Gen Crook last night orders have been given for the repairs of roads from Louisville to Decatur some days ago & contracts are now being made for having the bridges all framed in the north & sent on to the road ready to put up You will see from my dispatch to Gen Sherman that a part of his force is to guard the road for the present" Telegram received, DNA, RG 94, War Records Office, Dept. of the Tenn.; copies, ibid., RG 393, Military Div. of the Miss., Letters Sent; DLC-USG, V, 34, 35. O. R., I, xxxi, part 3, 91-92. See telegram to Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman, Nov. 5, 1863.
On Nov. 8 and 9, Col. William W. Lowe, Maysville, Ala., telegraphed to USG and to Maj. Gen. George H. Thomas. "Scouts of this command just in from Genl Shermans Command bring communication dated Elkton night before last I take from his letter the following which he wished telegraphed. Please enquire of Genl Grant if he has heard from my Aid. If not tell him I am moving steadily & as rapidly as possible to Fayetteville & Winchester that I want 200,000 rations of Hard bread Salt Sugar & Coffee at Decherds that with this I can move 10 or more days in any direction I heard today from Genl Blair who is to my rear and says all going well Genl Dodge was at Eastport & crossing on last tuesday and wednesday He will also come to Fayetteville & Pulaski also the following at close of his letter. I only have two hundred cavalry Third Regulars with me Has the 5th ohio about 400 & Dodge has two Regiments of mounted Infantry about 700. My Infantry 15th Army Corps 16,000 Dodges Division about eight I consider it a splendid force & in good fighting trim The Genls letter contained nothing further that would be of service to the Genl Comdg He explains however that high water forced him to move to the eastward via Pulaski" Telegram received, DNA, RG 94, War Records Office, Military Div. of the Miss.; copy, ibid., RG 393, Military Div. of the Miss., Telegrams Received. "Courier just in from Gen'l. Sherman all goes well. I judge he remains for the present at Fayetteville anything for him can be sent through from here in about 10 hours. He contemplates ordering one Division to the neighborhood of Athens to repair railroad back to Columbia." Copy, ibid. O. R., I, xxxi, part 3, 94. Lowe's first telegram reported part of Maj. Gen. William T. Sherman's dispatch to Brig. Gen. George Crook, Nov. 6. Ibid., pp. 69-70.
Chattanooga November 8. [1863] 5. P. M.
MAJOR GENERAL A. E. BURNSIDE
KNOXVILLE TENN
Thomas will not be able to make the attack of which I telegraphed you, until Sherman gets up. 1 Sherman is now at Fayetteville. Thomas will drive the enemy from the West side of Lookout
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