"Office Chief-of-Staff, August 31st, 1864—6 P. M.
"Lieutenant-General Hardee, Commanding, &c.:
"General Hood directs that you return Lee's corps to this place. Let it march by two o'clock to-morrow morning. Remain with your corps and the cavalry, and so dispose of your forces as best to protect Macon and communications in rear. Retain provision and ordnance trains. Please return Reynolds' brigade, and, if you think you can do so and still accomplish your object, send back a brigade or so of your corps also. There are some indications that the enemy may make an attempt upon Atlanta to-morrow.
"Very respectfully, &c.,
"Duplicate of dispatch sent at six P. M.:
"Office Chief-of-Staff, August 31, 1864.
"Lieutenant-General Hardee, Commanding Corps:
"General Hood directs that you return Lee's corps to this place. Let it march by two o'clock to-morrow morning. Remain with your corps and the cavalry, and so dispose of your force as to best protect the Macon Railroad and communications in rear, and retain provision and ordnance trains. Please return Reynolds' brigade. Should Lee have been badly cut up to-day, and you think you can spare them, send back some of the troops of your own corps. There are indications that the enemy may make an attempt on Atlanta to-morrow.
"Very respectfully, &c.,"
"Enemy at Rough-and-Ready in considerable force. Morgan thinks that they will attack Eastpoint early to-morrow. Send back Lieutenant-Colonel McMicken, Chief Quartermaster.
" Respectfully, &c.,
General Hood, fifteen years later, states his plan of operations on this occasion, at page 205 of the text, as follows:
A Federal corps crossed Flint river, at about six P. M., near Jonesboro', and made an attack on Lewis' brigade, which was gallantly repulsed. This action became the signal for battle. General Hardee was instructed to move rapidly with his corps to Jonesboro', whither Lieutenant-General Lee with his corps was ordered to follow during the night. Hardee was to attack with the entire
