Mobile) to Chattanooga and his wagon train marching overland to join him at Rome.  Price was at this time at Holly Springs, Mississippi, with a large force, and occupied Grand Junction as an outpost.  I proposed to the general-in-chief to be permitted to drive him away, but was informed that, while I had to judge for myself, the best use to make of my troops was not to scatter them, but hold them ready to reinforce Buell.

The movement of Bragg himself with his wagon trains to Chattanooga across country, while his troops were transported over a long round-about road to the same destination, without need of guards except when in my immediate front, demonstrates the advantage which troops enjoy while acting in a country where the people are friendly.  Buell was marching through a hostile region and had to have his communications thoroughly guarded back to a base of supplies.  More men were required the farther the National troops penetrated into the enemy’s country.  I, with an army sufficiently powerful to have destroyed Bragg, was purely on the defensive and accomplishing no more than to hold a force far inferior to my own.

On the 2d of August I was ordered from Washington to live upon the country, on the resources of citizens hostile to the government, so far as practicable.  I was also directed to “handle rebels within our lines without gloves,” to imprison them, or to expel them from their homes and from our lines.  I do not recollect having arrested and confined a citizen (not a soldier) during the entire rebellion.  I am aware that a great many were sent to northern prisons, particularly to Joliet, Illinois, by some of my subordinates with the statement that it was my order.  I had all such released the moment I learned of their arrest; and finally sent a staff officer north to release every prisoner who was said to be confined by my order.  There were many citizens at home who deserved punishment because they were soldiers when an opportunity was afforded to inflict an injury to the National cause.  This class was not of the kind that were apt to get arrested, and I deemed it better that a few guilty men should escape than that a great many innocent ones should suffer.

On the 14th of August I was ordered to send two more divisions to Buell.  They were sent the same day by way of Decatur.  On the 22d Colonel Rodney Mason surrendered Clarksville with six companies of his regiment.

Colonel Mason was one of the officers who had led their regiments off the field at almost the first fire of the rebels at Shiloh.  He was by nature and education a gentleman, and was terribly mortified at his action when the battle was over.  He came to me with tears in his eyes and begged to be allowed to have another trial.  I felt great sympathy for him and sent him, with his regiment, to garrison Clarksville and Donelson.  He selected Clarksville for his headquarters, no doubt because he regarded