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d to free； for a time at least； Tennessee from the control of the Federal forces。
With the start thus made by both commands for Chattanooga； everything was in favor of Bragg； whose movements were unimpeded； as his route was south of the Tennessee； through his own territory； with his lines of communication open when he arrived at that place。 With Buell； the repairs of the railroad retarded his progress； and the advance weakened his command by the increased number of detachments required to guard his line as it lengthened。
McCook's and Crittenden's commands were started eastward； the first from Corinth； and the latter from Booneville。 McCook reached Florence on the 15th of June； where ferryboats had been provided by Mitchel for the crossing of his division。 A delay was occasioned here by the report that Nelson had been attacked； but this was found to be false； and； on the 26th； the divisions of McCook； Crittenden； and Nelson crossed； and started at once for Athens； which place they reached on the 29th。 On the same day Buell established his headquarters at Huntsville； Ala。； and gave personal supervision to the repair of the railroads； now extremely urgent。 He placed his troops by division upon the different sections of the line； under orders to push repairs with all possible expedition。 These troops； as repairs were made； advanced from time to time； concentrating on the line of the Nashville and Chattanooga road。 The repairs to this railroad were completed on July 28th； and on the Nashville and Decatur road on August 3d。 During the latter part of July the last division of Buell's army； under Thomas； crossed the Tennessee River； being relievedon the line of the Memphis and Charleston Railroadby troops from Grant's army。 Thomas established his headquarters at Dechard。 It was on this march with his brigade that General Robert L。 McCook was murdered by guerillas。 He was riding in an ambulance； ill at the time； and unarmed。
Nelson's division had been sent to Murfreesboro about the middle of July； to drive Forrest； who； with his cavalry； on the 13th； attacked the Federal garrison in the town。 The post was under the command of General T。 L。 Crittenden； and the troops composting the Twenty…third Brigade were under the command of Colonel Duffield。 There was； unfortunately； a disagreement between the ranking officers at the post that led to the most unfortunate results。 Colonel Lester； of the Third Minnesota； during the absence of Duffield； commanding the brigade； had； by reason of the unpleasant relations existing between portions of the command； widely distributed them in different parts of the town。 On the return of Crittenden and Duffield on July 11th； neither of them assumed command； and their dignity； thinking more of their own personal importance than the good of the service。 With no one in command； there was no unity or proper 〃esprit de corps〃 among the troops； and no disposition for defence when Forrest made his attack。 the latter had advanced through McMinnville from Chattanooga； with about two thousand men； and arrived at Murfreesboro about five o'clock on the morning of the 13th； captured the pickets； and made disposition of his forces for immediate attack。 Forming his entire command into columns of fours； with the Eighth Texas in front； Forrest moved forward on a trot until he reached the Federal encampments； which Colonel Wharton； with two regiments； charged。 The Second Georgia dashed into the town； captured the provost guard and all Federal officers and men on the streets； seized and secured the supplies。
Major Smith with the Kentucky troops was sent to the rear of the Federal command to cut off the retreat。 The Texans charged into the camp of the Ninth Michigan； and reaching the tents； roused some of the men from sleep。 A portion of that regiment； however； rallied by the officers； made a handsome stand and drove the Texans off。 Duffield was wounded while rallying his men。 The Second Georgia charged into the public square and surrounded the Court House； occupied by a company of the Ninth Michigan； who twice repulsed the attacking force。 Reinforcements being brought forward； the doors of the building were battered down and the company was forced to surrender。 Forrest now attacked the Third Minnesota on the east bank of Stone's River； about a mile and a half from town； which had just left their camp to join the force in the town； when Forrest with three regiments moved to the attack。
Colonel Lester formed his command in line of battle； with nine companies of infantry and four pieces of artillery； and opened fire on the rebels as they advanced。 Forrest attempting to get to the rear of his force； encountered the camp guard of some hundred men left by Lester to protect his camp； posted behind a strong barricade of wagons and some large ledges of rocks； difficult to carry。 Forrest at once ordered a charge which was twice made and repulsed。 Leading his men the third time； he succeeded in driving the guard from their position to the main command； posted some six hundred yards away。 It was now one o'clock； and beyond the skirmishes between the commands but little had been accomplished。
Forrest's officers urged him to withdraw with the results obtained up to that time。 This he refused to do； and made disposition of his command for further attack on the Federal forces occupying the camp of the Ninth Michigan； which consisted of this regiment and a company of the Second Kentucky cavalry。 He dismounted two of his regiments and threw forward skirmishers； directed them to open brisk firing； and sent the Second Georgia dismounted to attack on the left。 After this he brought up the Eighth Texas and placed them in position to charge on the left。
Having made this disposition of his forces； he sent forward； under a flag of truce； a written demand for the surrender of Duffield's command； which was complied with at once。 After this； Forrest demanded the surrender of the Third Minnesota； which Lester； after an interview with Duffield and a consultation with his own officers； made； surrendering some five hundred infantry of his regiment and two sections of Hewitt's battery of artillery。 The entire forces surrendered were seventeen hundred troops with four pieces of artillery。 Forrest captured about six hundred horses and mules； and a very large quantity of stores and Government supplies； part of which he carried away and the rest he destroyed； to the value of nearly a million of dollars。
This loss occurred the day after the opening of the road from Nashville south； and very seriously interfered with the movements at the front。 Nelson endeavored to intercept Forest； but could not successfully 〃chase cavalry with infantry。〃 Forrest on Nelson's approach withdrew to McMinnville； and from there made a dash on Lebanon； some fifty miles distant； where he expected to find a force of five hundred Federal cavalry。 This force escaped him； and he then swept around to the south of Nashville； captured 150 bridge guards and burned four bridges。 Learning that Nelson was again in pursuit of him； Forrest returned to McMinnville。
From this point he made repeated raids on the line of road south of Nashville； leaving Morgan to operate against the Louisville and Nashville Railroad。 These raiders were able to move almost without opposition； as Buell was without sufficient cavalry to cope with them。 The latter had been compelled to divide his cavalry into small bands to run down the guerillas that had been operating on his line of railroad。 Now that Forrest's and Morgan's commands had become so formidable； he was compelled to organize his cavalry into united bodies for better defensive movements against these raiders。 The Second Indiana； Fourth and Fifth Kentucky； and Seventh Pennsylvania cavalry regiments he formed into one brigade； and on August 11th； he sent it under General R。 W。 Johnson against Morgan； who had been ordered by Bragg to break the railroad between Louisville and Nashville； in order to retard Buell's movement north to Louisville as much as possible； and who was operating about Gallatin； Tennessee； which he had captured with 200 prisoners。 Colonel Boone was in command of the Federal forces at this point。 Morgan hearing that Boone slept in the town away from the camp； sent a small force to capture him； which was done； just as he had dressed and was starting to camp。 Morgan then destroyed a railroad bridge south of Gallatin； and the tunnel six miles north； the roof of which was supported with large beams on upright timbers。 Running some freight cars into the tunnel； they were set on fire and some eight hundred feet of it destroyed； the roof caving in。
Johnson sought to attack Morgan before he could unite with Forrest； who was on his Lebanon raid at that time； but Morgan hearing that Johnson had infantry and artillery supports； endeavored to avoid an engagement。 Johnson forced the fight； engaged Morgan with spirit； and although repulsed three times； after the first and second repulse formed promptly and renewed the attack。 After the third repulse the Federal forces commenced retreating； when Morgan followed； attacked Johnson's retreating forces and drove the Federals some three miles。 Johnson ref