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d by Thomas。 Crittenden's division was sent up the valley through Tracy City； by the Altamont road； to be within supporting distance of McCook； and to watch the road from there to Chattanooga。 Thomas was directed to hold his command in readiness to move at a moment's notice； either on the Therman or Dunlap road。 On the 22d； Buell learned that Bragg's whole army was north of the Tennessee； and he then； further to concentrate his command； moved his supplies from the depot at Stenvson to Dechard。 Thomas on the same day telegraphed from McMinnville to Buell that he believed Bragg's movements meant an advance of his entire army into Kentucky。 Thomas reconnoitered thoroughly the front of his position； and ascertained that the enemy was not there and not as yet even in Sequatchie Valley。 This he reported to Buell； and suggested that Wood's division be posted at Sparta； to intercept Bragg's advance； if made through that place； that another division be left at Dechard； to watch any movement in that direction； and that the remaining portions of the command be concentrated at McMinnville； ready to offer battle to Bragg's army if it should advance on that front。 Thomas regarded Bragg's advance either on Nashville or Louisville as possible only through McMinnville or Sparta； and he proposed to attack before Bragg could reach either。 On the next day Buell； under advices that he regarded as reliable； ordered the First； Second； Fourth； Fifth； and Sixth Divisions to concentrate at Altamont； intending there to offer battle。 He sent detailed instructions to Thomas； in charge of the movement； as to the disposition of his command； with orders in the event of defeat to fall back； keeping his force between the enemy and Nashville。 On the 25th； Thomas reached Altamont； and finding no enemy nearer than the Sequatchie Valley； and regarding Bragg's advance by way of Altamont improbable； owing to the bad condition of the roads； and lack of forage and water； returned to McMinnville with the Fourth and Sixth Divisions。 On the 30th； Buell gave orders concentrating his entire command at Murfreesboro； still under the impression that Bragg expected to strike for Nashville。 The latter's movements were so well guarded； and Buell had as yet so little reliable information in regard to them； that he hesitated even after the order was issued； and the next day asked Thomas's advice in regard to it； in the light of any further information as to the movements of the enemy。 Thomas advised that the movement proceed； having been commenced； and gave a plan of battle in the movement from Murfreesboro。 Thomas； on the 30th； captured a despatch that Bragg； on the 27th； had sent to Van Dorn； in command in Mississippi； conveying to him in full his plans in regard to his advance into Kentucky； and informed him that Kirby Smith； re…enforced with two divisions from this army； had turned Cumberland Gap； and was marching on Lexington； Ky。
Buell's army at Murfreesboro consisted of five divisions under his immediate command； the troops being then on the line of the railroad。 In addition he had two divisions sent to him from the Army of the TennesseeGeneral J。 C。 Davis' division； under General R。 B。 Mitchell； which arrived at Murfreesboro on the 2d of September； and General E。 A。 Paine's division； under the command of General J。 M。 Palmer； which reached Nashville on the 10th。 This concentration of the army at Murfreesboro of course withdrew all troops from the mountains； leaving Bragg unhampered in the selection of his route； either west to Nashville； or north to Louisville。 He made choice of the latter； and pushed down the valley of the Cumberland to Carthage； where he crossed； moving through Scottsboro and Glasgow； to strike the Louisville and Nashville Railroad。 Bragg entered Kentucky with five divisions； making an army of some thirty…five thousand men； divided between Generals Polk and Hardee。 While at Murfreesboro Buell first learned definitely of Bragg's movements； and of his intended advance into Kentucky。 The news of the movements of Kirby Smith and of Nelson's defeat also reached him here。
On August 16th； Buell had ordered Nelson to assume command in Kentucky； and to make such dispositions of his troops as would resist any movement by Kirby Smith； then threatening Cumberland Gap。 The plan of the rebels in their campaign； which was intended to free the soil of the South from the Northern armies by carrying the war into the North； was for Kirby Smith to move through Eastern Kentucky to Lexington and thence to Cincinnati； and for Bragg to push through Central Kentucky to Louisville。 With these two cities in the possession of their armies it would be a short step to enter upon the rich fields of the Northern States； and with the large number of new recruits gained en route their armies could resist any Northern troops that would be brought against them。 This had been Sidney Johnston's plan to be worked out after he had achieved the victory he contemplated at Shiloh； and Bragg as his successor endeavored to carry out Johnston's plan of campaign。 One was as much a success as the other； and in both the hour of defeat trod so quickly on their apparent victory that the campaign in each instance ultimately resulted in failure。 So far as the advance of Bragg and Kirby Smith into Kentucky was concerned； by it the South suffered a loss instead of a gain； and was compelled from that time on to act upon a steadily lessening line of defence。 Bragg's report shows he took a smaller command out than he took into the State。
On the same day that Nelson's orders were dated； Stevenson appeared with his division before Cumberland Gap。 George W。 Morgan in command there immediately sent out cavalry to the adjoining gaps to watch for further movements of the enemy。 When a short distance from Roger's Gap the cavalry struck the head of Kirby Smith's army on its advance to Kentucky。 Smith's forces were those of his own command in East Tennessee； re…enforced by the divisions of McCown from Mississippi； sent him by Bragg； and also the two fine brigades of Cleburne and Preston Smith； ordered to report to him from Chattanooga。 Kirby Smith moved with his main command to Barboursville； and ordered McCown to Cumberland Ford with a large force； which cut off Morgan； in the Gap； from his base of supplies in that direction。 Leaving Stevenson in Morgan's front to engage his attention； Kirby Smith with his entire force advanced into Kentucky； thus entirely cutting off re…enforcements and supplies to Morgan's command。 The latter failing in his efforts to bring on an engagement； placed his command on half rations； and after a council of war abandoned the Gap； dismounting his siege guns and destroying what stores and ammunition he could not remove； marched out with his entire command； to the east of Kirby Smith's force； to the Ohio River。 John Morgan's cavalry annoyed the command for some days； without inflicting any material loss。
When Nelson reached Kentucky he found that a new department had been created； with General H。 G。 Wright in command； embracing that part of the State east of Louisville and the line of the Nashville Railroad； taken from under Buell's command。 Wright ordere