Numbers 414.
Reports of Lieutenant Colonel Robert Klein, Third Indiana Cavalry, commanding First Brigade, of operations August 18-20 (Kilpatrick’s raid).

HDQRS. FIRST BRIGADE, THIRD CAVALRY DIVISION,
Sandtown, August 21, 1864.
SIR: I have the honor to report that my understanding with General Kilpatrick was that he would cross the West Point railroad not far from East Point, and strike the Macon railroad near Chapman’s, taking down the railroad to Griffin, where I was to meet him.
I left with my command, 292 men (General Kilpatrick with the remainder of the cavalry force at Stevens, seven miles from Fairburn), at 11.30 p. m. of the 18th. I reached Fairburn at 1.30 a. m. 19th, Fayetteville at 9 a. m., and Bear Creek Station, nine miles above Griffin, at 11 a. m. Four miles above Bear Creek Station, at Lovejoy’s, I was driven back at 4.30 p. m. 19th, after having torn up portions of 3 miles of track and 3 miles of telegraph, captured 2 trains of cars, burned 1, and was driven from the other by the guard and Ferguson’s cavalry. I could learn nothing of General Kilpatrick’s force from either the conductor of the captured train from East Point or from some prisoners captured from Ferguson’s brigade of cavalry which had left a point between Atlanta and Decatur at daylight of the 19th.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
ROBERT KLEIN,
Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding.
Brigadier General W. D. WHIPPLE,
Assistant Adjutant-General.