and hills. I believe the war will run into a war of emancipation, and
when it ends African slavery will have ended also. It would not,
perhaps, be politic to say so, but if I had the army in my own hands, I
would take a short cut to what I am sure will be the end--commence the
work of emancipation at once, and leave every foot of soil behind me
free.

10. From the best information obtainable, we are led to believe the
mountains and hills lying between this place and Beverly are strongly
fortified and full of men. We can see a part of the enemy's
fortifications very plainly from a hill west of camp. Our regiment was
ordered to be in readiness to march, and was under arms two hours.
During this time the Dutch regiment (McCook's), the Fourth Ohio, four
pieces of artillery, one company of cavalry, with General McClellan,
marched to the front, the Dutchmen in advance. They proceeded, say a
mile, when they overhauled the enemy's pickets, and in the little
skirmish which ensued one man of McCook's regiment was shot, and two of
the enemy captured. By these prisoners it is affirmed that eight or nine
thousand men are in the hills before us, well armed, with heavy
artillery planted so as to command the road for miles. How true this is
we can not tell. Enough, however, has been learned to satisfy McClellan
that it is not advisable to attack to-day. What surprises me is that the
General should know so little about the character of the country, the
number of the enemy, and the extent of his fortifications.

During the day, Colonel Marrow, apparently under a high state of
excitement, informed me that he had just had an interview with George
(he usually speaks of General McClellan in this familiar way), that an
attack was to be made, and the Third was to lead the column. He desired
me, therefore, to get out my horse at once, take four men with me, and
search the woods in our front for a practicable road to the enemy. I
asked if General McClellan had given him any information that would aid
me in this enterprise, such as the position of the rebels, the location
of their outposts, their distance from us, and the character of the
country between our camp and theirs. He replied that George had not. It
occurred to me that four men were rather too few, if the work
contemplated was a reconnoissance, and rather too many if the service
required was simply that for which spies are usually employed. I
therefore spoke distrustingly of the prop