camp and acting assistant adjutant-genera to Colonel Miller, came up, and brought with him plans and specifications for building stockades at the bridges, but no plan was sent for the fortifications at Gallatin.

Lieutenant Howland inquired about how we were progressing with the stockades, and seemed satisfied that we were pushing their erection forward as rapidly as possible. Lieutenant Keegan went to Nashville that same evening to get some to work with. A box of some fifteen axes came up, but Lieutenant Keegan never returned, and Lieutenant Platt and men were ordered next day to Nashville.

At this time we had about 68 negroes on hand, and knew that this, together with the fact that it had become known that se were putting up fortifications, would only greatly increase our danger at Gallatin, and our vigilance was increased as much as possible.

The negroes were sent about 7 miles above Gallatin, to where the timber was most plentiful and better suited to the purpose, and Lieutenant Weatherford was appointed to oversee the work, and a guard was furnished him to protect the negroes and keep them at work. He is a pushing, industrious man, and worked the negroes hard. They were getting along well. The stockades were about cut, and Colonel Boone had telegraphed to Nashville to have a construction train sent up to distribute the stockades at each of the bridges, and a part of the negroes were brought to camp to begin the erection of the fortifications at Gallatin the next day, and had we been undisturbed for two days longer he fortifications would have been about completed.

Monday evening, August 11, Colonel Boone received a telegraphic dispatch from Colonel Bruce, commanding Bowling Green, to send about 100 men out the Scottsville pike toward La Fayette, to intercept some fine beef cattle that the rebels were driving south.

This dispatch came about 3 o'clock p. m. We had no way to mount the men and if they marched out there they could not drive the cattle back very well, they being of foot; so Colonel Boone did not send them.

Late in the evening, however, Colonel Bruce sent another dispatch, saying he had sent a force of cavalry in that direction, and wanted Colonel Boone to send those men to operate with the cavalry. They were going directly in the direction from which we apprehended an attack; and as we had previously been ordered to co-operate with Colonel Bruce Colonel Boone thought that sending out this force spoken of would serve three purposes: to reconnoiter the country in the direction of the enemy, to press horses, which were much needed, and to get the cattle if possible. Accordingly Companies B and F were detailed for that purpose, and Captain White, commanding, was ordered by Colonel Boone to press horses for all the men after they had got some 6 miles from Gallatin; to keep out a good advanced and rear guard, and it they came across the rebels in force to back upon the camp at Gallatin.

The precaution was taken to slip them out quietly at night after the people had retired, and they got off without being observed, and no one but Captains White and Noble knew whither they were going.

Captain Noble, commanding Company F, was officer of the day. As he was going with his company I took his place. The rest of the officers were pretty well worked down, and Colonel Boone ordered the very strictest vigilance; so I took the place of officer of the day myself. I had posted the new picket at sunset and given them good instructions.

I put out 34 pickets (foot), 1 sergeant and 1 corporal, a patrol for the town, and guards for the water-tank and depot, and 2 mounted pickets of 2 men each. I sent one out the Hartsville pike and the other out the Scottsville pike with instructions to keep the strictest watch, and