who were suffering intensely for the want of it. There was a small pool in the bed of a little stream to the right of Loomis' two pieces, to which the Forty-second Indiana was directed in order to obtain a supply, and the main column was then ordered forward; but when the head of the column was within a hundred or two yards of Loomis' pieces I halted it and went forward to see what was reported to be the enemy reappearing in the woods beyond, and in a few minutes I could see him plainly, and the discharge of shell from three batteries massed gave unmistakable evidence of his presence in force. I ordered Loomis to reply and bring up the remainder of his guns, and sent an order to Captain Simonson, Fifth Indiana Artillery, to join Loomis; all of which was promptly done. I then sent an order to Colonel Lytle to form his brigade on the right in good position, and galloped back to place Harris' brigade in position to resist the advance of the enemy, which I was just informed by a messenger from Captain Wickliffe, of Colonel Board's cavalry, was being made in that direction in great force, of cavalry, infantry, and artillery. I aided Colonel Harris, commanding Ninth Brigade, to form his brigade in two lines, the Second Ohio, Lieutenant-Colonel Kell; the Tenth Wisconsin, Colonel Chapin, and the Thirty-third Ohio, Lieutenant-Colonel Moore, being in the front line. Soon after this, by a messenger, Colonel Starkweather, commanding Twenty-eighth Brigade, announced his arrival on the left, his brigade having been unfortunately cut off and separated from my division by General Jackson's column that morning at Mackville; but he had the good sense when he heard firing in front to abandon the road, move around Jackson's column, and, by going through the field, to fall in our left, and I found his brigade on the very spot where it was most needed.

A large body of the enemy's cavalry, appearing that moment 1 1/2 miles to the front, was admirably shelled and dispersed in great disorder by Captain Stone, First Kentucky Artillery.

I then directed Colonel Starkweather to place Stone's battery ant that of Captain Bush, Fourth Indiana Artillery, on a high ridge, on the extreme left, and extending diagonally Artillery, on a high ridge, on the extreme left, and extending diagonally to the front, and to support those batteries with the First Wisconsin [Lieutenant-Colonel Bingham], placed on that ridge, and by the Seventy-ninth Pennsylvania [Colonel Hambright], placed on another ridge, running at almost right angles to the one on which the batteries were planted. This formation gave a cross-fire, and proved of infinite value in maintaining that all-important position during the day. These formations were made in great haste and in a few moments, but without the least confusion or disorder, the men moving into line as if on parade.

I then returned to Harris' brigade, hearing that the enemy was close upon him, and found that the Thirty-third Ohio had been ordered farther to the front by General McCook and was then engaged with the enemy, and needed support. General McCook in person ordered the Second Ohio to its support, and sent direct to me to order up the Twenty-fourth Illinois also, Captain Mauff, commanding. I led the Twenty-fourth Illinois, in line of battle, immediately forward, and it was promptly deployed as skirmishers by its commander, and went gallantly into action on the left of the Thirty-third Ohio. The Second Ohio, moving up to the support of the Thirty-third Ohio, was engaged before it arrived on the ground where the Thirty-third was fighting. The Thirty-eighth Indiana, Col. B. F. Scribner commanding, then went gallantly into action on the right of the Second Ohio. Then followed in support the Ninety-fourth Ohio [Colonel Frizell]. I wish here to say of this regiment that,