they were spies belonging to the enemy, but as their numbers increased, each corroborating the story of the other, I at last became convinced that the matter was worthy of notice.

About this time (10th instant) I was informed by a courier that there was a party of about 40 men some 5 or 6 miles toward the mountain trying to come to us and about the same number of the enemy's cavalry were between them and Decatur trying to intercept and capture them. As my order were to defend the town only I did not feel at liberty to send out assistance to there Union men without further orders, and there being no telegraphic communication with you I at once informed General Buell by telegraph of the circumstances, whereupon I received the following reply:

JUNTSVILLE, ALA.,

-----

--, 1862.

Colonel A. D. STREIGHT, Fifty-first Indiana Volunteers:

Send out what force you deem sufficient to assist the Union men in and drive off the rebel cavalry, and see that they are not playing a trick to draw you out by these reports.

JAMES B. FRY,

Colonel and Chief of Staff.

Owing to a storm that was passing over the telegraph lines at the time above was not received until near three hours after I sent General Buell the first dispatch. As soon as I received the foregoing instructions from Colonel Fry i at once ordered three companies of my regiment, under Major Colescott, to cross the river with their arms and full 40 rounds of cartridges. This was done in the least possible time, but just as the tree companies were in line ready to march another courier arrived, scanting that the Alabama boys had succeeded in avoiding rebels and had got within our lines; but short time elapsed before they arrived. Such were the manifestations of joy and gladness exhibited by them that all doubts were fully expelled from my mind, whereupon I resolved to go to the assistant of those who were left behind, providing I could get permission to do so. Consequently I telegraphed the following:

DECATUR, ALA., July 10, 1862-7 p. m.

Colonel JAMES B. FRY, Assistant Adjutant-General, Chief of Staff:

SIR: I have the honor to report to you that the party of Alabama volunteers has just arrived and 40 of them have been mustered into the service of the United States. Their accounts of the hardships endured are sufficient to enlist the sympathies of the hardest heart. They report that there are several hundred who would come but for the danger of passing from the foot of the mountains here, some 25 miles distant. If you will give me one company of cavalry to take with my regiment I am fully satisfied that I could, by going, say, 15 miles toward the foot of the mountains and then sending out a few of these new recruits to notify their neighbors, within four days' time bring back with me at least 500 volunteers. If you will allow me to make the experiment, my word for it I will return safely with my command.

I am, sir you most obedient servant,

A. D. STREIGHT,

Colonel Fifty-first Indiana Volunteers.

Nothing was heard from the foregoing dispatch till about 2 p. m., the next day (July 11), when Captain Lennard handed me the following communication from Colonel Fry to General Wood, with verbal instructions to carry out its provisions:

HEADQUARTERS,
Huntsville, Ala., July 11, 1862.

General WOOD:

Colonel Streight reports that there are several hundred men about 25 miles south of Decatur who are trying to come on to join our army and Colonel Streight is anx-