scattered that further pursuit was useless. On the next day, we started
back for Knoxville, and arrived there on the 16th of October, 1863. From
Loudon to Rhea Town, and from Rhea Town to Knoxville, made a distance of
226 miles, a daily average of a little more than 22 miles. For two days
we lay at Knoxville.

On the 20th, we marched again for Loudon. We camped that night at
Campbell's Station, seventeen miles from Knoxville. We next encamped at
Lenoir's Station. This was a very large plantation owned by a Dr.
Lenoir. Its lands were very extensive and beautifully situated. The
village consisted of a railroad station, the owner's mansion, large farm
buildings, yarn factory, houses for overseers and a hundred or more
cabins for his slaves. He, the doctor, was a large slave owner, and a
violent rebel. He had extensive fields of maize; one of which was
estimated to be four miles in length. The width was considerably less.
Most of the corn was as high as a man could reach on horseback.

On October 22nd, we marched to Loudon and crossed the river. The village
of Loudon is on the left bank of the Tennessee. Soon after the retreat
of General Forrest, referred to above, the writer was detailed to open a
recruiting office in the village of Loudon, as our several batteries
were all short of men. I duly opened the office in a small building
contiguous to a hotel owned by a Mr. Hoss, called by our men "The old
hoss." I had two men with me, one a corporal, I appointed clerk; the
other man acted as guard and orderly. Handbills were printed and
distributed in the vicinity, and on the morning of the second day, as I
looked out of the office, I had an idea that a large squadron of cavalry
was drawn up before the hotel. The men were thin and lanky, also their
horses were the same. All carried guns, some double barrel shotguns;
some ancient rifles, and a few modern carbines. I remained in my office,
and soon two of the riders dismounted and presented themselves before
the guard, who, with drawn saber and revolver in belt, upheld the
dignity of the United States Government in the eyes of these horsemen.
The United States flag was duly floating in the morning air, and all
around were nailed the handbills asking for recruits for the U. S.
Volunteer Military service. The men who dismounted represented the whole
squad. They inquired of the guard if they could "jine" the Union army,
and the guard referred them to me for an answer. They came insi