Comte de Paris, History of the Civil War in America. Vol. 3.
Henry Coppee , LL.D., Ed.

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[339] of the numerous reinforcements that had been sent to Johnston's army from Bragg's lines, had resolved to resume the offensive, although the date of his movement had not yet been fixed. His corps commanders, having been consulted on the 15th, had asked for a further delay of eight days, and Rosecrans had readily granted their request, contrary to the advice of General Garfield,¹ his chief of staff. With his forces reduced in number, Bragg was well aware that it would be difficult for him to maintain himself at Tullahoma, notwithstanding the strength of the positions he occupied. His desire to obtain reliable information relative to the designs of his adversary can alone explain a sad and melancholy incident of which the post of Franklin was the theatre. On the evening of the 8th there arrived at the quarters of Colonel Baird, commanding that post, two mounted officers wearing the uniform of the Federal staff, and provided with passes signed by Rosecrans accrediting them as inspectors under the names of Colonel Auton and Major Dunlap. Colonel Watkins, who was in command of the cavalry at Franklin, had some doubts as to the genuineness of their papers: while they were being detained under various pretexts, Baird hastily telegraphed to Murfreesborough for information, and received in reply the proof of the imposture. The two visitors were arrested, and on finding themselves detected acknowledged that they belonged to the enemy's army. Colonel Auton was an old officer of the regular army named Williams, who had served as a chief of squadron in the Sixth cavalry at the outbreak of the war, and after having been discharged had entered the service of the Confederate army. The deserter had become a spy: he was tried during the night, and, with his companion, was hung at nine o'clock in the morning.²

On the 23d of June, Rosecrans issued his marching orders. We shall defer to our fourth volume the recital of the campaign which brought him to Chattanooga.

Nothing of military importance had occurred in Kentucky during the two months which had just elapsed. A few engagements