The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union And Confederate Armies. Series 1, Volume 30, In Four Parts. Part 1, Reports. Page: 50
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50 KY., SW%. VA., TENN., MIISS. N. ALA., ANI) N. GA. [CHAP. XLII.
the extremities of the lines, and they were also scarce of water. The
one by Athens has both forage and water in abundance.
It is evident from this description of the topography that to reach
Chattanooga, or penetrate the country south of it, on the railroad,
by crossing the Tennessee below Chattanooga was a difficult task.
It was necessary to cross the Cumberland Mountains, with subsist-
ence, ammunition, at least a limited supply of forage, and a bridge
train; to cross Sand or Raccoon Mountains into Lookout Valley,
then Lookout Mountain, and finally the lesser ranges, Missionary
Ridge, if we went directly to Chattanooga, or Missionary Ridge,
Pigeon Mountain, and Taylor's Ridge, if we struck the railroad at
Dalton or south of it. The Valley of the Tennessee River, though
several miles in breadth between the bases of the mountains, below
Bridgeport, is not a broad, alluvial farming country, but full of bar-
ren oak ridges, sparsely settled, and but a small part of it under
cultivation.
OPERATIONS OF THE ARMY UNTIL IT REACHED THE TENNESSEE RIVER.
The first step was to repair the Nashville and Chattanooga Rail-
road, to bring forward to Tullahoma, McMinnville, Decherd, and
Winchester needful forage and subsistence, which it was impossible
to transport from Murfreesborough to those points over the horrible
roads which we encountered on our advance to Tullahoma. The
next was to extend the repairs of the main stem to Stevenson and
Bridgeport, and the Tracy City branch, so that we could place sup-
plies in depot at those points, from which to draw after we had
crossed the mountains.
Through the zeal and energy of Colonel hnes and his regiment of
Michigan Engineers, the main road was open to tie Elk River Bridge
by the 13th of July, and Elk River Bridge and the mai stem to
Bridgeport by the 25th, and the branch to Tracy City by the 13th
of August.
As soon as the main stem was finished to Stevenson, Slheridan's
division was advanced, two brigades to Bridgeport an1( one to Ste-
venson, and commissary and quartermaster stores pushed forward to
the latter place with all practicable speed. Tlhese supl)lies began to
be accumulated at this point in sufficient quantities by the Sth of
August, and corps commanders were that day directed to supply
their troops, as soon as possible, with rations and forage sufficient
for a general movement.
The Tracy City branch, built for bringing coal down the mount-
ains, has such high grades and shar1) curves as to require a peculiar
engine. The only one we had answering the ipur'lose, having been
broken on its way from Naslhville, was not repaired until about the
12th of August. It was deemed best, therefore, t() delay thle move-
ment of the troops until that road was completely available for
transporting stores to Tracy City.
THE MOVEMENT OVER THE CUMBERLAND MOUNTAINS
began on the morning of the 16th of August, as follows :
General Crittenden's corps in three columns, General Wood. from
IHills)orough, by Pelham, to Thermain, in Sequatchie Valley.
General Palmer, from Manchester b)y the most practicable route
to Dunlap.
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Errata sheets for the Records of the War of the Rebellion include additions and corrections to the text and the index for Series 1, Volume 30.
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United States. War Department. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union And Confederate Armies. Series 1, Volume 30, In Four Parts. Part 1, Reports., book, 1890; Washington D.C.. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth152978/m1/61/: accessed April 27, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.