Smith, who stated that the general was with his force about 2 miles from Paris, on the Lexington turnpike, and that he directed that the force under my command move as quickly as possible to the Fair Grounds, on the same road, the messenger saying he had thought it proper to destroy the general's written order. The command was moved forward as rapidly as possible, but before we had gone half a mile a gentleman rode up and informed us that Morgan had been driven from Paris by General Smith's forces and was retreating toward Winchester. We still pressed on as fast as we could, arrived at Paris about 10.30 a. m., and found that the marauders had left about 8 a. m.

The force under my command was joined to General Smith's, and we remained at Paris until Sunday morning, the 20 th instant, about 7 or 8 o'clock, when General Smith, taking all the cavalry and Captain Nicklin's artillery, moved toward Winchester. By his order I was placed in command of all the infantry, consisting of the forces before named, some of the Cincinnati police, an a portion of the Eighteenth Kentucky Volunteers, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Landram, and the artillery from Lexington, and directed to move on after him toward Winchester, distant from Paris 18 miles, where we arrived about 5 p. m., having obtained all the wagons we could along the road to haul our weary soldiers, but found that Morgan had gone through the town Saturday evening.

Shortly after we arrived at Winchester General Smith directed me to detail about 150 infantry and place them in wagons, to be ready to move that night with the cavalry toward Richmond, Madison County. At my suggestion the general modified his order so far as to allow me to put in wagons all of the Eleventh Michigan (Colonel Stoughton) that were fit for duty, the company of regulars, an as many of the Eighteenth Kentucky (Colonel Landram) as we could get wagons for, leaving the remaining forces under the command of Colonel Mahan, Fifty-fifth Indiana, and before 11 o'clock that night we had upward of 500 infantry in wagons and moving toward Richmond, and though we had to ferry the Kentucky River we arrived at Richmond, 22 miles from Winchester, about 10 a. m. Monday, the 21st instant, but found that the marauders had left the evening before about 3 o'clock.

Late Monday evening I received orders from Generals Boyle and Smith to move to Lexington, 26 miles from Richmond, with the infantry, which I did on tuesday, 22nd instant. by order from General Boyle turned over my command to Colonel Warner, commanding post, and returned here on Wednesday. At Lexington I sent home all the wagons and horses that I could find that we and taken in our march.

While it is cause of bitter mortification to us all that we were unable to overtake the marauding chief and his lawless band, we feel that we did all that we could under the circumstances.

I cannot close this report without returning my sincere thanks to Colonels Williams, Stoughton, and Mahan for their energetic co-operation during our rapid and fatiguing marches, all acting the part of prompt and efficient officers. Colonel Stoughton was with me all the time with his gallant regiment, and I feel indebted to this brave officer for his hearty and efficient aid.

The gallant Lieutenant-Colonel Landram also was prompt and attentive to his command.

Lieutenant Chadwick, of the eleventh Michigan, who acted as assistant adjutant general until we arrived at Paris, where he was taken ill, rendered me great service.

Colonel James M. Shackelford, formerly commanding officer of the