） had been ordered up to Memphis； and that I should take that division and leave one of my own in its stead； to hold the line of the Big Black。 I detailed my third division （General Tuttle） to remain and report to Major… General McPherson； commanding the Seventeenth Corps； at Vicksburg； and that of General John E。 Smith； already started for Memphis； was styled the Third Division； Fifteenth Corps； though it still belongs to the Seventeenth Army Corps。 This division is also composed of three brigades； commanded by General Matthias； Colonel J。 B。 Raum （of the Fifty…sixth Illinois）； and Colonel J。 I。 Alexander （of the Fifty…ninth Indiana）。
The Second and Fourth Divisions were started for Vicksburg the moment I was notified that boats were in readiness； and on the 27th of September I embarked in person in the steamer Atlantic； for Memphis； followed by a fleet of boats conveying these two divisions。 Our progress was slow； on account of the unprecedentedly low water in the Mississippi； and the scarcity of coal and wood。 We were compelled at places to gather fence…rails； and to land wagons and haul wood from the interior to the boats； but I reached Memphis during the night of the 2d of October； and the other boats came in on the 3d and 4th。
On arrival at Memphis I saw General Hurlbut； and read all the dispatches and letters of instruction of General Halleck； and therein derived my instructions； which I construed to be as follows：
To conduct the Fifteenth Army Corps； and all other troops which could be spared from the line of the Memphis & Charleston Railroad； to Athens； Alabama； and thence report by letter for orders to General Rosecrans； commanding the Army of the Cumberland； at Chattanooga； to follow substantially the railroad eastward； repairing it as I moved； to look to my own line for supplies； and in no event to depend on General Rosecrans for supplies； as the roads to his rear were already overtaxed to supply his present army。
I learned from General Hurlbut that General Osterhaus's division was already out in front of Corinth； and that General John E。 Smith was still at Memphis； moving his troops and material by railroad as fast as its limited stock would carry them。 General J。 D。 Webster was superintendent of the railroad； and was enjoined to work night and day； and to expedite the movement as rapidly as possible； but the capacity of the road was so small； that I soon saw that I could move horses； mules； and wagons faster by land； and therefore I dispatched the artillery and wagons by the road under escort； and finally moved the entire Fourth Division by land。
The enemy seems to have had early notice of this movement； and he endeavored to thwart us from the start。 A considerable force assembled in a threatening attitude at Salem； south of Salisbury Station； and General Carr； who commanded at Corinth； felt compelled to turn back and use a part of my troops； that had already reached Corinth； to resist the threatened attack。
On Sunday； October 11th； having put in motion my whole force； I started myself for Corinth； in a special train； with the battalion of the Thirteenth United States Regulars as escort。 We reached Collierville Station about noon； just in time to take part in the defense made of that station by Colonel D。 C。 Anthony； of the Sixty…sixth Indiana； against an attack made by General Chalmers with a force of about three thousand cavalry； with eight pieces of artillery。 He was beaten off； the damage to the road repaired； and we resumed our journey the next day； reaching Corinth at night。
I immediately ordered General Blair forward to Iuka； with the First Division； and； as fast as I got troops up； pushed them forward of Bear Creek； the bridge of which was completely destroyed； and an engineer regiment； under command of Colonel Flag； was engaged in its repairs。
Quite a considerable force of the enemy was assembled in our front； near Tuscumbia； to resist our advance。 It was commanded by General Stephen D。 Lee； and composed of Roddy's and Ferguson's brigades； with irregular cavalry； amounting in the aggregate to about five thousand。
In person I moved from Corinth to Burnsville on the 18th； and to Iuka on the 19th of October。
Osterhaus's division was in the advance； constantly skirmishing with the enemy； he was supported by General Morgan L。 Smith's； both divisions under the general command of Major…General Blair。 General John E。 Smith's division covered the working…party engaged in rebuilding the railroad。
Foreseeing difficulty in crossing the Tennessee River； I had written to Admiral Porter； at Cairo； asking him to watch the Tennessee and send up some gunboats the moment the stage of water admitted； and had also requested General Allen； quartermaster at St。 Louis； to dispatch to Eastport a steam ferry…boat。
The admiral； ever prompt and ready to assist us； had two fine gunboats at Eastport； under Captain Phelps； the very day after my arrival at Iuka； and Captain Phelps had a coal…barge decked over； with which to cross our horses and wagons before the arrival of the ferry…boat。
Still following literally the instructions of General Halleck； I pushed forward the repairs of the railroad； and ordered General Blair； with the two leading divisions； to drive the enemy beyond Tuscumbia。 This he did successfully； after a pretty severe fight at Cane Creek； occupying Tuscumbia on the 27th of October。
In the meantime many important changes in command had occurred； which I must note here； to a proper understanding of the case。
General Grant had been called from Vicksburg； and sent to Chattanooga to command the military division of the Mississippi； composed of the three Departments of the Ohio； Cumberland； and Tennessee； and the Department of the Tennessee had been devolved on me； with instructions； however； to retain command of the army in the field。 At Iuka I made what appeared to me the best disposition of matters relating to the department； giving General McPherson full powers in Mississippi and General Hurlbut in West Tennessee； and assigned General Blair to the command of the Fifteenth Army Corps； and summoned General Hurlbut from Memphis； and General Dodge from Corinth； and selected out of the Sixteenth Corps a force of about eight thousand men； which I directed General Dodge to organize with all expedition； and with it to follow me eastward。
On the 27th of October； when General Blair； with two divisions； was at Tuscumbia； I ordered General Ewing； with the Fourth Division； to cross the Tennessee （by means of the gunboats and scow） as rapidly as possible at Eastport； and push forward to Florence； which he did； and the same day a messenger from General Grant floated down the Tennessee over Muscle Shoals； landed at Tnacumbia； and was sent to me at Iuka。 He bore a short message from the general to this effect： 〃Drop all work on the railroad east of Bear Creek； push your command toward Bridgeport till you meet orders；〃 etc。 Instantly the order was executed； the order of march was reversed； and all the columns were directed to Eastport； the only place where we could cross the Tennessee。 At first we only had the gunboats and coal…barge； but the ferry…boat and two transports arrived on the 31st of October； and the work of crossing was pushed with all the vigor possible。 In person I crossed； and passed to the head of the column at Florence on the 1st of November； leaving the rear divisions to be conducted by General Blair； and marched to Rogersville and Elk River。 This was found impassable。 To ferry would have consumed to much time； and to build a bridge still more； so there was no alternative but to turn up Elk River by way of Gilbertsboro； Elkton； etc。； to the stone bridge at Fayetteville； where we crossed the Elk； and proceeded to Winchester and Deckerd。
At Fayetteville I received orders from General Grant to come to Bridgeport with the Fifteenth Army Corps； and to leave General Dodge's command at Pulaski； and along the railroad from Columbia to Decatur。 I instructed General Blair to follow with the Second and First Divisions by way of New Market； Larkinsville； and Bellefonte； while I conducted the other two divisions by way of Deckerd； the Fourth Division crossing the mountain to Stevenson； and the Third by University Place and Sweden's Cove。
In person I proceeded by Sweden's Cove and Battle Creek； reaching Bridgeport on the night of November 13th。 I immediately telegraphed to the commanding general my arrival； and the positions of my several divisions； and was summoned to Chattanooga。 I took the first steamboat daring the night of the 14th for Belly's Ferry； and rode into Chattanooga on the 16th。 I then learned the part assigned me in the coming drama； was supplied with the necessary maps and information； and rode； during the 18th； in company with Generals Grant； Thomas； W。 F。 Smith； Brannan； and others； to the positions occupied on the west bank of the Tennessee； from which could be seen the camps of the enemy； compassing Chattanooga and the line of Missionary Hills； with its terminus on Chickamauga Creek； the point that I was expected to take； hold； and fortify。 Pontoons； with a full supply of balks and chesses； had been prepared for the bridge over the Tennessee； and all