Comte de Paris, History of the Civil War in America. Vol. 4.
Henry Coppee , LL.D., Ed.

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[36] vain to meet Wheeler at Shelbyville. Once more distanced, he deems himself fortunate to find, about four miles farther down, the bridge at Warner's, which enables him to regain the left bank of Duck River.

The Federals were then masters of the whole line of that stream. Bragg was waiting for them at Tullahoma, where Forrest had just arrived. In order to dislodge Bragg from this small place, all that was necessary was to continue the flank movement so happily commenced. But the army must be concentrated near Manchester, and the different corps must be enabled to obtain a fresh distribution of provisions. The incessant rains which softened the ground along the routes delayed McCook and Crittenden on their march: they could not reach Manchester before the 28th, some time in the day. Being constrained to wait for them, Rosecrans determined to worry Bragg in the mean while by hurling upon his rear Wilder's active mounted infantry. The railway, which between Tullahoma and Stevenson crosses deep gorges, was easy to destroy, and tearing it up would oblige Bragg either to abandon his intrenched camp or else to detach a considerable part of his army to protect the road against new incursions. In the morning of the 28th, Wilder proceeds to Hillsborough in company with Beatty's brigade of infantry, which will await his return in that village. A few hours later he crosses, not without trouble, the swollen waters of Elk River by means of improvised floats, and detaches to the right Colonel Monroe with one regiment, directing him to destroy the railroad-bridge built across that stream near Estell Springs, while he (Wilder) moves toward Decherd. Monroe cannot carry out the instructions given him: a brigade belonging to Withers' division, brought up by the railroad, having reached before him the crossing-place on Elk River, he falls back upon Hillsborough. Wilder is more fortunate. At eight o'clock in the evening he arrives at Decherd, puts to flight the guard which defends the post, and immediately undertakes to destroy the railroad track. But toward midnight he is interrupted by the arrival of the troops which have opposed Monroe. He must yield the ground to them. However, wishing to prosecute his work of destruction, he retreats into a neighboring mountain to descend into the valley of the Big Crow Creek, where he is in hopes of being