10
WAR DEPARTMENT..

| ment from Gen'ls Butler, Sherman, Thomas
| Sheridan, and Burbridge, shown the favor.
able condition OF military affairs in their re.
| speetive fields of operation. The purpose Of
| GenH Grants visit to Washington wing been
| accomplished, he returned to his headquarters
| on Saturday; but there has been no Geographic
| comm unication since his arrival there:
EVANSVILLE, TENN, 80 p. m, Oct s, 1861.
Secretary Of War Have not heard direct from
| Sherman, but General Corse, at Alatoona, in
forms me that Sherman is at Kenesaw, repairing
the railroad between Atlanta and Alatoona.
He has plenty OF provisions in Atlanta, and so
| far as the main army is concerned, feels &c
| cure.
| General Rousseau reports that Forrest has
| escaped him by crossing the Tennessee in fiat.
| boats, above and below Florence, on the 9th
| instant, whilst he (Rousseau) was detained nv
high W ater in Shoal Greek and Elk River.
GEORGE II. THOMAS, Major GenI"
| "ALATooNA, Oct. 9, 1864, 8 p. m.-Major Gen .
| erat Halleck, Chief of STAFF: reached the Ken.
esaw Mountain October 9th, just in time to
| witness, at distance, the attack on Alatoona
| had anticipated this attack, and had ordered
| from Rome General Corse with reinforcements.
The attack was met and repulsed, the enemy
| losing some two hundred dead and more than
| one Thousand wounded and prisoners. Our
| loss about seven hundred in the aggregate
''The enemy captured the small garrisons at
Big Shanty and Ackworth, and burned abou.
seven miles of our railroad but we have at
Aiatoona and Atlanta an abundance of provi-
sions. Hood, observing our approach, has
moved rapidly back to Dallas and Van Vert
and are watching him in case he tries to reach
Kingston q Rome. 20 r..
"Atlanta is perfectly secure to us, and this
army & he.tpr off ont hera hap in ooro,
"W. F. SHERMAN, Major General"
"WooDsTocK, VA, 9 p. M, Oct. T. 1s6l.-
Lieut.. Gen. U. s. Grant: have the honor to
| report my command at this point tonight. I
commenced moving back from Port Republic,
Mount Crawford, Brigwater and Harrison
burg yesterday morning.
"The grain and forage in advance of these
points had previously been destroyed.
" In moving back to this point the whole
country, from the Blue Ridge to the North
Mountain, has been made untenable for rebel
army.
filled with wheat, hay and farming imple-
ments; over seventy mills filled with flour aud
wheat have driven in front Of the army yer
four herds Of stock, and have killed and issued
sheep.
"This destruction embraces the Luray VAL
ley and Little Fort Valley, as well as the main
Valley. A large number Of horses have been
obtained, proper estimate OF which cannot
now make.
Lieutenant John R. Meigs, my engineer
officer, was murdered beyond Harrisonb burg,
near Dayton. For this atrocious act all the
houses within an area OF five miles were
burned.
"Slnce came into the Valley, from Har-
pers Ferry up to Harrsonburg, every train,
every small party, and every straggler has
been bushwhacked by people, many Of whom
have protection papers from commanders who
have been hitherto In that Valley. The people
here are getting sick of the war. Heretofore
they have had no reason to complain. because
III have not been followed by the enemy MP
to this point, with the exception OF q small
force Of rebel cavalry, that showed themselves
some distance behind my rear guard to-day. A
party Of one hundred men, Of the sth Ohio cav.
airy, which has stationed At the bridge over
was attacked by Mcneil. with IL men, while
they were asleep. and the whole party dis
persed or captured l think they will ali turn
GP and
fell into our hands. This was fortunate, as he
was the most'daring and dangerous Of all the
bushWhackers in this section OF the country.
"P! H. SHERIDAN, Major General"
Gen. Burbr,dge makes he following report
OF his operations
CBATTLRsBURG, KY. 10 8. M, Oct. 8, 1s6i.-
Hon. e. H. Stanton. -Forcng the enemy from
Clinch Mountain and Laurel Gaps, after heavy
skirmishing, we met the enemy three and
half miles from Saltville, on the morning Of the
I'd instant, and drove him to his works around
the salt works, where he was strongly en-.
trenched on the bluff In heavy force under
Echols, Williams, Vaughn, and, it is said,
Breckenridge. fi.T
1--WE at once attacked him, and drove him
from his works on our left and center, and
in spite OF artillery and superior numbers,
whipped him at every point, and forced him
back 10 his own works. In the evening our
ammunition gave out, and, holding the po-
Gil kon T MI oyRyt no ooun
mand in excellent order and spirits. The oc-
cupation Of the works themselves was only
prevented by failure OF ammunition. From
prisoners, learn the enemys force was be.
tween 5000 and 5000, and that Breckenridge
was present with 1900 from Lynchourg.
NV force amounted to two thousand five
hundred engaged. 1t Is certain his force great
ly outnumbered us. A detachment sent to
Pound Gap, forced its way through. and drove
Prentice, with superior force, from his works
at Gladevllle, capturing several prisoners,
number Of small arms, and one piece OF artil.
lery Our less in all is about 350-the enemy's
more. Report fully by malls; on the morning of
as q. BuRBRIDeR, Major General"
The telegraph line between Fortress Monroe
and City Point was broken down by storm,
and not yet repaired. The latest military in.
telligence from there ia the following telegram
from Major General Butler:
"HRADQUARTRRs DEPARTMENT VIRGINIA
AND NORTH CAROLINA, October 8, 1e64.-Lieat
General Grant: Our success yesterday was
decided one, although rebel papers claim vic
tory They admit General Gregg killed and
General Bratton wounded General Gregg
was in command Of Fields division.
"Richmond Examiner Of this morning contains
an oficial dispatch from 9ordonsville last
night; states that Yankee cavalry force yes
terday burnt the railroad bridge over the Rap.
tdan and made their escape. No movement
on The Petersburg side. No more troops have
been sent over from Lee. The movement yes.
terday was made under his eye.
"B. F. BUTLER, Major General"
No recent intelligence has been received from
Maj. Gen. Candy, but by his last reports Gen.
Steele was moving in force upon the rear Of
Prlce towards Missouri.
EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary OF War.