Tuscumbia, and, if practicable, push my cavalry to Decatur, destroy
the saltpeter works, and the Tuscumbia and Decatur Railroad, which
they have just finished, and take all the horses and mules in that
country, to prevent them from raising any large crops. To do this, I
propose to move simultaneously with General Rosecrans, throw all my
cavalry suddenly across Bear Creek, capture the ferries, and hold them
until my infantry and artillery arrive, and then immediately force my
cavalry as far toward Tuscumbia as possible, and secure the crossings
of Little Bear, on which creek the enemy will concentrate. To
accomplish this I shall move light, taking nothing but ammunition and
provisions, and march twenty miles per day, with infantry and
artillery. I shall take such a force as to render certain the success
of the expedition, and propose to take command in person. The movement
is to be made next week, or as soon as General Rosecrans notifies me
he is ready. I trust this will meet the view of the General
commanding.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

G. M. DODGE,

_Brigadier-General Commanding_.

To ascertain what enemy I would have to meet, I sent my chief of staff,
Captain George E. Spencer, a very competent officer who was a genius in
getting inside of the enemy's lines, with a communication to General P. D.
Roddey, who had returned to Tuscumbia, and was in command of the rebel
forces south of the Tennessee River. I told Captain Spencer that the
communication was an important one and he must not deliver it to any one
except General Roddey; that he must impress upon the officer on the
enemy's picket-line that he must take him to General Roddey and in that
way he would be able to determine very closely what forces I would have to
meet. Captain Spencer went prepared to do this. He met the picket
officer; they became very chummy, and the officer took Captain Spencer
right through all of the enemy's forces between Bear River and Tuscumbia,
and he delivered the message to General Roddey, who was in great anger at
his officer; but they made the best of it. After the war, Captain Spencer
and General Roddey were great friends and I believe partners in some
business. The result of Captain Spencer's trip I set forth in the
following dispatch to General Oglesby:

CORINTH. _April_ 17, 1863.

_Major-General Oglesby, Jackson_:

My