To Jno Cravens From HP VanClese Sept 15 1864

              Major Jno. O. Cravens 

	A. A. G. 

				Major: 

							I have the honor to submit the following  
report of the operations of this command during the recent raid of the rebel Gen. Wheeler. 
On the 26th ult . it was reported that Wheeler was approaching this point by way of Sparta,  
with a force of about ten thousand men and artillery.  I immediately had the roads  
picketed with the few mounted infantry I have.  One detachment being ordered as far as Wood- 
bury.  I directed all Quartermaster, Commissary, and hospital stores to be removed to  
the fortifications for security.  All sick and wounded that required medical attendance  
to be removed to Hospital No. 1 that is in view from the fortress.  All hospital  
patients that could handle arms to be held in readiness to go to the fortifications, there  
to be armed for it’s defense.  All citizens who had taken the oath of allegiance and capa- 
ble of bearing arms to be enrolled for that purpose, to teach them the definition of loyalty. 
Non-combatants were ordered to be in readiness to leave the town in case Wheeler’s force  
should enter as it was my intention in that event to shell the town. 


	On the 30th my pickets at Woodbury were driven in by Wheeler’s advance guard  
and the above instructions were carried out and everything put in readiness to give him a  
proper reception.  He avoided this post, keeping to the north, driving in my pickets  
that were on the Sibaran road at the Jefferson Crossing. 


	On the 31st he commenced tearing up the rail road between this and Nashville. 
In a space of about fifteen miles a considerable portion of the rails were torn up, ties  
and cordwood burned.  Only one bridge was destroyed, that at Stewart’s Creek.