HDQRS. FIRST Brigadier, CAV. COMMAND, DEPT. OF THE OHIO,
Sunday, July 31, 1864.
Major J. A. CAMPBELL,
Assistant Adjutant-General, Army of the Ohio:
I have the honor to report that the most through and careful investigation of all the news and reports among the citizens of Decatur has satisfied me that there was a fight of no great importance with the rear of Stoneman’s column near Flat Rock, but further than that I do not consider the reports to be entirely reliable. they are all founded on the report brought to a Mrs. Smith by a rebel patrol, Tom Jones, who told her that things were going badly; that Stoneman had left a small force to hold them in check at Flat Rock and had gone across to Jonesborough and destroyed the road for ten miles, and was going on down toward Macon, destroying the road, that on Wednesday the troops in Atlanta had been allowed to plunder the stores and take all the liquors and goods.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
ISRAEL GARRARD,
Colonel Seventh Ohio Vol. Cavalry, Commanding Brigade.
There was a vedette (rebel) near the town as we entered it, and while there, some three hours, some ten or twelve showed themselves on the far side of some old fields half a mile beyond our picket. They left when fired on.
I. G.