HEADQUARTERS SECOND CAVALRY DIVSIONI,
May 20, 1864.
Major-General SHERMAN, Commanding Army:
GENERAL: The force I sent across the river at this point proceeded without opposition to the mill near the mouth of the Euharlee, crossed that stream on a good bridge, and about half a mile further found a good bridge over the Etowah. They encountered no rebel pickets, but captured 5 prisoners. The Euharlee is fordable, but the road leads over a bridge. No trains or troops seem to have passed on this route. The bridge over the Etowah is where the road from Cartersville crosses the river. I will send a battalion upon this side to-morrow and find out how near this bridge the rebel pickets stand. It may be best not to attract attention too much to this point, if you intend to use the bridge; but if the crossing at that point is essential, it might be well to take some measures to guard it. Up the river toward Cartersville a large smoke was seen, and the citizens thought it either the railroad bridge or the iron-works. There are two good fords between this bridge, where I am encamped, and the one on the line of the Fifteenth Corps, down the river.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Brigadier General Kenner Garrard,
Brigadier-General Commanding.

The saltpeter works were destroyed by our troops.