pany, therefore,
felt a special interest in it. The messenger stated that Captain Lawson
was in great need of help, and General McClellan at once ordered four
companies of infantry and twenty mounted men to move to his assistance.
I had command of the detachment, and left camp about nine o'clock P. M.,
accompanied by a guide. The night was dark. My command moved on silently
and rapidly. After proceeding about three miles, we left the turnpike
and turned onto a narrow, broken, bad road, leading through the woods,
which we followed about eight miles, when we met Captain Lawson's
detachment on its way back. Here we removed the wounded from the farm
wagon in which they had been conveyed thus far, to an ambulance brought
with us for the purpose, countermarched, and reached our quarters about
three o'clock this morning.

I will not undertake to give the details of Captain Lawson's skirmish. I
may say, however, that the number of the enemy killed and wounded,
lacerated and torn, by Corporal Casey, was beyond all computation. Had
the rebels not succeeded in getting a covered bridge between themselves
and the invincible Irishman, he would, if we may believe his own
statement, have annihilated the whole force, and brought back the head
of their commanding officer on the point of his bayonet.

8. This morning, at seven o'clock, our tents were struck, and, with
General McClellan and staff in advance, we moved to Middle Fork bridge.
It was here that Captain Lawson's skirmish on Saturday had occurred. The
man killed had been buried by the Fourth Ohio before our arrival. Almost
every house along the road is deserted by the men, the women sometimes
remaining. The few Union men of this section have, for weeks past, been
hiding away in the hills. Now the secessionists have taken to the woods.
The utmost bitterness of feeling exists between the two. A man was found
to-day, within a half mile of this camp, with his head cut off and
entrails ripped out, probably a Union man who had been hounded down and
killed. The Dutch regiment (McCook's), when it took possession of the
bridge, had a slight skirmish with the enemy, and, I learn, killed two
men. On the day after to-morrow I apprehend the first great battle will
be fought in Western Virginia.

I ate breakfast in Buckhannon at six o'clock A. M., and now, at six
o'clock P. M. am awaiting my second meal.

The boys, I ascertain, searched one secession house on the road, and
found three guns