April 2, 1864 – Confederate cavalry reconnaissance and demonstration near Ducktown, Spring Place, Charleston and Cleveland

HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Office Chief Com. Sub., Chattanooga, Tenn., April 12, 1864.

HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Chattanooga, Tenn., May 2, 1864.

COL.: I have the honor to report the operations of my command for the month of April as follows, viz.,:

On the 2d instant a force of rebels, said to be 1,500 strong, made a demonstration in the direction of Cleveland and Charleston, E. Tenn., approaching to within 8 miles of Cleveland, when they divided into parties; one going out in the direction of Ducktown, through the mountains, the other remaining and falling back toward Dalton on the appearance of a force of our cavalry sent out from Cleveland in command of Col. LaGrange, of the First Wisconsin.

A scout, who arrived at Cleveland on the 3d, reported that the above movement on the part of the enemy was for the purpose of covering the approach of a force from Longstreet’s army which was on its way to re-enforce Johnston by way of Murphy, N. C. This was afterward ascertained to be Martin’s division of cavalry.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

GEO. H. THOMAS, Maj.-Gen., U. S. Volunteers, Cmdg.

OR, Ser. I, Vol. 32, pt. I, p. 18.

LOUDON, April 2, 1864.

Maj.-Gen. SCHOFIELD:

Gen. Stanley reports that a large force rebel cavalry was seen 8 miles east of Cleveland this morning at sunrise moving in the direction of Charleston. The commanding officer at that post is on the alert.

G. GRANGER, Maj.-Gen.

OR, Ser. I, Vol. 32, pt. III, p. 226.

CHATTANOOGA, April 3, 1864—9 p. m.

Maj.-Gen. SHERMAN, Nashville:

Your dispatch of yesterday received. Will watch Johnston as close as possible, but shall only feel perfectly safe when I can get my troops back from East Tennessee.

My outposts report no movements of the enemy, except a reconnaissance on the Spring Place and Cleveland road yesterday, which resulted in nothing.