enemy toward Fairfield; McCook to begin an advance by Liberty Gap; Stanley with his cavalry to occupy the enemy's attention at Fosterville; and Granger to support him at Christiana. Should Thomas succeed, and find the enemy retreating toward Wartrace, he was to cover that road with a division, and move with the remainder of his troops rapidly on Manchester; McCook to move in and take his place at Beech Grove, holding Liberty Gap with a division, and finally withdrawing that and following Thomas to Manchester.

On the 25th, Thomas confronted Stewart all day; but incessant' rain delayed the arrival of Brannan to join his corps, and Thomas did not drive Stewart from his position, and could not, therefore, support McCook.2 Rosecrans had full possession of both passes; Thomas had clearly turned Bragg's right flank; but if McCook should advance from Liberty Gap, he might be exposed to the attack of all Bragg's army. The heavy rains3 continued throughout the campaign. On the 26th Thomas with three divisions drove Stewart to Fairfield. Reynolds and the baggage moved forward during the night to Manchester. In the evening, 4 McCook received orders to withdraw quickly and march upon Hoover's Gap.

On the same day Bragg at Shelbyville 5 having learned I 34 R., 406.

In the morning, Cleburne advanced (34 R., 587) Wood's brigade to Bellbuckle. Liddell took up a position at the outlet of Liberty Gap, about a mile south of the gorge. McCook sent two (34 R., 466) brigades of Davis's division into the Gap to support Johnson. Nothing of a serious nature occurred here until 4 P.M. when Liddell (34 R., 589) thinking that the enemy was going back, advanced his skirmishers to feel him, and so brought on a spirited engagement, from which after an hour or two he thought it prudent to withdraw.

3 34 R., 466.

4 34 R., 466.

5 34 R., 618.

of Rosecrans's advance, and that Stewart's right had been turned, and that a movement to Tullahoma had become imperative, ordered Polk1 and Hardee to move their commands there early the next morning.

Moves to
Manchester.

2

On the 27th, Rosecrans, satisfied that Bragg must leave his intrenched position at Shelbyville, and that he must expect him at Tullahoma, only twelve miles distant, thought it necessary to close up his columns on Manchester, and prepare for the contest. Meanwhile, he sent Wilder's brigade of mounted infantry to cut, if possible, the railroad in Bragg's rear. Thomas's corps reached Manchester by night. McCook got half-way through Hoover's Gap. Crittenden was delayed all day by the mud.

moves to

3

At midnight of the 27th, Hardee's corps was at Tullahoma, and Polk's was coming in from Shelbyville. Wheeler had been left with his cavalry Bragg to cover Polk's retreat; but it was not an easy Tullahoma. task; for Stanley's cavalry, supported by Granger's infantry and acting under his general directions, had attacked Wheeler's cavalry and artillery at Guy's Gap and driven them to the town. There they made another stand but were pressed in confusion into the river. Many were killed and drowned, and

Shelbyville, with large numbers of prisoners, a quantity of arms and commissary stores, were [says Rosecrans] the crowning results of the cavalry operations that day. It is worthy of note that the waving of flags and cheers of welcome from the inhabitants of this impregnable stronghold of loyalty doubtless gave added vigor and energy to the advance of our troops.

I

1 34 R., 587, 608.

2

* 34 R., 406.

3 34 R., 407.