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efore Chattanooga could be reached； was a matter that required a great amount of careful thought and deliberation。 Buell had tried infantry in stockades at bridges； and was satisfied that this was not the proper solution to the problem。 He then made earnest and repeated application for more cavalry； to protect his communications and to meet and repulse the enemy's raiding parties before they could reach his line of communication。 If he was to move with his command into East Tennessee； he regarded the line from Nashville to Chattanooga as the proper road on which he should depend for his supplies； and to which he should give his care and attention for this purpose。
Halleck considered the line from Memphis to Chattanooga the one over which the supplies for Buell's army should pass。 The latter objected to this； by reason of that road crossing the Tennessee River twice； thus giving two long bridges to rebuild and protect； instead of one； and for the additional reason that this road ran for a considerable distance parallel with the front of the enemy； and thus invited raiding parties。 While the risks attending the other road were great enough； Buell regarded the Memphis and Charleston road far the more objectionable。 Besides； he wished to move through Middle Tennessee to McMinnville； and thence to Chattanooga； with Nashville as his depot of supplies。 In this Halleck overruled him and directed that he march his command on the line of the Memphis road； repairing the track as he advanced。
While this matter was under consideration by the Federal commanders； Bragg； who had been appointed to the position of General made vacant by the death of General Johnston； and who had succeeded Beauregard in the command in the West； put his columns in motion eastward to occupy Chattanooga。 Johnston； on the retreat from Nashville； sent all surplus army stores to Chattanooga； and Bragg now regarded that point as the proper place to refit his command； and from which to assume the offensive； and open the campaign he had planned to free； for a time at least； Tennessee from the control of the Federal forces。
With the start thus made by both commands for Chattanooga； everything was in favor of Bragg； whose movements were unimpeded； as his route was south of the Tennessee； through his own territory； with his lines of communication open when he arrived at that place。 With Buell； the repairs of the railroad retarded his progress； and the advance weakened his command by the increased number of detachments required to guard his line as it lengthened。
McCook's and Crittenden's commands were started eastward； the first from Corinth； and the latter from Booneville。 McCook reached Florence on the 15th of June； where ferryboats had been provided by Mitchel for the crossing of his division。 A delay was occasioned here by the report that Nelson had been attacked； but this was found to be false； and； on the 26th； the divisions of McCook； Crittenden； and Nelson crossed； and started at once for Athens； which place they reached on the 29th。 On the same day Buell established his headquarters at Huntsville； Ala。； and gave personal supervision to the repair of the railroads； now extremely urgent。 He placed his troops by division upon the different sections of the line； under orders to push repairs with all possible expedition。 These troops； as repairs were made； advanced from time to time； concentrating on the line of the Nashville and Chattanooga road。 The repairs to this railroad were completed on July 28th； and on the Nashville and Decatur road on August 3d。 During the latter part of July the last division of Buell's army； under Thomas； crossed the Tennessee River； being relievedon the line of the Memphis and Charleston Railroadby troops from Grant's army。 Thomas established his headquarters at Dechard。 It was on this march with his brigade that General Robert L。 McCook was murdered by guerillas。 He was riding in an ambulance； ill at the time； and unarmed。
Nelson's division had been sent to Murfreesboro about the middle of July； to drive Forrest； who； with his cavalry； on the 13th； attacked the Federal garrison in the town。 The post was under the command of General T。 L。 Crittenden； and the troops composting the Twenty…third Brigade were under the command of Colonel Duffield。 There was； unfortunately； a disagreement between the ranking officers at the post that led to the most unfortunate results。 Colonel Lester； of the Third Minnesota； during the absence of Duffield； commanding the brigade； had； by reason of the unpleasant relations existing between portions of the command； widely distributed them in different parts of the town。 On the return of Crittenden and Duffield on July 11th； neither of them assumed command； and their dignity； thinking more of their own personal importance than the good of the service。 With no one in command； there was no unity or proper 〃esprit de corps〃 among the troops； and no disposition for defence when Forrest made his attack。 the latter had advanced through McMinnville from Chattanooga； with about two thousand men； and arrived at Murfreesboro about five o'clock on the morning of the 13th； captured the pickets； and made disposition of his forces for immediate attack。 Forming his entire command into columns of fours； with the Eighth Texas in front； Forrest moved forward on a trot until he reached the Federal encampments； which Colonel Wharton； with two regiments； charged。 The Second Georgia dashed into the town； captured the provost guard and all Federal officers and men on the streets； seized and secured the supplies。
Major Smith with the Kentucky troops was sent to the rear of the Federal command to cut off the retreat。 The Texans charged into the camp of the Ninth Michigan； and reaching the tents； roused some of the men from sleep。 A portion of that regiment； however； rallied by the officers； made a handsome stand and drove the Texans off。 Duffield was wounded while rallying his men。 The Second Georgia charged into the public square and surrounded the Court House； occupied by a company of the Ninth Michigan； who twice repulsed the attacking force。 Reinforcements being brought forward； the doors of the building were battered down and the company was forced to surrender。 Forrest now attacked the Third Minnesota on the east bank of Stone's River； about a mile and a half from town； which had just left their camp to join the force in the town； when Forrest with three regiments moved to the attack。
Colonel Lester formed his command in line of battle； with nine companies of infantry and four pieces of artillery； and opened fire on the rebels as they advanced。 Forrest attempting to get to the rear of his force； encountered the camp guard of some hundred men left by Lester to protect his camp； posted behind a strong barricade of wagons and some large ledges of rocks； difficult to carry。 Forrest at once ordered a charge which was twice made and repulsed。 Leading his men the third time； he succeeded in driving the guard from their position to the main command； posted some six hundred yards away。 It was now one o'clock； and beyond the skirmishes between the commands but little had been accomplished。