My own gg grandfather James Cockerham was a corporal in the 10th TN US Army and served in middle Tennessee as a blacksmith under General Hatch. James was working out of the headquarters in Tullahoma in early June 1864 when an unruly horse pinned him against a tool box. He was taken by wagon to the 'hospital' at recently commandeered Giles College in Pulaski, TN where he was left to recover from his broken ribs before re-joining the 10th at Nashville prior to the Dec 16-17 battle. During that summer after Ft. Pillow, Forrest continued to raid railroads and supply depots in south Tennessee and northern Alabama, often coordinating with Gen. Joseph Wheeler. The history of the 10th TN regiment (US) was published by University of TN Press in 1984 and contained the following relating to this period:
“On May 31, 1864, the regiment was still in Spalding's Brigade, with headquarters at Tullahoma. On August 31, some detachments were still on the Nashville and Northwestern Railroad, but the brigade, under Lieutenant Colonel Clift, was reported in Spalding's 4th Division, in the District of Northern Alabama, under Brigadier General R. S. Granger. On August 26, General Granger had ordered the 10th and 12th Tennessee Cavalry to Decherd, in the attempt to cut off Confederate Major General Joseph Wheeler, who was raiding Federal communication lines in Middle Tennessee. Major General Robert H. Milroy, Commanding Defenses Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad, with Headquarters at Tullahoma, on August 29, pressed into service the 10th Tennessee as part of an improvised force which he led from Tullahoma to Murfreesboro, Triune, and Pulaski in engagements which prevented Brigadier General John S. Williams from breaking through the line of communications and rejoining General Wheeler. At Pulaski, on September 7, he released the 10th and 12th Tennessee, under Colonel Spalding, to join Brigadier General Lovell H. Rousseau in the pursuit of General Wheeler.
At the time of Confederate Major General Nathan B. Forrest's raid beginning with the capture of Athens, Alabama, on September 24, Colonel Spalding reported that the 10th and 12th Tennessee, under his command, were in the saddle eight days and nights, and traveled 230 miles, with frequent skirmishes, the chief of which were at the Elk River Bridge on September 25, at Sulphur Branch and near Pulaski on the 26th. In this campaign he reported 47 casualties for the two regiments. On September 30 1864, the 10th, under Captain D. W. Baker, was reported at Pulaski, where Brigadier General J. C. Starkweather was in command of the post."
Eight days and 230 miles looking for Nathan Forrest. Did they find him? Not until he was ready.