party of rebels near Widow Childers and drove them toward
Ripley. In Ripley, met an advance of the enemy and drove
them on New Albany road. Cavalry encountered about a
regiment of rebel cavalry on that road and drove them south.
Several showers during the afternoon, and the roads very
bad.

"Wednesday, June 8th.--Received information at 4 o'clock A.
M. that Colonel Karge was on an island in the Hatchie River
and sent him 500 men and two howitzers as re-inforcements.
Winslow's brigade of cavalry moved 6 miles on the Fulton
Road. Infantry and train moved five miles on same road.
Colonel Waring's brigade remained in Ripley awaiting return
of Colonel Karge, who joined him at 5 o'clock P. M., having
swam the Hatchie River. Rained hard during the night.

"'Thursday, June 9th.--Sent back to Memphis 400 sick and
wounded men and 41 wagons. Cavalry and infantry moved to
Stubbs', fourteen miles from Ripley; issued five days'
rations (at previous camp.) Rained two hours in the evening.

"'Friday, June 10th.--Encountered the enemy at Brice's
Cross-Roads, 23 miles from Ripley and six miles from
Guntown.'

"At Ripley it became a serious question in my mind as to
whether or not I should proceed any farther. The rain still
fell in torrents; the artillery and wagons were literally
mired down, and the starved and exhausted animals could with
difficulty drag them along. Under these circumstances, I
called together my division commanders and placed before
them my views of our condition. At this interview, one
brigade commander and two members of my staff were,
incidentally, present also. I called their attention to the
great delay we had undergone on account of the continuous
rain and consequent bad condition of the roads; the
exhausted condition of our animals; the great probability
that the enemy would avail himself of the time thus afforded
him to concentrate an overwhelming force against us in the
vicinity of Tupelo and the utter hopelessness of saving our
train or artillery in case of defeat, on account of the
narrowness and general bad condition of the roads and the
impossibility of procuring supplies of forage for the
animals; all agreed with me in the probable consequences of
defeat. Some thought our only safety lay in retracin