第56章

On the 24th, Crittenden, with Wood's and Palmer's divisions, marched to Bradyville, leaving Van Cleve's division to garrison Murfreesboro.Granger, with his three divisions and Brannan's, advanced from Salem to Christiana.Turchin's division of cavalry under Stanley moved on the Woodbury pike to Cripple Creek, and thence through Salem.During the day Mitchell advanced from Rover through Versailles to Middleton, where he had a sharp engagement with the enemy's cavalry.

The plans of the enemy not being yet fully developed, and in view of the uncertainty that existed whether he would fall on McCook's front, or mass on Thomas near Fairfield, Rosecrans issued the following orders for the 25th:

"Major-General Crittenden to advance to Lannon's Stand, six miles east of Beech Grove, and open communications with General Thomas.

"General Thomas to attack the rebels on the flank of his advance position at the forks of the road, and drive the rebels toward Fairfield.

"General McCook to feign and advance, as if in force, on the Wartrace road by the Liberty Gap passes.

"General Stanley, with his cavalry, to occupy their attention at Forsterville, and General Granger to support him with his infantry at Christiana."In the event that Thomas succeeded in his attack and drove the enemy toward Wartrace, he was then to cover that road with a division, and taking the remainder of his troops was to move rapidly on Manchester.McCook was then to move in and take Thomas's place at Beech Grove, holding Liberty Gap with a division, and was finally to withdraw that and follow Thomas with his entire command to Manchester.

The same day that Crittenden's command marched to Holly Springs, Brannan's division reached the main command of Thomas, and went into camp with Rousseau at Hoover's Mills.Reynolds had a slight skirmish with the enemy on his front.On the night of the 25th, Rousseau was ordered up with his division to take position immediately in the rear of Reynolds, preparatory to an attack on the enemy's position at Beech Grove the next morning.Minty's brigade of cavalry pressed forward at all points and drove the enemy to Guy's Gap.Long took position at Lumley's Station.The remainder of Turchin's division moved in the advance with General Crittenden.

The incessant rains that had fallen since the opening of the campaign delayed the advance, by preventing Brannan joining the Fourteenth Corps as soon as was expected.During the night of the 25th it rained so continuously that it was almost impossible for the troops to move, but by extraordinary exertions the divisions were all in position by 10.30 A.M.At 4 o'clock in the morning Brannan's division moved up to take part in the attack.At 8 A.M.Negley's division took position to support the attack of the other divisions.

If the enemy's position at Beech Grove was carried, then Rousseau and Brannon were to push on to Manchester that night if possible.

At 10.30 A.M.the advance was ordered.Moving forward on the rebels in force on the heights north of Garrison Creek, our army drove them steadily and rapidly toward Fairfield, Rousseau and Brannan operating on their left flank from the hills north of the Fairfield road, while Reynolds advanced against their front and right.

The enemy had prepared for an obstinate resistance, and attempted to enfilade Thomas's troops from the high ground on his right.This was effectually prevented by a gallant charge of Walker's brigade and the regulars under Major Coolidge, who drove the enemy from this position.Thomas pushed forward his troops, driving the rebels in the direction of Fairfield, who covered their retreat with two batteries of artillery, occupying positions behind strong lines of skirmishers flanked by heavy cavalry force.The rebels thus retired to Fairfield, near to which place our pickets were advanced.

Reynold's division and the baggage moved forward during the night toward Manchester.Late in the afternoon Wilander's brigade seized Matt's Hollow, and thus secured that passage.Thomas placed his divisions in line of battle extending from the Fairfield road to within five miles of Manchester.McCook remained in camp at Liberty Gap during the day, while Granger rested at Christiana.

Crittenden's command pressed forward as rapidly as possible on toward Manchester, struggling over almost impassable roads.

Rosecrans's headquarters, on the 27th, reached Manchester.The advanced position secured by Thomas's command rendered the concentration of the whole army on the enemy's left, through Hoover's Gap, at this time an easy matter.With this done, Bragg would either be forced to fight in resisting the further advance of the army under Rosecrans, or abandon Middle Tennessee altogether.Early on the morning of the 27th, Reynolds's advance brigade--Wilder's mounted infantry--took possession of Manchester, capturing forty prisoners, a guard at the railroad depot, and taking the town completely by surprise.

Reynolds's entire division reached Manchester during the morning.

General Thomas then moved Rousseau's and Brannan's divisions in pursuit of the enemy, driving him as far as Fairfield, and ascertained at that place that the rebels had retreated entirely.

These two divisions then turned into the Fairfield and Manchester road, Brannan's reaching the latter place at 10 P.M.and Rousseau's at midnight.Negley's division had, during the day, been moving in support of these two divisions toward the Fairfield road, by way of Noale Fork, and arrived at Manchester at 8 P.M.Thomas's corps being now together, it was manifest that the enemy must leave his intrenchment at Shelbyville, and that our army must be prepared to meet him at Tullahoma, only twelve miles distant.Rosecrans gave the necessary orders at once to the other corps commanders to close up their columns on Manchester, and be prepared for the contest.

On the extreme right our cavalry, on the 27th, did brilliant work.