by letter a rapid gunboat expedition up the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers to destroy to destroy bridges over those streams. Although Forts Henry and Donelson had been considerably strengthened I believed the gun-boast could pass them without any great risk. On the 6th I ordered one brigade from the mouth of Green River and eighteen new regiments to re-enforce General Halleck's expedition. They did not, however, arrive until after the capture the capture of that place, which occurred on the 6th, but took part in the subsequent operations against Fort Donelson.

General Halleck found great difficulty in the movement against Fort Donelson, although the distance from Fort Henry was only about 12 miles. The enemy had greatly strengthened the work and increased the garrison. Protected as Bowling Green was by fortification, the for minable river in front, and by the condition of the roads, I apprehended that my operations against that place could not be rapid enough to prevent the enemy from re-enforcing Fort Donelson so strongly as to endanger the success of General Halleck's operations. Upon consultation with him, therefore, I commenced on the 13th movement of three division to re-enforce him by water, which would not only make the reduction of the place certain, but give force enough to operate against Nashville on that line, while the rest of my force was threatening Bowling Green in front. The advance of General Mitchel's division arrived opposite Bowling Green on the morning of the 14th, and found the bridge in flames and the enemy evacuating the place. That officer was directed to cross rapidly and throw a force forward toward Nashville, and the advance on that line was strengthened by a division which was to have gone to the Cumberland.

The operation of passing the river at Bowling Green in its swollen condition was difficult and tedious. The advanced division, General Mitchel's, did not get entirely over for ten days, notwithstanding the energy of that officer. While this was going on the troops in rear were employed in repairing the railroad. On the 24th the river was so high that small steamers wee taken over the broken dams and reached Bowling Green with supplies and to assist in ferrying. About the same time a pontoon-bridge was laid, and although the overflow of the banks seriously interfered, yet the troops were able to pass with comparative rapidity.

In the mean time I was informed about the 17th of the surrender of Fort Donelson. I arrived at Bowling Green on the 20th and on the 21st learned that the enemy had evacuated Clarksville and fallen back on Nashville, and that the had burned the bridges at Nashville. On the morning of the 22nd the troops that had crossed the river at Bowling Green, two brigades and a half, started for Nashville, without wagons, very few having yet been got across. With about 1,000 men on cars, which the enemy had not succeeded in carrying off or destroying, I expected to reach within 9 miles of Nashville that night; but a heavy rain destroyed the road in advance of us and I did not reach the river opposite Nashville until the night of the 24th. The remainder of the troops arrived at the same time by marching. I had telegraphed General Halleck, and sent a courier through to Clarksville giving information of my movements, and requesting that the gunboats should proceed at once up the river. I appended that they would meet one battery on the way, but they arrived without molestation on the night of the 24th, convoying the transports with the troops of General Nelson and General Crittenden, three brigades; and on the morning of the 25th the troops entered Nashville, and took position beyond the enemy having retired to that place.