falling back slowly through Crab Orchard. We engaged the enemy all

day and reached Mount Vernon late that night.

The next morning, together with Colonel Wharton, we commenced

obstructing the road, continuously skirmishing with the enemy until

the evening of October 22, we having then arrived at London, where

the enemy ceased to pursue us.

At Wild Cat we were directed to hold our position far two days,

which we had but little difficulty in accomplishing.

On the evening of the 19th I took a small portion of Colonel Frazer's

infantry regiment, which was sent back to assist me, to feel the enemy,

during which my brave young aide, Lieutenant Pointer, was severely

wounded.

This was the only occasion where any infantry engaged the enemy

after the battle of Perryville, although the enemy used infantry almost

continually to engage our cavalry.

After guarding the roads at London and Barboursville until our in-

fantry had reached Cumberland Gap I moved on to Tennessee with my

brigade, Colonel Wharton having preceded me the previous day.

When our army first left Camp Dick Robinson I issued the most

stringent orders to the several cavalry commanders that all stragglers

from the infantry should be forced on to the main body. As far as I

could observe this duty was most thoroughly performed. In my own

brigade a company was kept at work gathering up- the foot-sore and

weary, whom the troopers placed on their horses and walked themselves

by their side.

In this manner all stragglers on the roads we traveled were conveyed

to their commands, no one being left behind to be taken by the enemy

except those who willfully left the road for a great distance to avoid

our guards.

In closing this report I cannot speak in too great praise of the gal-

lantry of the officers and men of the First and Third Alabama Regi-

ments who were always ready to meet the enemy at any moment, per-

formed all duties assigned them, and endured all hardships and priva-

tions without a murmur or complaint. The confidence I naturally placed

in such noble officers and men caused me to call upon them perhaps too

frequently for posts of danger and hardship, yet never did they intimate

that their details were more frequent than other commands, but with

the greatest cheerfulness right bravely performed their double task

thus imposed simply because their commander placed in them unshaken

and implicit trust and confidence. To the brave officers and men of

these regiments and their gallant leaders, Colonels Hagan and Allen, I

tender my warmest thanks.

Colonel [J. W.] Grigsby's excellent Kentucky regiment was with me

during several engagements and did most excellent and efficient service.

Though just organized, the gallantry, skill, and intelligence of their

commander, which seemed to characterize the officers and men of his

regiment, made up in some measure for deficiency in instruction.

The First Kentucky Battalion, commanded by Major Caldwell; Eighth

Confederate Regiment, under Colonel [W. B.] Wade, and the First Confe-

derate Regiment, under Lieutenant Colonel [C. S.] Robertson, were with me at

times and did good service.

The gallant Colonel (now General) Wharton did good work with his

brigade; but as his operations were for the most part of a, separate

character I leave it for him to do justice to the noble officers and men

of his command.

I must also mention the gallantry and uniformly good conduct through