Comte de Paris, History of the Civil War in America. Vol. 4.
Henry Coppee , LL.D., Ed.

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[333] reached Bean's Station; but Parke, who has only just then set out, fearing lest the latter should involve himself in difficulty, sends him orders to halt. Shackelford therefore confines himself to sending out on the 9th reconnoitring-parties that follow Longstreet's rearguard to Mooresburg, and Martin's beyond the Holston. Martin's rearguard, formed by Jones' brigade, awaits the Federals in the village of Morristown, and abandons it to them only after a rather sharp engagement, in which the losses amount to some fifty men on each side. The main part of the cavalry is posted at Bean's Station, while the infantry reaches Blain's Cross-roads, where it comes to a halt also. Parke, having only some ten thousand foot-soldiers, does not dare to risk them further in the presence of so redoubtable an enemy as Longstreet.

He was right to be prudent, for Longstreet, as soon as he was authorized to keep Martin's cavalry, sought the opportunity to turn against his adversaries. On the 12th he learns that Sherman has left, that Burnside has sent insufficient forces after him, and that the Federal cavalry is isolated nearly twenty-five miles ahead of the infantry. He immediately decides to fall on Shackelford, who, with his four thousand horse, remains at Bean's Station in absolute security. All the infantry, with Johnson's division in front, will bear on that point by a direct march: Law, with the two brigades which have hitherto escorted the trains, finds himself nearly eight miles beyond Rogersville; he receives orders to join Jenkins' division. The cavalry, advancing on the two flanks and protected on the left by the river, on the right by the mountains, must endeavor to prevent the retreat of the enemy. Jones' two brigades, passing to the northward of Clinch Mountain, will occupy, at the neck of Bean's Station Gap, the Tazewell road, while Martin, who is to the southward of the Holston, will cross the river at Kelley's Ferry on the road from Morristown to Rutledge, to attack Shackelford in the rear if he should stand out against him, and quickly to pursue him if he retires. The troops are to take the road on the 13th, so that the attack be made in the morning of the 14th.

After a night-march of about twenty-one miles in a cold and heavy rain, the Confederate infantry arrive at the appointed time in sight of Bean's Station. The Federal troopers have taken no