-guard to pursue and try to stop the fugitives. We eagerly watched the
chase. A narrow valley separated us from the elevation upon which the
farm-house stood, and a small stream with low banks ran through the bottom
of the valley. The pursuit was active, the guardsmen ran their horses down
the slope, leaped the pool, and rushed up the opposite hill; but the
runaways were on fresh horses, and had no rough ground to pass, and so
they escaped. One of them lost the horse he was leading, and it was caught
by a guardsman. This was the first exhibition we have seen of a desire on
the part of the inhabitants to avoid us.

The General established head-quarters along-side the house where we first
discovered the Rebel party. Our position is the most beautiful one we have
yet found. To the west stretches an undulating prairie, separated from us
by a valley, into which our camping-ground subsides with a mild declivity;
to the north is a range of low hills, their round sides unbroken by shrub
or tree; while to the south stretches an extensive tract of low land,
densely covered with timber, and resplendent with the colors of autumn.

Before dark the whole of Asboth's division came up and encamped on the
slopes to the west and north: not less than seven thousand men are here.
This evening the scene is beautiful. I sit in the door of my lodge, and as
far as the eye can reach the prairie is dotted with tents, the dark forms
of men and horses, the huge white-topped wagons,--and a thousand fires
gleam through the faint moonlight. Our band is playing near the General's
quarters, its strains are echoed by a score of regimental bands, and their
music is mingled with the numberless noises of camp, the hum of voices,
the laughter from the groups around the fires, the clatter of hoofs as
some rider hurries to the General, the distant challenges of the sentries,
the neighing of horses, the hoarse bellowing of the mules, and the
clinking of the cavalry anvils. This, at last, is the romance of war. How
soon will our ears be saluted by sterner music?

_Camp Hudson, October 15th._ We moved at seven o'clock this morning. For
the first four miles the road ran through woods intersected by small
streams. The ground was as rough as it could well be, and the teams which
had started before us were struggling through the mire and over the rocks.
We dashed past them at a fast trot, and in half an hour came upon a high
prairie. The prairies of Southern Missour