He said, however, that he would still be at Iuka by two o'clock the next day.

I did not believe this possible because of the distance and the condition of the roads, which was bad; besides, troops after a forced march of twenty miles are not in a good condition for fighting the moment they get through.

It might do in marching to relieve a beleaguered garrison, but not to make an assault.

I immediately sent Ord a copy of Rosecrans' dispatch and ordered him to be in readiness to attack the moment he heard the sound of guns to the south or south-east.

He was instructed to notify his officers to be on the alert for any indications of battle.