a quantity of corn, which proved highly acceptable.

The corps commanders were now called to general headquarters and each
received his orders in writing. McCook was to advance on the Shelbyville
pike, turn to the left on the Wartrace road, and seize and hold Liberty
Gap; General Granger to threaten Middleton; General Thomas to advance on
the Manchester pike, and hold, if possible, Hoover's Gap; some cavalry
under Turchin to establish a lookout toward McMinnville, and the balance
of the cavalry under Mitchell to attack the rebel cavalry at Middleton.

These movements were executed promptly, despite floods and the wretched
condition of the roads. The fighting was sharp, the Confederates
disputing every foot of territory. Both sides suffered heavily, and the
weather made matters worse, yet nobody grumbled, for the enlisted men
were now becoming hardened to the campaign, and realized that this
fighting was only the introduction to the tremendous battles still to
come.

The morning of the 28th found Thomas ready to start the move which was
to bring the campaign to a climax. McCook and Crittenden were slowly but
surely concentrating at Manchester. Thomas's first movement was to send
Colonel Wilder to Dechard, where this command destroyed about three
hundred yards of the railroad which the Confederates had been using. The
next day the Tracy City railroad was also placed in a useless condition.

On the 29th of June the army was ready for the final blow at Tullahoma.
The advanced troops were within a mile and three-quarters of the city.
The corps of McCook and Crittenden came up and closed in, and the main
body of the cavalry, including the Riverlawns, arrived at Manchester.
Thus it was felt Tullahoma was, after a nine days' campaign, completely
at the mercy of the Northern forces.

A surprise now awaited General Rosecrans. A citizen of the town came to
Thomas with the report that General Bragg had fled, taking all his
troops with him. At first the Union commander could not believe the
news, and, to make sure, he sent General Steedman ahead to make an
investigation. The general marched into Tullahoma, captured a few
prisoners, and verified the report. Instantly General Rosecrans laid
plans to pursue the flying Confederates. But though a few skirmishes
resulted, and a brave stand was taken by both sides at Elk River, the
pursuit proved of no avail, and Bragg crossed the Cumberland Mountains
unmolested, leaving, as the fruit