The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1864-11-16
FROM GENERAL HOODS ARMY

A letter from Tuscumbia, Alabama,
dated the 91st ultimo, shows how Gen
eral Hood arranged for crossing the
Tennessee river, and how the feint on
Decatur was managed. 1t says:
"We have at last struck the Tennes-
see river, and if present indications do
not fail, will cross the river in day or
two at Florence, three miles from this
place.
"The army moved from Gadsden, to
which place it came after the Dalton trip
Or the 22d instant and crossing Sand
mountain, reached Decatur on the night
of the Goth instant. Our skirmish lines
were drawn around this place, and the
works invested by them only. Stewards
and Cheatham's corps occupied the diff
ferent roads leading from the town and
went into bivouac. Decatur waS- sup
posed to be garrisoned by two thousand
five hundred or three thousand troops,
in very strong works, of YhicfI had
good ocular proof, visiting the skirmish
lines quite frequently.
1T was not General Hoods intention
to invest the place with the view Of ta-
king it; for it would have cost heavy
sacrifice of life, especially as the enemy
was reinforcing, and had his gunboats in
the river to operate in concert. But he
was Obliged to delay several days here,
and keep the enemy inside by threaten
ing an attack, in order to cover the pass
age of large supply train and Lees
corps. When these had passed, Lee was
making hard for Florence. We very lei
surely drew off our skirmishers and
marched on after him and while the Yam
KEGS were occupied at Decatur, Lee
crosses the river and occupies Florence,
and our pontoons are thrown across. We
rest here for a couple Of days and then
cross over on our way to Middle Ten
neSSee.
In our affairs at Decatur there were
the usual number of killed and wounded
on the skirmish line, and, owing to some
neglect, eight or nine of Gowan's skir
mishers were captured. With this eX-
ception there was no other loss.
1.-The whole Tennessee Valley from
Decatur to Tuscumbia is devastated and
scene of desolation. The rich planta-
tions stretched for miles, covered with
grass like vast plain, with here and
there the brick chimneys of former ele-
CANT mansions destroyed by fire. Eve
rything bears the aspect of grim-yisaged
war"
Another letter SAYS:
General Wheeler still holds the po-
sition in front Of jacksonville On last
Thursday, Ferguson's brigade met and
whipped force of fifteen hundred Fed
eral cavalry near Ladiga. The enemy
still have a considerable force on the
Coosa, but all accounts agree that the
great body Of Sherman's army is north
of the Tennessee river, and at or near
west of Bridgeport. The force on the
Coosa is thought by some of General
Wheelers officers to be reconnaissance
for the purpose of developing the de-
sign, strength and position of General
Hood, and thought by others to be there
| for the purpose of making campaign
in heavy force down the Selma and Blue
mountain railroad. In the latter event,
our cavalry have been instructed to fall
back and lay waste everything in the
| country that would retard the progress
Of the enemy.
"In an official dispatch to Blue noun.
tain, General Wheeler said that the
movement Of General Hood had been a
complete success that he had Sher.
mans army completely at his mercy,
and that the enemy would soon be forced
back beyond the Tennessee
What are the real designs of ouI
commanding generals, no one save them
selves knows The whole army, how
ever, are under tho impression that they
will go Immediately towards Murfrees
boro' and Nashville. Cold and rainy
weather has already commenced in tha,
latitude, which may throw a seriou:
damper upon the progress of the grant
fianking movement.
"The army still continues to receivt
large accessions TO its ranks; and If ther,
ever was time when it was able to meet
and conquer the Federal army, that tins
| is now"
A female canary, in Springfield, Mas
Il sanhrc>sS, IL q