[Excerpts from "The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies", Series I, Vol. 39, Part III-Correspondences, etc., War Dept. 1892] [transcribed by Mark Murphy, 6 Nov 2001] p. 40 Tullahoma, Octobter 2, 1864-9 a.m. Maj. B.H. Polk, Assistant Adjutant-General: I have General Thomas' consent to organize a force, mounted and in wagons, to go after Forrest. I shall want to mount and put in wagons 3,500 infantry. Every horse and mule in Nashville, for which equipments may be furnished, should be obtained from Colonel Donaldson at once, and turned over to the infantry in preparation for the movement. He can give us many wagons, saddles, and if others cannot be obtained put the colonels to work to obtain these supplies, and mount their regiments or prepare conveyances at once. Send copy of this to General Johnson when he arrives. The troops should have horses, mules, or wagons, and it may be on the Franklin road or their barracks at the Richmond. Plank or board seats should be prepared for the wagon by the quartermaster's department. The teams should be six mules instead of four. If troops report to you send word to General Johnson and ask where he will have them. They had better be marched out on the Franklin pike on their arrival and bivouacked. L.H. Rousseau, Major-General. ----- Nashville, Tenn., October 2, 1864-11.35 a.m. Major-General Rousseau, Tullahoma: The following dispatch just received from Colonel Park, at Franklin: The stage driver from Columbia was captured a little the other side of Spring Hill yesterday noon and taken back to Smith's Station. He says Forrest has taken all the block-houses, and destroyed the bridges from Spring Hill to Dark's Station. He heard cannonading this side of Columbia last evening. Forrest sent a flag of truce to the commanding officer demanding a surrender. The officer told him if he would show him artillery he would surrender. Forrest told him he had artillery, so he surrendered. I don't think he has any artillery, yet he may have. Will keep you posted. Nothing eight miles toward Hillsborough. B.H. Polk, Major and Assistant Adjutant-General. ----- Franklin, October 2, 1864. Maj. B.H. Polk, Assistant Adjutant-General: Scouts have just returned from two miles beyond Spring Hill: confirm all former reports of destruction of railroad. Enemy have have destroyed all buildings and property on Campbell's farm near Smith's Station. Government plantation heard heavy cannonading and volleys of musketry toward Columbia. Send us some news. J.B. Park, Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding. ----- Nashville, Tenn., October 2, 1864-11.35 a.m. Lieut. Col. J.B. Park, Franklin: Do you understand that Columbia has been surrendered to the enemy, and how far down has the road been destroyed? B.H. Polk, Major and Assistant Adjutant-General. ----- Franklin, October 2, 1864. Maj. B.H. Polk: I do not learn that Columbia has been surrendered. I am inclined to think it is not. As near as I can learn up to this time the road is destroyed to Duck River from Spring Hill. I cannot ascertain about the bridge to Duck River. The mill at Smith's Station and depot at Spring Hill are burned. I think it would be well to put them on guard on the Northwestern road. Can you give me any news from the Chattanooga road? J.B. Park, Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding Post. ----- Franklin, October 2, 1864. Major Polk, Assistant Adjutant-General: My scouts report from Thompson's Station a few straggling parties of rebels from fifteen to twenty-five in a party. Cannonading was heard last night at dark in direction of Columbia from Thompson's Station. Grape Vine says there is a brigade at Hillsborough. I will watch them closely. J.B. Park, Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding Post. ----- Franklin, October 2, 1864. Maj. B.H. Polk: Mr. J.H. White, of this place, talked with a brother in Forrest's command, at Hillsborough at 1 o'clock this p.m., and obtained this information: Forrest crossed Tennessee River with 10,000 troops and thirty cannon; destroyed railroad from Athens to Pulaski; went within twenty miles of Tullahoma; found the road so heavily garrisoned they came back to Lewisburg and divided forces, Forrest coming to Spring Hill and Buford going down the river to Columbia, where they were to form junc- p. 42 tion. I sent White out and consider this reliable; from other reliable sources he has destroyed every bridge and taken every block-house from Spring Hill to Duck River. There has been heavy cannonading at Columbia from 2 o'clock this p.m. till 4. He will try the Northwestern road, I think; he will not come back this way unless he wants to try Nashville, which he dares not do. J.B. Park, Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding Post. ----- Johnsonville, October 2, 1864. Maj. B.H. Polk, Assistant Adjutant-General: Biffle is reported to be on Buffalo Creek, about fifteen miles from here, 400 strong. Some detachments are crossing the river from West Tennessee, about twenty miles above. Do not think they can raise more than 1,000 to operate on this road independent of Forrest and Wheeler. Chas. R. Thompson, Colonel, &c. [my grandfather and one of his brothers were in Wheeler's brigade, another one was in Biffles. They were in Rock Island Prison at the time of these movements, however.- mm]