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June 28 to July 4, 1863
Although Bragg had
saved his army from being taken in detail flank and
rear, his new position at Tullahoma was not much better
than the one he had just left. To be sure the town, and
its entrenchments, protected the main rail line of
communications south, along with critical road routes up
and over the Cumberland Plateau. However, at this new
location, the southern commander faced an Elk River in
his immediate rear that was swollen by all the heavy
rains. Quick moves to take out the Bethpage Bridge, and other crossings, could isolate him north of the river until the
water level lowered. Rosecrans could also strike south
of the Elk, near Cowan and Winchester to sever
his rail link and major road links south. The move
initially to Manchester initially positioned Rosecrans closer to Chattanooga than
was Bragg himself. The Army of Tennessee, however,
was able to stave off total defeat by beating Rosecrans
to Tullahoma, cross the swollen Elk River, and traverse
the Cumberland Plateau escarpment just ahead of the
pursuing Army of the Cumberland.
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