of our line near here and upon General McPherson will prevent. In the man time you must do the best you can with the troops at your disposal. General Cruft's brigade has been placed at your disposal in case of necessity.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

WM. D. WHIPPLE,

Brigadier-General and Chief of Staff.

HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Raper's Creek, Ga., May 30, 1864-6.30 a.m.

Major General J. M. PALMER,
Commanding Fourteenth Corps:

GENERAL: Your dispatch received. The major-general commanding says that if he can possibly get hold of Davis' division to-day he will send it to you, when all will be safe. As things are now he cannot at present. In the mean time you and General Stoneman must to the best you can.

Yours, very respectfully,

WM. D. WHIPPLE,

Brigadier-General and Chief of Staff.

HEADQUARTERS FOURTEENTH ARMY CORPS, DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, In the Field, May 30, 1864.

Major General GEORGE H. THOMAS:

I am now with General Stoneman, and he says you know the importance of this position, and if you wish it held at all hazards you must send troops to do it. He will hold as long as men are capable of doing it. I have reported your order, to Cruft, and said to him that Cruft is subject to his orders. He says he knows nothing of the indication of attack, expect what has been going on for the last forty-eight hours. As yet he has been attacked only by a strong line of skirmishers. He says he will not call on Cruft or anybody else unless the indications of an attack are stronger than he has yet seen. He cannot tell what force is there until he is driven in.

Respectfully,
JOHN M. PALMER,

Major-General, Commanding.

HDQRS. SECOND DIVISION, FOURTEENTH ARMY CORPS, Near Dallas, Ga., May 30, 1864.

Captain R. H. RAMSEY,

Assistant Adjutant-General, Dept.of the Cumberland:

CAPTAIN: In reply to the commanding general's inquiries, I have the honor to reply that General Sherman is now here, examining McPherson's and my lines, and says he does not think I shall be able, under the circumstances, to join the corps before to-morrow. It is a difficult thing to extricate ourselves from these positions without being attacked while withdrawing. We have made two efforts, night before last and