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resistance at Shelbyvillewhich was somewhat protected by a spur of
low mountains or hills； offshoots of the Cumberland Mountains
decided to turn that place； consequently； he directed the mass of the
Union army on the enemy's right flank； about Manchester。
On the 26th of June McCook's corps advanced toward Liberty Gap； my
divisions marching on the Shelbyville pike。 I had proceeded but a
few miles when I encountered the enemy's pickets； who fell back to
Christiana； about nine miles from Murfreesboro'。 Here I was assailed
pretty wickedly by the enemy's sharpshooters and a section of
artillery； but as I was instructed to do nothing more than cover the
road from Eagleville； over which Brannan's division was to approach
Christiana； I made little reply to this severe annoyance； wishing to
conceal the strength of my force。 As soon as the head of Brannan's
column arrived I marched across…country to the left； and encamped
that night at the little town of Millersburg； in the vicinity of
Liberty Gap。 I was directed to move from Millersburg； on Hoover's
Gapa pass in the range of hills already referred to； through which
ran the turnpike from Murfreesboro' to Manchesterbut heavy rains
had made the country roads almost impassable； and the last of my
division did not reach Hoover's Gap till the morning of June 27；
after its abandonment by the enemy。 Continuing on to Fairfield； the
head of my column met； south of that place； a small force of
Confederate infantry and cavalry； which after a slight skirmish
Laiboldt's brigade drove back toward Wartrace。 The next morning I
arrived at Manchester； where I remained quiet for the day。 Early on
the 29th I marched by the Lynchburg road for Tullahoma； where the
enemy was believed to be in force； and came into position about six
miles from the town。
By the 31st the whole army had been concentrated； in spite of many
difficulties； and though； on account of the heavy rains that had
fallen almost incessantly since we left Murfreesboro'； its movements
had been slow and somewhat inaccurate； yet the precision with which
it took up a line of battle for an attack on Tullahoma showed that
forethought and study had been given to every detail。 The enemy had
determined to fall back from Tullahoma at the beginning of the
campaign； however； and as we advanced； his evacuation had so far
progressed that when； on July 1。 We reached the earthworks thrown。
up early in the year for the defense of the place； he had almost
wholly disappeared； carrying off all his stores and munitions of war
except some little subsistence and eleven pieces of artillery。 A
strong rearguard remained to cover the retreat； and on my front the
usual encounters between advancing and retreating forces took place。
Just before reaching the intrenchments on the Lynchburg road； I came
upon an open space that was covered by a network of fallen trees and
underbrush； which had been slashed all along in front of the enemy's
earthworks。 This made our progress very difficult； but I shortly
became satisfied that there were only a few of the enemy within the
works； so moving a battalion of cavalry that had joined me the day
before down the road as rapidly as the obstructions would permit； the
Confederate pickets quickly departed； and we gained possession of the
town。 Three siege guns； four caissons； a few stores； and a small
number of prisoners fell into my hands。
That same evening orders were issued to the army to push on from
Tullahoma in pursuit； for； as it was thought that we might not be
able to cross Elk River on account of its swollen condition； we could
do the enemy some damage by keeping close as possible at his heels。
I marched on the Winchester road at 3 o'clock on the 2d of July and
about 8 o'clock reached Elk River ford。 The stream was for the time
truly an impassable torrent； and all hope of crossing by the
Winchester ford had to be abandoned。 Deeming that further effort
should be made； however； under guidance of Card； I turned the head of
my column in the direction of Alisona； marching up the river and
nearly parallel with it till I came to Rock Creek。 With a little
delay we got across Rock Creek； which was also much swollen； and
finding a short distance above its mouth a ford on Elk River that
Card said was practicable； I determined to attempt it： Some of the
enemy's cavalry were guarding this ford； but after a sharp little
skirmish my battalion of cavalry crossed and took up a strong
position on the other bank。 The stream was very high and the current
very swift； the water ； tumbling along over its rocky bed in an
immense volume； but still it was fordable for infantry if means could
be devised by which the men could keep their feet。 A cable was
stretched across just below the ford as a lifeline for the weaker
ones； and then the men of the entire division having secured their
ammunition by placing the cartridge…boxes on their shoulders； the
column pushed cheerfully into the rushing current。 The men as they
entered the water joined each other in sets of four in a close
embrace； which enabled them to retain a foothold and successfully
resist the force of the flood。 When they were across I turned the
column down the left bank of Elk River； and driving the enemy from
some slight works near Estelle Springs； regained the Winchester road。
By this time it was clear that Bragg intended to fall back behind the
Tennessee River； and our only chance of accomplishing anything of
importance was to smash up his rear…guard before it crossed the
Cumberland Mountains； and in pursuance of this idea I was directed to
attack such of his force as was holding on to Winchester。 At 4
o'clock on the morning of July 2 I moved on that town； and when we
got close to it directed my mounted troops to charge a small force of
Confederate cavalry that was picketing their front。 The Confederates
resisted but little； and our men went with them in a disorderly chase
through the village to Boiling Fork； a small stream about half a mile
beyond。 Here the fleeing pickets； rallying behind a stronger force；
made a stand； and I was directed by McCook to delay till I
ascertained if Davis's division； which was to support me； had made
the crossing of Elk River； and until I could open up communication
with Brannan's division； which was to come in on my left at Decherd。
As soon as I learned that Davis was across I pushed on； but the delay
had permitted the enemy to pull his rear…guard up on the mountain；
and rendered nugatory all further efforts to hurt him materially； our
only returns consisting in forcing him to relinquish a small amount
of transportation and forage at the mouth of the pass just beyond
Cowan； a station on the line of the Nashville and Chattanooga
railroad。
At Cowan； Colonel Watkins； of the Sixth Kentucky Cavalry； reported to
me with twelve hundred mounted men。 Having heard during the night
that the enemy had halted on the mountain near the Universityan
educational establishment on the summitI directed Watkins to make a
reconnoissance and find out the value of the information。 He learned
that Wharton's brigade of cavalry was halted at the University to
cover a moderately large force of the enemy's infantry which had not
yet got down the mountain on the other side； so I pushed Watkins out
again on the 5th； supporting him by a brigade of infantry； which I
accompanied myself。 We were too late； however； for when we arrived
at the top of the mountain Wharton had disappeared； and though
Watkins pursued to Bridgeport； he was able to do nothing more； and on
his return reported that the last of the enemy had crossed the
Tennessee River and burned the railroad bridge。
Nothing further could now be done； so I instructed Watkins to rejoin
the division at Cowan； and being greatly fatigued by the hard
campaigning of the previous ten days； I concluded to go back to my
camp in a more comfortable way than on the back of my tired horse。
In his retreat the enemy had not disturbed the railway track at all；
and as we had captured a hand…car at Cowan； I thought I would have it
brought up to the station near the University to carry me down the
mountain to my camp； and； desiring company； I persuasively invited
Colonel Frank T。 Sherman to ride with me。 I sent for the car by a
courier； and for a long time patiently awaited its arrival； in fact；
until all the returning troops had passed us； but still it did not
come。 Thinking it somewhat risky to remain at the station without
protection； Sherman and myself started our horses to Cowan by our
orderlies； and set out on foot to meet the car； trudging along down
the track in momentary expectation of falling in with our private
conveyance。 We had not gone very far before night overtook us； and
we then began to realize the dangers surrounding us； for there we
were alone and helpless； tramping on in the darkness over an unknown