n absent about
a week, and had covered in all about 200 miles. The cause of this rapid
movement from Loudon to New Market was a rumored attack by the enemy
upon our forces in southwestern Virginia. The cause of our return was a
dispatch from General Halleck to General Burnside, notifying him that
two divisions of General Lee's Army of Northern Virginia had been sent
to reinforce General Bragg, and he desired him, General Burnside, to go
to General Rosecrans' aid as soon as possible.

On the 23rd of September our battery crossed the Tennessee at Loudon by
the aid of a single flat boat large enough to take over only one team
and carriage at a time. It took all day and most of the night to effect
the crossing. Soon after crossing, we took up the march for Sweetwater,
a station sixteen miles south from Loudon, on the east Tennessee and
Georgia railroad. We had no sooner arrived at Sweetwater than we were
ordered to countermarch, and away we went back to Loudon. On our arrival
there, we were ordered into a rebel fort to the right of the village
facing south. This hill was in a bend of the river. A pontoon bridge had
been laid across the river and troops of all arms were continually
crossing to the south bank. There strong lines of battle were formed,
and in expectation of a severe conflict, we awaited the approach of
General Forrest, who was steadily driving back our cavalry and mounted
infantry upon Loudon. We were all anxious for a brush with the famous
General Forrest, and had he assailed our position he would have met with
a hot reception. This was the 28th of September, 1863.

Forrest was reported to be advancing with a large mounted force,
estimated by citizens and negroes from 3,000 to 15,000 men. We supposed
that on the morning of the 29th we would have a royal battle on the
banks of the Tennessee. But day dawned and no attack was delivered, and
soon word came from our mounted force that Forrest had commenced his
retreat down the valley during the night, while we were watering and
feeding our horses and mules and inspecting ammunition. From October 1st
to the 5th, we were busy collecting forage. In our wagons, and carefully
covered by the forage, were carcasses of hogs and sheep. Our company
cooks served up rations which could only be fully appreciated by eating.
Men, horses and mules were growing fat, sleek and handsome.

On the 6th of October, we received orders to report to our first
division of the Ninth Army C