CHAPTER XXIX.
VAN DORN'S MOVEMENTS--BATTLE OF CORINTH--COMMAND OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE TENNESSEE.
On the 19th of September General Geo.

H.Thomas was ordered east to reinforce Buell.

This threw the army at my command still more on the defensive.

The Memphis and Charleston railroad was abandoned, except at Corinth, and small forces were left at Chewalla and Grand Junction.
Soon afterwards the latter of these two places was given up and Bolivar became our most advanced position on the Mississippi Central railroad.
Our cavalry was kept well to the front and frequent expeditions were sent out to watch the movements of the enemy.

We were in a country where nearly all the people, except the negroes, were hostile to us and friendly to the cause we were trying to suppress.