uard of the enemy's column. It reads as follows:

"COLONEL HAMAR: Retire the artillery when you
think best. Hold the position as long as you can
with your sharpshooters; when forced back, write
to Crew to that effect. Anderson is on your right.
Report all movements to me on this road.

"JNO. A. WHARTON, Brigadier-General.
"July 2d, 1863."

I have been almost constantly in the saddle, and have hardly slept a
quiet three hours since we started on this expedition. My brigade has
picked up probably a hundred prisoners.

4. At twelve o'clock, noon, my brigade was ordered to take the advance,
and make the top of the Cumberland before nightfall; proceeding four
miles, we reached the base of the mountain, and began the ascent. The
road was exceedingly rough, and the rebels had made it impassable, for
artillery, by rolling great rocks into it and felling trees across it.
The axmen were ordered up, and while they were clearing away the
obstructions I rode ahead with the cavalry to the summit, and some four
miles on the ridge beyond. In the meantime, General Negley ordered the
artillery and infantry to return to the foot of the mountain, where we
are now encamped.

5. Since we left Murfreesboro (June 24) rain has been falling almost
constantly; to-day it has been coming down in torrents, and the low
grounds around us are overflowed.

Rousseau's division is encamped near us on the left, Reynolds in the
rear.

The other day, while sitting on the fence by the roadside smoking my
pipe, waiting for my troops to get in readiness to march, some one cried
out, "Here is a philosopher," and General Reynolds rode up and shook my
hand very cordially.

My brigade has been so fortunate, thus far, as to win the confidence of
the commanding generals. It has, during the last week, served as a sort
of a cow-catcher for Negley's division. At Elk river General Thomas rode
up, while I was making my dispositions to attack the enemy, and approved
what I had done and was doing.

We hear that the Army of the East has won a decisive victory in
Pennsylvania. This is grand! It will show the rebels that it will not do
to put their feet on free soil. Now if Grant succeeds in taking
Vicksburg, and Rosecrans drives Bragg beyond the Tennessee, the country
will have reason to rejoice with exceeding great joy.

6. An old lady, whose home is on the side of the moun