el Fuller's Brigade, from Corinth, joined me.

Wednesday morning I advanced with all the force, and came up with the
enemy at Rock Cut, five miles west of Tuscumbia; planted my batteries,
and drove them out of it, taking the line of Little Bear Creek that
night. The enemy's position was a very strong one, and there was but
one way to flank it. The enemy fell back as soon as I brought the
infantry to bear upon them.

Thursday we moved, crossing at three places, throwing my cavalry by
the Frankfort and Tuscumbia road, into the enemy's rear; but during
the night, anticipating this movement, the enemy fell back. We reached
Tuscumbia about noon, and after slight skirmishing took possession of
the city. I immediately dispatched Lieutenant-Colonel Phillips, with
two squadrons of mounted infantry, two squadrons of the Fifteenth
Illinois Cavalry, and a section of Welker's battery, to take Florence.
They refused to surrender, when Colonel Phillips immediately opened on
the town. A few shell brought them to terms, and we occupied the
place. At the same time I ordered Colonel Cornyn forward toward
Courtland, to feel the enemy. He came up with their rear some two
miles beyond Leighton. The command consisted on our part of the Tenth
Missouri and Seventh Kansas Cavalry, about eight hundred in all, and
drove the enemy eight miles. The rebel force was thirty-five hundred,
besides one battery. The fighting of the cavalry against such odds is
beyond all praise.

The next morning the cavalry fell back to Tuscumbia, to await the
advance of the main column.

Finding it impossible to obtain stock to mount Colonel Streight's
command, I took horses and mules from my teams and mounted infantry,
and furnished him some six hundred head, mounting all but two hundred
of his men. I also turned over all my hard bread, some ten thousand
rations, and he left me at midnight on the 26th instant, with the
intention of going through Russellville, Moulton, and Blountsville, to
Gadsden, then divide, one force to strike Rome and the other Etowah
Bridge.

I moved forward Monday morning, and drove the enemy across Town Greek
that night, and ascertained that they were in force, under Forrest, on
the opposite bank. That night I communicated with Colonel Streight, at
Mount Hope, and ascertained that he was all right.