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ion to protect his line of supplies； Rosecrans would hamper his forward movement and retard and cripple his advance when commenced。 The only proper force to meet the enemy's troopers was cavalry。 In the early days of the Army of the Ohio； under Buell； a number of unsuccessful attempts were made to chase and fight cavalry with infantry； and in every instance the effort was crowned with failure； the only result being the discomfort and complete exhaustion of the marching troops。
The repair of the most complete wrecking the Louisville road ever suffered； demanded Rosecrans's attention the first thing after the Battle of Stone's River。 When the army left Nashville； on the advance to meet Bragg； the supplies in that city were very limited。 With the disabling of the road it was impossible at that time to forward sufficient supplies to meet the wants of the command； and for the first few weeks while the army remained at Murfreesboro the troops were on half rations； and many of the articles constituting the 〃ration〃 entirely dispensed with； leaving but three or four on the list。 The surrounding country for miles was scoured for forage and provisions。 Everything of that kind was gathered in by raiding parties； not leaving sufficient for the actual necessities of the inhabitants。 To such an extent did this go； that to the officers with means to purchase such provisions as were to be had； potatoes and onions became luxuries。 The whole army was threatened with scurvy。
The number and extent of these raids； and the damage sustained by the Louisville and Nashville Railroad during the year from July 1； 1862； is concisely set forth in the report of the superintendent of that road。 His report shows that during this time 〃the road has been operated for its entire length only seven months and twelve days；〃 〃all the bridges and trestleworks on the main stem and branches； with the exception of the bridge over Barren River and four small bridges； were destroyed and rebuilt during the year。 Some of the structures were destroyed twice and some three times。 In addition to this； most of the water stations； several depots； and a large number of cars were burnt； a number of engines badly damaged； and a tunnel in Tennessee nearly filled up for a distance of eight hundred feet。〃
By reason of this condition of things； Rosecrans determined to increase the cavalry arm of his army； so that he could meet the ten or twelve thousand cavalry of the enemy in their detached raids on more of an equal footing。 From the commencement of operations in Tennessee under Buell； the enemy's cavalry had been steadily increasing in numbers and in efficiency； until at this time it was a greater problem how to meet this arm of the enemy's force than his infantry。 Rosecrans made repeated urgent applications to the department at Washington for additional cavalry； for horses and improved arms for those already under his command。 He detailed infantry to be mounted and armed as cavalry； organizing a brigade of 〃mounted infantry〃 under Colonel John T。 Wilder。
On Bragg's retreating from Murfreesboro； he took position with a portion of his army and established his headquarters at Shelbyville。 He then ordered part of his command to move to Tullahoma； and there intrench； throwing up extensive earthworks and fortifications。 Later； he placed his troops in winter quarters。 In addition to the cavalry that had formerly been under Bragg； Van Dorn in February reported to him with his command of three brigades of cavalry； about five thousand effective troops。 Bragg placed Van Dorn and Wheeler to protect the front and flanks of his army； assigning the former to the left； with his headquarters at Columbia； and directing the latter to take position on the right； constituted each command a corps。 To Wheeler's command he assigned Morgan's； Wharton's； and Martin's divisions。 Forrest's command was assigned to Van Dorn。 Some important events took place during the first six months of 1863； that had a bearing on the fortunes of the Army of the Cumberland。
On January 9th； in recognition of the services of that army； by General Order No。 9 of the War Department； that command was reorganized； and the Centre； Right； and Left were constituted corps d'armee； with the designation of Fourteenth； Twentieth； and Twenty…first Corps； under the same commanders； who were thus advanced to this higher command。 During this month； Steedman； in command of Fry's old division； was ordered from Gallatin to the front； and posted at Triune and La Vergne。 Reynold's division was ordered from Gallatin to Murfreesboro。 A slight change was also made in the boundaries of the Department。 On the 25th； by order of the War Department； the commands of Fort Henry and Fort Donelson were transferred from the department under Grant； to that under Rosecrans； and later Fort Heiman。 To Rosecrans was then committed the care and control of the Cumberland River； his second and secondary line of communication and supplies connecting his two principal depots。
On January 26th； Bragg ordered Wheeler on an expedition to capture Fort Donelson。 Wheeler directed Forrest to move his brigade with four guns on the river road； via the Cumberland Iron Works； to the vicinity of Dover； which was the real position occupied and fortified by Federal forces； and not the old site of Fort Donelson； while Wheeler with Wharton's command of some twenty…five hundred men moved on a road to the left。 Rosecrans； hearing from his scouts that this movement was contemplated； ordered Davis in command of his division and two brigades of cavalry under Minty； to march by the Versailles road； and take Wheeler in the rear。 Steedman was directed to watch Wheeler's movements by way of Triune。 Davis despatched Minty to move with his cavalry around by way of Unionville and Rover； while he moved with the infantry direct to Eaglesville。 At Rover； Minty captured a regiment of some three hundred and fifty men。 Davis and Steedman's forces united at Franklin； the latter marching by way of Nolinsville。 Wheeler； advancing rapidly； passed between the troops in pursuit； and； on February 3d； his entire force attacked the post at Dover； occupied by Colonel Harding with the Eighty…third Illinois； some six hundred men in the command。 The rebels opened fire at once； and made vigorous assault in force upon Harding's position。 His little command repulsed the enemy with heavy loss。 Again they advanced； making a more determined assault than before； but again they were driven back with still greater loss。 In this last repulse Harding ordered his men to charge beyond his works； which they did with great gallantry； capturing forty…two of the rebels。 Wheeler then withdrew with a total loss of one hundred and fifty killed； four hundred wounded； and one hundred and fifty captured。 Colonel Harding lost sixteen killed； sixty wounded； and fifty captured。 Efforts were made to cut off the retreat of Wheeler's force by Davis's command； re…enforced by five hundred cavalry； which went as far west as Kinderhook and Bon Aqua Springs； but Wheeler took the road through Centreville； where he crossed Duck River。
In the latter part of the engagement at Dover； Harding was aided by the