in the direction of Chattanooga — a movement to which, on June 11th, Halleck gave the objective of Chattanooga and Cleveland and Dalton ; the ultimate purpose being to take possession of east Tennessee, in cooperation with General G. W. Morgan.
To counteract these plans, General Bragg began, on June 27th, the transfer of a large portion of his army to Chattanooga by rail, via Mobile, and about the middle of August set out on the northward movement which terminated only within sight of the Ohio River.
The Confederate forces in Mississippi were left under command of Generals Van Dorn and Price.
About the middle of July General Halleck was called to Washington to discharge the duties of General-in-chief.
He left the District of West Tennessee and the territory held in northern Mississippi under the command of General Grant.
In August, by Halleck's orders, General Grant sent E. A. Paine's and Jeff. C. Davis's divisions across the Tennessee to strengthen Buell, who was moving northward
d ran two parallel roads, some two miles distant from each other — the most eastern known as the Fulton road, the western as the Tuscumbia.
Grant's plan contemplated an approach on Iuka by way of the Fulton road, at least in part, with a view of cutting off the escape of Price by that road.
Rosecrans, however, for reasons of his own, decided on taking the Tuscumbia road with his whole force, thus leaving the Fulton road open.
A rapid march from Jacinto (Hamilton's division leading, Sanborn's brigade in the advance) brought Rosecrans's column to Barnett's by noon.
Hamilton, who had expected to march upon the Fulton road from that point, was furnished with a guide, and directed to continue his march on the Tuscumbia road without further instructions.
About 4 P. M. the guide gave notanguinary struggle but a short distance to the rear, and near their first line of battle.
The Fulton road being open, there was nothing to interfere with the enemy's escape.
A pursuit was made the
