Hdqrs. Third Division, Fourteenth Army Corps, Jonesborough, Ga., September 7, 1864.
Captain: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part performed by this division in the campaign which began with the movement of the army from Chattanooga, Tenn., in May last, and terminated with the capture of Atlanta, Ga., on the 1st instant:
On the 22d of February this division marched from Chattanooga, together with the other two divisions of the corps, to Tunnel Hill and Buzzard Roost Gap, for the purpose of making a reconnaissance of the enemy's position in front of Dalton, and having ascertained by feeling him closely for two days that his army was still there in force, strongly posted and fortified, we withdrew upon the night of the 26th to Ringgold, where this division took post, the remainder of the troops being removed to other points.
From February until May the division continued to occupy that place as the extreme advance post of the army.
Our pickets and those of the enemy were always in close proximity, and affairs of minor importance between them were of constant occurrence.
On two occasions, reconnoitering parties of large force were sent as far as Tunnel Hill, both of which were highly successful, and chiefly useful in inspiring our cavalry with greater confidence in their superiority over that of the enemy.
In each of these expeditions Brigadier-General Kilpatrick, whose division of cavalry was placed under my charge, commanded the cavalry, and Col. F. Van Derveer, of the Thirtyfifth Ohio, an infantry brigade.
Both of these officers displayed on these occasions the high soldierly qualities for which they are known, energy and boldness, guided by the coolest judgment.
During the interval from the 1st to the 6th of May the divisions and corps of the Army of the Cumberland were concentrated about Ringgold, the Army of the Ohio taking a position on our left, and the Army of the Tennessee a line of march passing to our right.
My division was at that time constituted as follows:
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