Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1864-10-07
OFFICIAL WAR BULLETIN.
Wan DEPARTMENT, Z
CITY. Oct. I. 1851.

WARRINGTON CITY, Oct. 7, 1864. (
Major General Dir, NciO York:
In recent dispatch It was mentioned that
Gen. Sherman was taking measures to protect
his communications from the rebel forces
operating against them. Dispatches received
last night show the fulRlment of this expecta.
tion. Major General George II. Thomas was
sent to Nashville to organize the troops In
his district and drive Forrest from our lines
while the attention of Gen. Sherman was direct.
cd to the main rebel army In the vicinity OF
Atlanta.
On the Ith of October the rebels had cap
tured Big shanty, but were followed closely up
by Sherman. On the 9th a severe engagement
was fought by our forces, under Gen. John Il.
Smith, and the rebel forces, under Gen. French,
in which the rebels were driven from the field
with heavy loss, leaving their dead and wound.
ed in our hands. Details are given in the fol.
lowing dispatch from Gen. Thomas;
"NAsHvILLB, Tenn, II 30 p. M, October 0,
lS64.-Aon. Ediein lL StDaon, Sseretd,y Of
War! The following telegram Just received
from Chattanooga: Gen. Smith who left here
yesterday, 9th instant, telegraphs that the
enemy rctreated last evening from Altoona,
moving In the directlon of Dallas, leaving his
dead and from four TO six hundred wounded In
our hands. Our loss about 100 killed and 200
wounded. Railroad bridge near Rlnggold
washed away Yesterday.
"The Resaca bridge will be repaired by to.
morrow, and the trains will be able to run as
far as Altoona, going via Cleveland and Dali
ton.
"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 upon their rear, near Altoo-
ma. Have not heard from General Rosseau
or Washhurne today, but presume that they
are pushing Forrest as rapidly as tho condition
= Al a. IL. -. 4
and continuous rains for the last five DAYS,
rendering the roads and streams almost i'm.
passabe. Have just received the following
dispatch from Gen. Granger, dated Huntsville,
10 p. m., Gth:
"The courier reported drowned crossing Elk
river is in. He lost the dispatches while cross
ing the river. He reports that two rebels were
captured yesterday, who say that they left For.
rest at Lawrenceburg the night before, crossing
South.
Gen. Morgan's advance was skirmishing
with the enemy this u. IN. on Shaw's creek, he
being unable to cross the creek on account of
high water. He hopes to be able to cross to-
morrow morning, when he will push them still
further on.
"1he Alabama railroad will be repaired from
here TO Pulaski in ono week.
GEORGE II. THOMAS, Major General"
Another and unofficial dispatch reports as
follows!
Telegraph repaired to Allatoona to-day.
The action yesterday was severe-French at
tackng with his division, seven thousand
strong, and suffering heavily, leaving his killed
and wounded In our hands, to the number of
one thousand, while VIC lost only three hun
dred. Fight lasted six hours altogether.
From Florence we learn that Morgan has
Forrest cornered, has captured his transporta-
tion, and that the gun-boats prevent all retreat
across the Tennessee.
Aaf taEa afA
gress before Richmond and Petersburg have
been received, but their details are not at pres
ent proper for publication.
A dispatch from Gen. Stevenson reports an
officer Of Sheridan's staff Just arrived. Gen.
Sheridan was still at Harrisonburg. His sup
ply trains were going on all right, occasionally
interrupted by guerrilla parties, the only rebel
force on the road.
This officer brought in the remains of Lieut..
John X. Melgs, Of the Engineer Corps, (and
only son Of Brevet Maj. Gen. Megs, Quarter
master General who was killed by bushwhack.
ers on Monday last, while making a military
survey. In the death of this gallant young
officer the Department has occasion TO deplore
no ordinary loss. Last year he graduated at
the Military Academy at West Point with the
highest honors, at the head of his class; was
commissioned as lieutenant of engineers, and
Immediately sent into the field. He performed
meritorous and distinguished services during
the campaigns Of last year on the Notifications
at Baltimore, at Harper's Ferry, and at Cum
berland, and was made Chief Engineer In the
Army Of the Shenandoah. In the campaign he
accompanied the army under sigel, Hunter, and
Sheridan.
In every position he gave proof Of great pro.
fesslonal skill, personal courage, aud devoted
patriotism. One of the youngest aud brightest
ornaments OF the military profession, he has
fallen an early victim to murderous rebel war
fare.
Gen. Rosecrans reports that Gen. Ewing
made good his retreat TO Rolla, losing only
few stragglers and the killed and wounded BY
the way, which were very few. From tho
will not fall much short of thousand hors du
Comh1t," FDwIN NJ. STANTON,
Secretary Of War.