HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, Browns’ Mill Creek, Ga., June 3, 1864.
Major General W. T. SHERMAN,
Commanding Military Division of the Mississippi:
GENERAL: General Baird succeeded in advancing his lines within a short distance of the house he was firing at this morning, and has his skirmishers beyond. General Palmer’s chief engineer went into Acworth to-day about 11 a.m., capturing 1 or 2 of the enemy’s vedettes, whom they found there. He went by the Dallas and Allatoona road and the fork which passes the ford you directed me to have guarded to-day. He reports the road a pretty good one. He says the citizens told him that Hardee’s and Hood’s corps were withdrawing by the road to Big Shanty, which I believe is on the railroad a few miles north of Marietta. In compliance with your orders, a brigade from Butterfield’s division now guards the upper bridge and ford on Allatoona Creek, on the road to Acworth. Lieutenant Kelly reports his couriers attacked and driven in twice to-day – one, point on the old Burnt Hickory road between there and Pumpkin Vine Creek. He also reports that the rear guard of a train going to Burnt Hickory from some of the old camps was attacked. I have therefore ordered General Garrard to send two regiments of cavalry thoroughly to scout the country on our right and rear as far as the crossings of the Etowah River toward Kingston.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
GEO. H. THOMAS,
Major-General, Commanding.