side. The enemy,
as usual, wanted to be "let alone." Considerable rain fell during the
night.

Captain Standart and Lieutenant Bennett, who had remained at Louisville on
business, joined us the next day, October 3d. The morning was cloudy, with
some rain. At 9 o'clock got started. The clouds swept away shortly after,
giving place to the genial sun, and the remainder of the day was quite
pleasant. At 10 A. M. passed through the small town of Mount Washington.
Here was where the skirmish of the day previous had taken place. At 3
o'clock crossed a small stream, called Floyd's Fork. The bridge had been
destroyed by the Rebels. We had no difficulty in fording the stream, owing
to the low stage of water. This was six miles from Mount Washington, and
fourteen miles from Bardstown. Just beyond here our advance cavalry were
fired upon by the Rebels, with artillery from a masked battery. A halt was
at once ordered, and instant preparation made for action. Two of our guns,
under command of Lieutenant Bennett, were moved forward some two miles,
and were then fired upon. The pieces were immediately posted on a
commanding place near by, and opened on the enemy. A few shots were
exchanged, when the firing soon ceased. Scouting parties were now sent out
to reconnoiter, but returned without making any discovery of importance.
Nothing more, worthy of notice, occurred during the night.

Having ascertained that the Rebels had retired during the night, at 10
o'clock next morning, October 4th, we again moved forward. It was now
evident that the enemy were gradually falling back, but had left a rear
guard for the purpose of retarding our march, and to cause us as much
trouble as possible, without bringing on a general engagement. About three
miles from our last night's camping ground we again crossed Floyd's Fork,
and near where the Lexington pike intersects the Bardstown and Louisville
road. We here found that the bridge had not been destroyed. About one-half
mile beyond we came to where the enemy had thrown up a sort of barricade
against a fence, and from which they had, no doubt, intended to give us a
surprise, but had thought better of the matter. Another mile, and we came
to a public building, called the Barclay House, and located on a high
elevation. Here, the night previous, the Rebels had posted their
artillery. Our forces were again placed in position, and scouts sent out
to ascertain the enemy's whereabouts. In two hours they retur