NASHVILLE, November 18, 1864-9.45 a. m.

Colonel W. W. WRIGHT,

Chief Engineer, Department of the Cumberland, Chattanooga:

All the spare force you have I wish you to employ in and about Chattanooga, for the present, in repairing and completing the platforms and other necessary work. I will give you timely notice when you can work on the road north from Athens.

GEO. H. THOMAS,

Major-General, U. S. Volunteers, Commanding.

NASHVILLE, TENN., November 18, 1864-9.30 p. m.

Major General H. W. HALLECK,

Washington, D. C.:

The following dispatch is just received:

KNOXVILLE, TENN., November 18, 1864.

Our troops ar eon their way to the Plains. The enemy has gone to the other side of the river.

J. AMMEN,

Brigadier-General.

Re-enforcements sent by General Steedman from Chattanooga have all reached Knoxville. The following dispatch just received from General Hatch is forwarded for you information:

NEAR BOUGH'S MILLS, November 17-10 p. m.

Major-General THOMAS:

No advance of the enemy to-day. I am under the impression the rafts we launched last night made a hole in his pontoons. The enemy attempted foraging on Shoal Creek to-day. Sent out quite a strong party, which was driven back, with a loss of some of his horses and arms.

EDWARD HATCH,

Brigadier-General.

It has been raining constantly for nearly two days and the roads are nearly impassable.

GEO. H. THOMAS,

Major-General, U. S. Volunteers, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND,
Nashville, November 18, 1864.

Brigadier-General AMMEN,

Knoxville:

How do matters stand with you to day? Give me as full a report as you can.

GEO. H. THOMAS,

Major-General, U. S. Volunteers, Commanding.

KNOXVILLE, November 18, 1864-12 m.

Major-General THOMAS:

Yesterday at sunrise the enemy attacked Strawberry Plains with four pieces of artillery placed on the opposite side of the river, supported by infantry force estimated at 1,000. A cavalry force, supposed