ington dates of that day. During the whole of the time it was raining heavy; my situation was anything but an agreeable one, sitting in the mud, with my feet in the water up to my knees.

At 11 p. m. the general, being satisfied that I had drained Louisville of all the news, concluded to close for the night,a nd he verbally gave me the following message to send, dating and signing it as below:

NASHVILLE, TENN., July 10, 1862.

HENRY DENT, Provost-Marshal, Louisville, Ky.:

General Forrest, commanding brigade, attacked Murfreesborough, routing our forces, and is now moving on Nashville. Morgan is reported to be between Scottsville and Gallatin, and will act in concert with Forrest, it is believed. Inform general commanding.

STANLEY MATTHEWS,

Provost-Marshal.

I am not aware that General Morgan claims to be a prophet or a son of a prophet, but Forrest did attack Murfreesborough and rout the enemy.

On arriving at Lebanon, July 12, I accompanied the advance guard into town and took charge of the telegraph office immediately. This was, as you know, at 3.30 a. m. I adjusted the instrument and examined the circuit. No other operator on the line appeared to be on hand this early. I then examined all the dispatches of the day previous; among them I found the following:

LEBANON, KY., July 11, 1862.

General BOYLE, Louisville, Ky.:

I have positive information that there is 400 marauders in 20 miles of this pace, on the old Lexington road, approaching Lebanon. Send re-enforcement immediately.

A. Y. JOHNSON,

Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding.

At 7.30 a. m. operator, signing Z, commenced calling B, which I had ascertained by the books in the office was the signal for Lebanon office. I answered the call, when the following conversation between Z and myself ensued:

To B: What news? Any more skirmishing after your last message?-Z

To Z: we drove what little cavalry there was away.-B

To B: Has the train arrived yet?-Z.

To Z: Numbers About how many troops on train?-B.

To B: About 500.-Z

My curiosity belting excited as to what station Z was, and to ascertain without creating any suspicion, I adopted the following plan:

To Z: A gentleman here in the office bets me the cigars you cannot spell the name of your station correctly.-B

To B: Take the bet. L-e-b-a-n-o-n Junction. Is this not right? How did he think I would spell it?-Z

To Z: He gives it up. He thought you would put two b's in Lebanon.-B

To B: Ha! ha! He is a green one.-Z.

To Z: Yes; that's so.-B

To Z: What time did train with soldiers pass, Z?-B.

To B: At 8,30 last night.-Z.

To Z: Very singular where the train is.-B

To B: Yes, it is. Let me know when it arrives.-Z

At 8.20 Z called me up and says:

To B: The train has returned. They had a fight with the rebels at New Hopes. The commanding officer awaits orders here.- Z