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PITTS' MILL, near Gordon, GA., November 21, 1864.

Major General W. T. SHERMAN,

Commanding Military Division of the Mississippi:

We have reached Gordon with the head of the column. Giles Smith's division is in camp there to-night; Wood's division is also on the railroad, about five miles nearer Macon, and Hazen's division within supporting distance; Mower's and Leggett's divisions are near the Macon and Milledgeville wagon roads; Corse, with the bridge train and the trains belonging to Kilpatrick, is yet between Clinton and Hillsborough. To-morrow I will have everything substantially at Gordon. Our marches at first, until we reached the Ocmulgee, were very pleasant, having good roads and good Weather. Since then our roads have been very heavy, and the rain continuous. We have found the country full of provisions, and thus far have drawn very little upon our rations. We have destroyed a large amount of cotton, the Planters' Factory, a pistol factory and a mill at Griswold, the latter three by General Kilpatrick. I will inclose you General Kilpatrick's dispatches, so as to show you what he has been doing; also, dispatches captured at Gordon. His headquarters are to-night at Griswold, and he is covering the approaches from Macon. The mayor of Milledgeville surrendered the town formally to Captain Duncan and a few scouts. Afterward, a company of the First Alabama Cavalry entered the town with Captain Duncan and destroyed the depot and some 75 or 100 boxes of ammunition and telegraph office. We have found quite a number of mules and horses, and been able to replace our poor ones and those that were broken down; our herds, too, have increased rather than diminished.

My information yet as to the strength of the force at Macon is indefinite; there is, however, considerable cavalry on this side of the river (Ocmulgee), supported by infantry and some artillery. The arrival of some troops from Savannah, and the drawing back of some 2,000 or 3,000 militia from Griffin, has been reported. Beauregard, Hardee, and Johnston were reported in Macon. Beauregard assured the people in a speech yesterday that he had us now just where he wanted us. From all quarters he seems to have already collected from 10,000 to 15,000 men. Rebel rumors place you at Eatonton. I shall expect further orders from you at Gordon to-morrow.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

O. O. HOWARD,

Major-General.