On the 22nd Major-General Buell directed me to send four companies to Bridgeport to take the place of a regiment of infantry withdrawn from that point.

On the same day I received an order to send one regiment and the battery to General McCrook. This left me six companies of the Thirty-third and the cavalry to hold this fort.

On the evening of the 26th, all of the stores having been removed from Bridgeport, in pursuance of orders I withdrew the command of Major Lock to the fort.

On the morning of the 27th I received information that the enemy were crossing at Bridgeport. I ordered the cavalry to Bridgeport, with instructions that if the enemy had crossed to attack him at once, and if possible to drive into the Tennessee River. I also directed the cavalry on picket on the Jasper road to push forward as far as Jasper and report promptly the advance of the enemy in that direction.

Major Pugh, with the cavalry, had no sooner engaged the force at Bridgeport than the enemy put a battery of four guns, one a siege gun, in position on the opposite bank of the Tennessee River, about 800 yards from the fort. They opened on the fort and camp and shelled itwithout intermission, except to allow their guns to cool, for twelve hours. I soon received information that the enemy had crossed in force at Bridgeport; that the cavalry had attacked them without success, and were then falling back to the fort. I was satisfied that my scouts would report the Decherd road in possession of the enemy. I therefore made preparation as a last resort to hold a small mountain path which I understood tapped the Decherd road about 8 miles from the fort. I placed three companies of infantry and the cavalry, which had just arrived, at that point, with instructions to hold it to the last extremity.

In the evening my scouts from Jasper reported that the enemy were not advancing in that direction. I immediately directed two companies to proceed to the Battle Creek Ford, where the Jasper road joins the Decherd road, and to hold it against any force that might be brought against them. I also threw a company of riflemen in the pits to annoy the enemy and cover the withdrawal of our forces and stores from the fort. The wagons were loaded with the most valuable stores; the balance were piled up ready to be burned. The tents were cut up and the wagon wheels were wrapped with them. As soon as it was dark I commenced the withdrawal of the forces and the stores for which I had transportation. This I succeeded in doing without loss.

The casualties in the fort were 1 killed and 9 slightly wounded, including my acting assistant adjutant-general, Vandegrift, and orderly, Henry Norris, who is a brave and cool little fellow.

An hour after the last of the forces had been withdrawn Captain Mathews, of the Fourth Ohio Cavalry, applied the torch to the stores which were left behind, completely destroing them.

I arrived with the command at Decherd on the 29th and reported to Major-General Buell at that point.

The enemy had on the day before the attack four regiments of infantry and a battalion of cavalry, under command of General Maxey, and were also in direct communication with Chattanooga, 27 miles by rail, from which place they could receive re-enforcements to any extent.

My force, all told, for duty were 450 of the Thirty-third Ohio Regiment and 110 of the Fourth Ohio Volunteer Cavalry. Lieutentant-Colonel Moore, who commanded the Thirty-third Ohio, his officers and men, with few exceptions, acted fallantly and tomy entire satisfaction. I cannot speak too highly of Captain Mathews, of the cavalry, who executed