the general concentrating movement was formally ordered on August 30 and carried out. It was admirably planned, and effected with remarkable precision, considering that it included not only large bodies, but moving detachments, post-garrisons, and railroad guards spread out over a territory of one hundred and fifty by one hundred miles, and that only one week was allowed for completing it.
The day before McCook began his march to Murfreesboro', Edward McCook, the cavalry colonel, unexpectedly appeared with a small mounted escort for a brief visit to his cousin. He had been employed for nearly two months after we parted in escorting supply trains along the Tennessee River, but had followed General Nelson's division when it moved to McMinnville. He had been engaged with his command for some weeks in scouting, hunting, and fighting guerrillas. He invited me to accompany him, and, as I was weary of the monotonous marches, I accepted and rode off with him. For a week, I had an experience that reminded me continually of the song in Schiller's play of the “Robbers”—
“Ein freies Leben führen wir.”
The Colonel had a brigade of nominally three mounted
regiments, but actually not more than eleven hundred men,
under him. They were well armed and relatively well
mounted, as their commander had made it his rule to
exchange any good horses found in the country for the worn
ones of his command. Not having received any new clothing
since spring, however, a considerable percentage of the men
had substituted civilian garments for parts of their
uniforms, and thus presented a rather mixed exterior. More
than half had managed to possess themselves of straw and
felt hats of various colors. A score or so wore “butternut”;
or “Confederate gray,” being the “scouting squad” in
the disguise of rebels for the better performance of their
perilous duties.
