are doing guard duty in the neighborhood of
the camp. I do not, by any means, approve of throwing out such heavy
pickets and scattering our men so much. We are in the presence of a
force probably twice as large as our own, and should keep our troops
well in hand.

Our scouts have been busy; but, although they have brought in a few
prisoners, mostly farmers residing in the vicinity of the enemy's camp,
we have obtained but little information respecting the rebels. I intend
to send out a scouting party in the morning. Lieutenant Driscoll will
command it. He is a brave, and, I think, prudent officer, and will leave
camp at four o'clock, follow the road six miles, then take to the
mountains, and endeavor to reach a point where he can overlook the enemy
and estimate his strength.

7. The scouting party sent out this morning were conveyed by wagons six
miles up the valley, and were to take to the mountains, half a mile
beyond. I instructed Lieutenant Driscoll to exercise the utmost caution,
and not take his men further than he thought reasonably safe. Of course
perfect safety is not expected. Our object, however, is to get
information, not to give it by losing the squad.

At eleven o'clock a courier came in hot haste from the front, to inform
us that a flag of truce, borne by a Confederate major, with an escort of
six dragoons, was on the way to camp. Colonel Wagner and I rode out to
meet the party, and were introduced to Major Lee, the son, as I
subsequently ascertained, of General Robert E. Lee, of Virginia. The
Major informed us that his communication could only be imparted to our
General, and a courier was at once dispatched to Huttonville.

At four o'clock General Reynolds arrived, accompanied by Colonel
Sullivan and a company of cavalry. Wagner and I joined the General's
party, and all galloped to the outpost, to interview the Confederate
major. His letter contained a proposition to exchange prisoners captured
by the rebels at Manassas for those taken at Rich mountain. The General
appointed a day on which a definite answer should be returned, and Major
Lee, accompanied by Lieutenant-Colonel Owen and myself, rode to the
outlying picket station, where his escort had been halted and detained.

Major Lee is near my own age, a heavy set, but well-proportioned man,
somewhat inclined to boast, not overly profound, and thoroughly
impregnated with the idea that he is a Virginian and a Lee withal. As I
shook hands at partin