no way to get my horse down this cliff other than southward, I was
compelled to abandon him, a thing that gave me considerable uneasiness of
mind; I hated to part with so valuable a servant that had carried me
safely through the campaign of '61, under Gen. Fremont, through Kentucky
and Tennessee to Corinth, Miss., back to Ohio and through all the
wanderings of the 7th O. V. C., including this masterly "raid," being yet
good in flesh and unbroken in spirit; to part with such a friend was no
light affair. But with all the horrors of Libby Prison on one hand and
life and liberty on the other, I was not long in making up my mind which
course to pursue.

I stripped my horse of everything and bid him adieu. Taking a strap from
the saddle, I buckled my blankets together, ran my saber through, threw it
over my shoulder and began the descent, and upon reaching the foot found
myself in a deep dell, surrounded by high peaks of craggy rocks. The
timber being undergrown with laurel through which ran a brook of clear
water.

After refreshing myself, I followed the course to the stream for about two
miles which brought me to a stream known as Clear Fork, which I followed
for a few miles, coming to a miserable old hut in which lived two old
people, who had passed their four score years, and in coming up to this
hovel I heard considerable talking.

I sent my companion close to the hut to eaves drop, and finding who were
its occupants, when he returned he reported "all right."

On entering the house I found ten or twelve of our own soldiers, among
them a grand son of the occupants of the house.

The old man was grinding corn on a hand mill, while the old lady was
baking bread and cakes for the hungry soldiers. I ate a few morsels, and
during the time I explained to them my situation and where my horse had
been left.

The old gentleman gave me some encouragement by saying he thought he
could get the horse. I told him he should have fifty dollars upon
delivering the horse to me, and he at once started in search of him, while
I went up on the side of the mountain; spread my blanket and went to
sleep.

The old man returned in the evening without the horse. I procured a guide
and set by a foot-path over the mountains, traveling all night, reaching
London, Ky., twenty-four hours in advance of the command. The column
coming up, we continued our march until reaching Lancaster, on the 1st day
of July, being twenty days out.

The men suf