HEADQUARTERS MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI,
In the Field, December 12, 1864 - 7 p. m.

Major General W. T. SHERMAN,

Commanding, &c.:

DEAR GENERAL: I send you a couple of letters* from Wheeler to Kilpatrick, from which you may draw inferences as to the former's whereabouts. The officer who brought them was sent off again, and told if there was any answer we would find some way of communicating to Genera Wheeler. Some of his escort told our men he or they belonged to Ross. I will inform Generals Slocum and Davis -could have sent these earlier had I not expected you. Captain Audenried has just arrived, and yours to General Slocum has been sent. The firing we heard before you left this morning was by his battery on the river and the enemy's gun-boats-two of them and a transport (naval) tried to go down the river, but the battery disabled and captured the latter and drove the former back. He got some 25 Confederate naval men and officers, and some few stores. A few hours' work will repair the steamer.

I am, General, yours, &c.,

L. M. DAYTON,

Aide-de-Camp.

HDQRS. MILITARY DIVISION OF THE MISSISSIPPI,
In the Field, December 12, 1864.

Mr. R. R. Cuyler and brother, who were captured with a train on the Gulf railroad, having given their word of honor not to divulge anything they may have learned while in the hands of this army, are permitted to proceed to King's Bridge, on the Ogeechee, and thence to their residence at Numbers 2 1/2 on the Gulf railroad, or to Macon, GA.

By order of Major General W. T. Sherman:

L. M. DAYTON,

Aide-de-Camp.

SPECIAL HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT AND FIELD ORDERS,
ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE, Numbers 193. Little Ogeechee, near Savannah, December 12, 1864.

As soon as King's Bridge is completed Major-General Osterhaus, commanding Fifteenth Army Corps, will direct his Second Division, Brigadier-General Hazen commanding, to proceed against Fort McAllister and take it.

By order of Major General O. O. Howard:

SAML. L. TAGGART,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

HDQRS. DEPARTMENT AND ARMY OF THE TENNESSEE,
Little Ogeechee, near Savannah, GA., December 12, 1864.

Major General P. JOS. OSTERHAUS,

Commanding Fifteenth Army Corps:

The major-General commanding directs me to say that he wishes you, if you have not already done so, to give instructions to such of your troops as are fronting the enemy to throw up a light work, even if it

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* See pp. 690, 691.

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