to
be forwarded, charges relating to his disloyalty, unmilitary conduct,
and inefficiency; whereupon he decided to resign and the charges
were withdrawn. Beatty became Colonel and I Lieutenant-Colonel,
February 12, 1862.

Buell's army commenced to move southward February 10th, Mitchel's
division in the advance.

The high railroad bridge over Green River at Munfordville had no
railing or protection on the sides, but it was safely passed over
with the teams by moonlight. The scene of the crossing was highly
picturesque, and attracted much attention from the troops just
starting on a new campaign.

The march of the 14th developed much of interest. There were
evident signs of loyalty at the houses of all who owned no slaves,
and where slaves appeared they exhibited the greatest delight to
see the Union soldiers. All slaves had the belief that we had come
to free them, and there was much difficulty in preventing them from
marching with us. The country through which we passed was cavernous,
and the surface had many bowl-like depressions, at the bottom of
which was, generally, considerable water. Springs and streams were
scarce. The Confederates on retiring drove their disabled, diseased
and broken-down horses, mules, etc., into these ponds and shot
them, leaving them to decay and thus render the water unfit for
use by the Union Army.(24) The troops had no choice but to use
the water from the befouled ponds. We shall hear of them again.

On this day the division reached Barren River and exchanged a few
artillery shots with the rear of General A. S. Johnston's army,
under the immediate command of General Hardee. The next day--the
last day of fighting at Fort Donelson--the advance of Mitchel's
division crossed the river and occupied Bowling Green, which was
found strongly fortified and a naturally good position for defence.
In its hasty evacuation many stores were burned; others distributed
to the inhabitants, and some abandoned to capture. After an
unaccountable delay here of one week, during which time we heard
of the victory at Fort Donelson, Mitchel's division, still in
advance, resumed its march towards Nashville, distant about seventy
miles. The head of the division reached Edgefield (suburb of
Nashville on the north bank of the Cumberland) on the evening of
the 24th of February, and the following morning the Mayor and a
committee of citizens formally surrendered the city of Nashville
while yet Forrest'