received orders to proceed to Bobo's Cross-roads, and reach
that point before nightfall. There were two ways of going there: the one
via Manchester was comparatively safe, although considerably out of the
direct line; the other was direct, but somewhat unsafe, because it would
take me near the enemy's front. The distance by this shorter route was
eleven miles. I chose the latter. It led through a sparsely settled,
open oak country. Two regiments of Wheeler's cavalry had been hovering
about Hillsboro during the day, evidently watching our movements. After
proceeding about three miles, a dash was made upon my skirmish line,
which resulted in the killing of a lieutenant, the capture of one man,
and the wounding of several others. I instantly formed line of battle,
and pushed forward as rapidly as the nature of the ground would admit;
but the enemy fell back.

About five o'clock, as we drew near Bobo's, two cannon shots and quite a
brisk fire of musketry advised us that the rebels were either still in
possession of the Cross-roads or our friends were mistaking us for the
enemy. I formed line of battle, and ordered the few cavalrymen who
accompanied me to make a detour to the right and rear, and ascertain, if
possible, who were in our front. The videttes soon after reported the
enemy advancing, with a squadron of cavalry in the lead, and I put my
artillery in position to give them a raking fire when they should reach
a bend of the road. At this moment when life and death seemed to hang in
the balance, and when we supposed we were in the presence of a very
considerable, if not an overwhelming, force of the enemy, a half-grown
hog emerged from the woods, and ran across the road. Fifty men sprang
from the ranks and gave it chase, and before order was fully restored,
and the line readjusted, my cavalry returned with the information that
the troops in front were our own.

The incidents of the last six days would fill a volume; but I have been
on horseback so much, and otherwise so thoroughly engaged, that I have
been, and am now, too weary to note them down, even if I had the
conveniences at hand for so doing.

JULY, 1863.

1. My brigade, with a battalion of cavalry attached, started from Bobo's
Cross-roads in the direction of Winchester. When one mile out we picked
up three deserters, who reported that the rebels had evacuated
Tullahoma, and were in full retreat. Half a mile further along I
overtook the enemy's rear