A problem of supplies

[RebProf]

The reason for the existence of the Nashville & Decatur RR seems to have been to provide a shortcut from Nashville to Memphis. Without the N&D the route from Nashville to Memphis would have been via Bridgeport, Ala.

Bragg used the N&D in the opening months of 1863 to draw supplies from around the Columbia area and ship them to Tullahoma. Although Columbia to Tullahoma would have been about 45 miles by road it was faster to send supplies south along the N&D to the Memphis & Charleston near Decatur, then along the M&C (or by boat on the Tennessee) to Bridgeport, then back up the Nashville & Chattanooga to Tullahoma.

Forrest wrecked the N&D in his Sept 1864 raid into Middle Tennessee, moving along that road from Athens to Pulaski. Since this was only a secondary Union supply line loss of the railroad had no affect on the Union armies in Georgia.

[larry_cockerham]

RebProf, you're a big help as usual. Please also peek occasionally at my posting of the chronology of the Army of Tennessee in another thread in this list "this day in 1864" and offer corrections or additions please as you see fit or have the urge. Thanks again. Seems the Army of Tennessee didn't have 1, a train, 2, time and three, two much equipment to utilize the Decatur railroad in their retreat, which as you say Forrest had already dismanted anyway. That was a most brutal set of circumstances.
John Bell Hood should be remembered for his management skills.

[Stoneyreb]

Must say with your question you said it was kind of like the west was a side show. Well you hit the nail on the head look who were the ring masters-Bragg and Hood.