at the time designated and found the place evacuated.  The capture of forts Henry and Donelson had broken the line the enemy had taken from Columbus to Bowling Green, and it was known that he was falling back from the eastern point of this line and that Buell was following, or at least advancing.  I should have sent troops to Nashville at the time I sent to Clarksville, but my transportation was limited and there were many prisoners to be forwarded north.

None of the reinforcements from Buell’s army arrived until the 24th of February.  Then General Nelson came up, with orders to report to me with two brigades, he having sent one brigade to Cairo.  I knew General Buell was advancing on Nashville from the north, and I was advised by scouts that the rebels were leaving that place, and trying to get out all the supplies they could.  Nashville was, at that time, one of the best provisioned posts in the South.  I had no use for reinforcements now, and thinking Buell would like to have his troops again, I ordered Nelson to proceed to Nashville without debarking at Fort Donelson.  I sent a gunboat also as a convoy.  The Cumberland River was very high at the time; the railroad bridge at Nashville had been burned, and all river craft had been destroyed, or would be before the enemy left.  Nashville is on the west bank of the Cumberland, and Buell was approaching from the east.  I thought the steamers carrying Nelson’s division would be useful in ferrying the balance of Buell’s forces across.  I ordered Nelson to put himself in communication with Buell as soon as possible, and if he found him more than two days off from Nashville to return below the city and await orders.  Buell, however, had already arrived in person at Edgefield, opposite Nashville, and Mitchell’s division of his command reached there the same day.  Nelson immediately took possession of the city.

After Nelson had gone and before I had learned of Buell’s arrival, I sent word to department headquarters that I should go to Nashville myself on the 28th if I received no orders to the contrary.  Hearing nothing, I went as I had informed my superior officer I would do.  On arriving at Clarksville I saw a fleet of steamers at the shore—­the same that had taken Nelson’s division—­and troops going aboard.  I landed and called on the commanding officer, General C. F. Smith.  As soon as he saw me he showed an order he had just received from Buell in these words: 

Nashville, February 25, 1862.

General C. F. Smith, Commanding U. S. Forces, Clarksville.

General:—­The landing of a portion of our troops, contrary to my intentions, on the south side of the river has compelled me to hold this side at every hazard.  If the enemy should assume the offensive, and I am assured by reliable persons that in view of my position such is his intention, my force present is altogether inadequate, consisting of only 15,000 men.  I have to request you, therefore, to come forward with all the available force under your command.  So important do I consider the occasion that I think it necessary to give this communication all the force of orders, and I send four boats, the Diana, Woodford, John Rain, and Autocrat, to bring you up.  In five or six days my force will probably be sufficient to relieve you.