Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 11.
Frank Moore, Ed.

No rations arriving by river, Colonel Malloy's and Colonel Thompson's commands were ordered back to the railway at Larkinsville by different routes, with instructions to subsist on the country. Colonel Mitchell remained at Claysville, patrolling the country in the vicinity. Colonel Salm pushed his march towards mouth of Paint Rock Creek. On arriving at Honey Comb Creek, it was found to be impassable. The few mounted men of the Eleventh Indiana with the command, swam the creek and patrolled the country to Paint Rock during the day. It was impossible, however, to catch the small parties of rebels to be seen without a cavalry force. The high waters, and impossibility of procuring rations, rendered it out of the question to push forward infantry further. The pursuit was abandoned, therefore, towards night-fall-confirming the experience of all time, that troops of the line cannot “run down” cavalry.