OCTOBER 20-29, 1863.-Operations on the Memphis and Charleston Railroad.

SUMMARY OF THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS.

October 20, 1863.-Skirmishes at Barton's and Dickson's Stations and

Cane Creek, Ala.

21, 1863.-Action at Cherokee Station, Ala.

26, 1863.-Skrimishes near Cane Creek and at Barton's Station, Ala.

27, 1863.-Skirmish at Little Bear Creek, Ala.

29, 1863.-Skirmish at Cherokee Station, Ala.

REPORTS.

No. 1.-Maj. General William T. Sherman, U. S. Army, commanding Fifteenth Army Corps, of skirmish at Barton's Station, October 20.

No. 2.-Brig. General Peter J. Osterhaus, U. S. Army, commanding First Division, including operations October 20-November 4.

No. 3.-Brig. General Charles R. Woods, U. S. Army, commanding First Brigade, of skirmishes near Cane Creek and at Barton's Station, October 26.

No. 4.-Lieutenant Colonel David J. Palmer, Twenty-fifth Iowa Infantry, Second Brigade, of action at Cherokee Station.

No. 5.-Colonel George A. Stone, Twenty-fifth Iowa Infantry, of skirmishes October 26-27.

No. 6.-Maj. General Stephen D. Lee, C. S. Army, commanding Confederate Cavalry in Mississippi.

No. 1.

Report of Maj. General William T. Sherman, U. S. Army, commanding Fifteenth Army Corps, of skirmish at Barton's Station, October 20.

MEMPHIS, Tennessee, October 21, 1863. (Received 8.40 p.m.,23d.)

Major-General HALLECK:

General Sherman telegraphs from Brear Creek:

IUKA, October 21, 1863.

My advance found Forrest's Cavalry, 400 strong, at Barton's Station, and whipped them handsomely yesterday, killing 2 and taking 9 prisoners. Our loss, 1 killed and 3 wounded slightly-all of the Fifth Ohio Cavalry, which acted most handsomely. The Tennessee River is up 8 feet on the shoals. I must cross over to communicate with Nashville and Chattanooga, and must have a steam ferry-boat. I will keep a regiment at Eastport. Wheeler, 10,000 strong, is near Decatur. I hope he will oppose my advance, but think he will swing up on my flank. My advance is at Cane Creek.

SHERMAN.

I send by this boat dispatch to Porter and Colonel Allen for a ferry-boat to be sent up, and hope it may be hurried forward; otherwise, after crossing, Sherman will be beyond reach of supplies, of which he has now fifteen days' on wagon train.

S. A. HURLBUT,

Major-General.

(Copy to General Grant.)

No. 2.

Reports of Brig. General Peter J. Osterhaus, U. S. Army, commanding First Division, including operations October 20-November 4.

HDQRS. FIRST DIV., FIFTEENTH ARMY CORPS,
Cherokee, Ala., October 20, 1863.

GENERAL: I have the honor to report that my advance to-day found the rebel pickets near Dickson's Station, and drove them for