HEADQUARTERS FOURTH ARMY CORPS, Two Miles and a Half South of Lynnville, December 24, 1864-5 p. m.

Brigadier-General WHIPPLE:

GENERAL: My leading division is just going into camp. We were not able to leave camp before 12 o'clock, on account of being delayed by the cavalry. We have marched sixteen miles and a half to-day. General Wilson is going into camp one mile and a half in advance. The march will be resumed in the morning as soon as the cavalry get out of the road for us. All information goes to show that the enemy is covering his retreat with seven brigades of infantry, commanded by Walthall, and Forrest's cavalry. The enemy's pontoon train camped twelve miles from Columbia Wednesday night, and left there Thursday morning. I hope we will yet be able to strike the enemy before he reaches the Tennessee River, provided we can be supplied with subsistence. I therefore respectfully urge that my wagons be allowed to move up, as we will be out of subsistence to-morrow night.

Very respectfully, &c.,
TH. J. WOOD,

Brigadier-General, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, McKane's Church, December 24,, 1864.

Brigadier General T. J. WOOD,

Commanding Fourth Army Corps:

GENERAL: Your dispatch of 5 p. m. this day received. The major-general commanding directs that you continue to push on,a nd that he will do everything in his power to get up your train and that of the cavalry.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

WM. D. WHIPPLE,

Brigadier-General and Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS FOURTH ARMY CORPS, Five Miles South of Columbia, Tenn., December 24, 1864-7 a. m.

Orders of the day for the Fourth Corps for to-day, December 24:

The corps will move as soon as the cavalry passes-General Elliott will lead; General Beatty will follow; then General Kimball. One battery will accompany each division. The same order for the movement of transportation observed yesterday will be observed to-day, and hereafter until otherwise ordered.

By order of Brigadier-General Wood:

J. S. FULLERTON,
Lieutenant-Colonel and Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, December 24, 1864.

Major General J. LM. SCHOFIELD,

Commanding Department of the Ohio:

GENERAL: The major-general commanding directs that you move a brigade of your command into Columbia at once, to act as temporary