Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1864-10-13
BY TELEGR APH.
official.
WAsHiEaros, Oct. 7.

In a recent dispatch II is mentioned
that Gen. Sherman was taking measures
to protect his communications from the
rebel Gen. Forrest, who was operating
against them, Dispatches received here
last night show the falhllment Of this
expectation.
Mai. Gen George II. Thomas was sent
to Louisville TO organize the troops in
his district, and drive Forrest from our
lines, while the attention of Gen, Sher-
man was directed TO movements of the
main rebel army in the vicinity Of At,
lanta. On the 4th of October the rebels
had captured Big Shanty, but were fol-
lowed up by Sherman. On the 9th Sc
we're engagement was fought by our
forces under Gen. French, in which the
rebels were driven from the field with a
heavy loss, leaving the dead and wound
cd in our hands. Details are given in
the following from General Thomas
Nashville, Oct. 6-ll,30 Pm.
TO Hon. Il, M, Stanton
The following telegram is just receiy-
ed from Chattanooga:
Gen. Smith, who left here on the 9th
inst, telegraphs that the enemy retreat
ed last evening from Altoona, in the d.
rection of Dallas-leaving the dead and
wounded in our hands.
Our loss was about one hundred killed
and two hundred wounded. The Resaca
bridge will be repaired by tomorrow,
and the trains will be able to run as far
as Atlanta, geing by the way of Cleve-
land and Dalton. Nothing further has
been heard from Sherman since my dis
patch of the 9th, but the retreat of the
enemy towards Dallas indicates he is
close on their rear near Atlanta. have
not heard from Gems. Rosseau or Wash
burn to.day,-presume they are pushing
Forest rapidly. We had heavy contin-
uous rain for the last five days, render
ing the roads and streams almost impas-
sable. have just received the follow
ing from Gen. Granger dated Hunts
vile, Tenn, 9th, p. NJ. The courier re-
ported drowned crossing Elk River is in.
He lost the dispatch while crossing the
river. He reports two rebels were cap
tured yesterday, who say they left For
rest at Lawrenceburg the night before,
crossing South. Gen Morgan's advance
was diminishing with the enemy this
morning on Skin Greek, he being unable
to cross on account of high water He
hopes to be able to cross by to morrow
morning, when he will push them still
further. The Alabama Railroad will be
fixed from here to Pulaski in week.
GEo. II. THOMAS, Mai. Gen.
Another and unofficial dispatch re-
ports as follows:
The Telegraph is repaired to Altoona
TO day. The action yesterday was severe.
French was attacked by rebel division,
1000 strong. They suffered heavily
leaving their killed and wounded in our
hands to the number of one thousand,
while we lost only three hundred The
fight lasted six hours altogether. From
Florence, we hear that Morgan has For
rest cornered; has captured his trans
portation, and that the gunboats pre-
vented all retreat across the Tennessee
river.
Satisfactory reports of the operations
in progress before Richmond and Peters
burg have been received, but details are
not at present for publication
Dispatches from Gen. Stevenson re-
port that an officer of Gen. Sheridan
staff had just arrived. He is still at
Harrisonburg. His supply train going
all right, but occasionally interrupted
by guerrillas, the only rebel force on the
road. This officer brought in the re-
mains Of Lieut.. John r. Meigs, of the
engineer corps, the only son of Brevet-
Maj Gen. Meigs, Quartermaster General.
He was killed by bushwhackers last
IL IL l.. A
vey. -......
[Signed) EDWIN M. STANTON,
.... Secretary of War.