ORs: (US) Col. J. B. Fry to Gen. T. J. Wood - July 16, 1862

War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies
Series 1, Volume 16, Part 2, Page 165

HEADQUARTERS,
Huntsville, July 16, 1862.

General T. J. Wood, Shelbyville:

(Telegraph as far up Chattanooga road as possible ; to be forwarded by any commanding officer with a party of cavalry.)

Your letter received. It will be best for you to halt at Shelbyville and close up and await further instructions. Throw two regiments of infantry, two-thirds of your cavalry, and a battery forward to Wartrace, and reconnoiter the roads toward Murfreesborough and McMinnville. It is reported that the enemy left Murfreesborough on the morning of the 14th and the main body of them took the road toward McMinnville. They may or may not have gone there. The rations which were to have joined you on the night of the 14th did not leave here until daylight of the 15th, and it is hoped they have reached you, though your messengers did not meet them. They may have been captured, as you sent no escort for them. The 25,000 rations left Reynolds’ Station at 3 p. m. on the 14th for Fayetteville under escort of two companies of cavalry.
Supplies will be sent you for present use by rail via Stevenson, but it is hoped you will soon get in communication with Nashville. General W. S. Smith has a force at Tullahoma and is ordered to communicate with you and to put a guard at Duck River Bridge. We must protect all the road we can. Captain Gamage, your commissary, did not go out with the provisions on the morning of the 14th, having an abscess or something of the kind. He is ordered to take cars to-morrow via Stevenson and join you.

JAMES B. FRY.