HISTORY OF THE ORPHAN BRIGADE.

day; but at 9 o'clock that night it again moved with other cavalry under Gen. Wheeler to Rosecrans' rear, and pressed to within eight miles of Nashville. At Cox's Hill, the First Kentucky, being in the rear, found the advance engaged with the enemy (Saturday morning, January 3d). The command was hastily drawn up and dismounted, preparatory to an attack on the Federal left; but Wheeler, having captured a wagon train and begun the work of destroying what he could not remove, was assailed by four regiments of infantry and forced to retire, and Buford had orders to withdraw before he could attack.

Returning to the vicinity of Murfreesboro' the brigade resumed the position of the day before (at Mrs. Washington's), where it rested till sunrise Sunday morning (Jan. 4), when Buford was notified that the cavalry would take up the march in rear of Bragg's retreating columns, whereupon he retired through town and made part of the rearguard proceeding southward by the Shelbyville pike.

Some fighting took place en route to Tullahoma and Shelbyville, opposite which latter place Polk's Corps halted, while Hardee took position at Tullahoma ; but no detailed information is obtainable as to the particular part taken by the First Cavalry.

While at Winchester, before he had established headquarters at Tullahoma, farther north, Bragg issued an order (Jan. 7, 1863,) that Wharton and Buford should "cover the front of the army," while Wheeler should proceed to operate on the enemy's rear. Thus engaged, the First Kentucky did not accompany Wheeler on his expedition to the Cumberland River, thence to Harpeth Shoals, during which he captured and destroyed transports and a large quantity of military stores, and took many prisoners.

On Jan. 30, 1863, Buford was relieved and ordered to report to Gen. Pemberton. The Fifth and Sixth Kentucky were returned to Morgan, while the First Kentucky fell under the general direction of Wheeler, who had been assigned to the command of all the cavalry in Middle Tennessee. Nothing of unusual importance occurred until Rosecrans began his movement from Murfreesboro', June, 1863, which forced Bragg to retire to Chattanooga. In general it was kept well forward, and almost daily and nightly employed during these months in scouting and outpost duty, and was frequently engaged in skirmishing with the pickets of the enemy. The comparative inaction of the main army brought little rest (rather increased responsibility and care) for the cavalry.

The First Kentucky was on duty at Hoover's Gap, east of the Chattanooga railroad, when the Federal army began to press in force, by the different roads, upon Bragg's position (June 24, 1863). About 10 o'clock that morning, the pickets of the First were driven in, and the