WAR DEPARTMENT,

Washington, September 19, 1864-9 p. m.

Major-General SHERMAN, Atlanta:

Your telegram of this date just received. * Lieutenant Coverdale has been appointed assistant quartermaster, with the rank of captain. The appointment will be forwarded to you. General Sheridan attacked Early this morning. A general engagement has been going on all day. At 1 o'clock Breckinridge, on the right, had been driven seven miles; on the left and center the enemy had been driven about three miles. The engagement is near Bunker Hill, between Martinsburg and Winchester. Draft commenced to-day in all the States.

EDWIN M. STANTON,

Secretary of War.

HDQRS. MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI,
In the Field, Atlanta, Ga., September 19, 1864.

Lieutenant General U. S. GRANT, City Point, Va.:

GENERAL: Your messenger has not yet arrived. Things remain statu quo. Most of the inhabitants are gone, and I am exchanging 2,000 prisoners with Hood on a special exchange, with the understanding that I get an equal number of my own men back whom I can put right away to duty. He raised the question of humanity, but I am not to be moved by such tricks of the enemy. I have taken high ground with Hood on purpose. A deserter just in says Stewart's corps is moving back to Macon with a view of going to Virginia. I have ordered one of my female scouts+ from New Orleans to Augusta, and will send some out from here and give you prompt notice of any of Hood's army going East. I can quickly bounce him out of Lovejoy's, but think him better there where I can watch him that farther off. I await the arrival of your messenger with impatience. All well, but large numbers of our men and officers are being discharged-time out-and we must have recruits.

W. T. SHERMAN,

Major-General, Commanding.

Weekly report of effective force of the Department of the Cumberland, Major General George H. Thomas, U. S. Army, commanding, for September 19, 1864.

Headquarters. Infantry.

Command Officer Men. Total. Officer Men. Total.

. s. s.

Reserve 3 15 18 19 561 580

Brigade

,

Colonel

H. Le

Favour.

11th . . . . . . . . . . . .

Indiana

Battery

,

Captain

A.

Suterme

ister.

58th . . . . . . 20 223 243

Indiana

Infantr

y,

Lieuten

ant

Colonel

Joseph

Moore.

Post 13 11 24 70 1,769 1,769

Chattan

ooga,

Colonel

T. R.

Stanley

.

14th U. . . . . . . 30 641 671

S.

Colored

Troops,

Colonel

Thomas

J.

Morgan.

16th U. . . . . . . 30 515 545

S.

Colored

Troops,

Colonel

William

B. Gaw.

Total. 16 26 42 169 3,639 3,808

Command. Officers. Men. Total.

Reserve Brigade, . . . . . .

Colonel H. Le

Favour.

11th Indiana . . . . . .

Battery, Captain

A. Sutermeister.

58th Indiana . . . . . .

Infantry,

Lieutenant Colonel

Joseph Moore.

Post Chattanooga, . . . . . .

Colonel T. R.

Stanley.

14th U. S. Colored . . . . . .

Troops, Colonel

Thomas J. Morgan.

16th U. S. Colored . . . . . .

Troops, Colonel

William B. Gaw.

Total. . . . . . .

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* Requesting "as a personal favor the appointment of Lieutenant R. T. Coverdale, Forty-eight Ohio Volunteers, as captain and assistant quartermaster of volunteers. "

+ Mrs. N. W. Meyer, under assumed name of Nora Winder.

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