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were indications of a considerable force of the enemy on the
Russellville road I decided to place the troops in line of battle； so
as to be prepared for any emergency that might arise in the absence
of the senior officers； and I deemed it prudent to supervise
personally the encamping of the men。 This disposition necessarily
required that some of the organizations should occupy very
disagreeable ground； but I soon got all satisfactorily posted with
the exception of General Willich； who expressed some discontent at
being placed beyond the shelter of the timber； but accepted the
situation cheerfully when its obvious necessity was pointed out to
him。
Feeling that all was secure； I returned to my headquarters in the
village with the idea that we were safely established in ease of
attack； and that the men would now have a good rest if left
undisturbed； and plenty to eat； but hardly had I reached my own camp
when a staff…officer came post…haste from Sturgis with the
information that he was being driven back to my lines； despite the
confident invitation to me （in the morning） to go out and witness the
whipping which was to be given to the enemy's cavalry。 Riding to the
front； I readily perceived that the information was correct； and I
had to send a brigade of infantry out to help Sturgis； thus relieving
him from a rather serious predicament。 Indeed； the enemy was present
in pretty strong force； both cavalry and infantry； and from his
vicious attack on Sturgis it looked very much as though he intended
to bring on a general engagement。
Under such circumstances I deemed it advisable that the responsible
commanders of the army should be present； and so informed them。 My
communication brought Parke and Granger to the front without delay；
but Foster could not come； since the hardships of the winter had
reopened an old wound received during the Mexican War； and brought on
much suffering。 By the time Parke and Granger arrived； however； the
enemy； who it turned out was only making a strong demonstration to
learn the object of our movement on Dandridge； seemed satisfied with
the results of his reconnoissance； and began falling back toward
Bull's Gap。 Meanwhile Parke and Granger concluded that Dandridge was
an untenable point； and hence decided to withdraw a part of the army
to Strawberry Plains； and the question of supplies again coming up；
it was determined to send the Fourth Corps to the south side of the
French Broad to obtain subsistence； provided we could bridge the
river so that men could get across the deep and icy stream without
suffering。
I agreed to undertake the construction of a bridge on condition that
each division should send to the ford twenty…five wagons with which
to make it。 This being acceded to； Harker's brigade began the work
next morning at a favorable point a few miles down the river。 As my
quota of wagons arrived； they were drawn into the stream one after
another by the wheel team； six men in each wagon； and as they
successively reach°d the other side of the channel the mules were
unhitched； the pole of each wagon run under thre hind axle of the one
just in front； and the tailboards used so as to span the slight space
between them。 The plan worked well as long as the material lasted；
but no other wagons than my twenty…five coming on the ground； the
work stopped when the bridge was only half constructed。 Informed of
the delay and its cause； in sheer desperation I finished the bridge
by taking from my own division all the wagons needed to make up the
deficiency。
It was late in the afternoon when the work was finished； and I began
putting over one of my brigades； but in the midst of its crossing
word came that Longstreet's army was moving to attack us； which
caused an abandonment of the foraging project； and orders quickly
followed to retire to Strawberry Plains； the retrograde movement to
begin forthwith。 I sent to headquarters information of the plight I
was inbaggage and supplies on the bank and wagons in the stream
begged to know what was to become of them if we were to hurry off at
a moment's notice； and suggested that the movement be delayed until I
could recover my transportation。 Receiving in reply no assurances
that I should be relieved from my dilemmaand； in fact； nothing
satisfactoryI determined to take upon myself the responsibility of
remaining on the ground long enough to get my wagons out of the
river； so I sent out a heavy force to watch for the enemy； and with
the remainder of the command went to work to break up the bridge。
Before daylight next morning I had recovered everything without
interference by Longstreet； who； it was afterward ascertained； was
preparing to move east toward Lynchburg instead of marching to attack
us； the small demonstration against Dandridge； being made simply to
deceive us as to his ultimate object。 I marched to Strawberry Plains
unmolested； and by taking the route over Bay's Mountain； a shorter
one than that followed by the main body of our troops； reached the
point of rendezvous as soon as the most of the army； for the road it
followed was not only longer； but badly cut up by trains that had
recently passed over it。
Shortly after getting into camp； the beef contractor came in and
reported that a detachment of the enemy's cavalry had captured my
herd of beef cattle。 This caused me much chagrin at first； but the
commissary of my division soon put in an appearance； and assured me
that the loss would not be very disastrous to us nor of much benefit
to the enemy； since the cattle were so poor and weak that they could
not be driven off。 A reconnoissance in force verified the
Commissary's statement。 From its inability to travel； the herd；
after all efforts to carry it off had proved ineffectual； had been
abandoned by its captors。
After the troops from Chattanooga arrived in the vicinity of
Knoxville and General Sherman had returned to Chattanooga； the
operations in East Tennessee constituted a series of blunders；
lasting through the entire winter； a state of affairs doubtless due；
in the main； to the fact that the command of the troops was so
frequently changed。 Constant shifting of responsibility from one to
another ensued from the date that General Sherman； after assuring
himself that Knoxville was safe； devolved the command on Burnside。
It had already been intimated to Burnside that he was to be relieved；
and in consequence he was inactive and apathetic； confining his
operations to an aimless expedition whose advance extended only as
far as Blain's crossroads； whence it was soon withdrawn。 Meanwhile
General Foster had superseded Burnside； but physical disabilities
rendered him incapable of remaining in the field； and then the chief
authority devolved on Parke。 By this time the transmission of power
seemed almost a disease； at any rate it was catching； so； while we
were en route to Dandridge； Parke transferred the command to G