General Hardee--the author of the tactics I did not study--was at Greenville some twenty-five miles further south, it was said, with five thousand Confederate troops.

Under these circumstances Colonel Brown's command was very much demoralized.

A squadron of cavalry could have ridden into the valley and captured the entire force.
Brown himself was gladder to see me on that occasion than he ever has been since.

I relieved him and sent all his men home within a day or two, to be mustered out of service.
Within ten days after reading Ironton I was prepared to take the offensive against the enemy at Greenville.

I sent a column east out of the valley we were in, with orders to swing around to the south and west and come into the Greenville road ten miles south of Ironton.