[CHAP. XXVIII.

and passing to within 2 miles of Mount Vernon. On the morning of the 16th the brigade was put in march at daybreak at the head of the division, which had the advance of the Second Army Corps. On passing about 2 miles beyond that place the rear of the enemy was seen drawn up in line of battle. The Sixth Kentucky was advanced rapidly as skirmishers, which, with a few shots from Cockerill's battery, soon dispersed them.

On moving forward some 4 miles farther the enemy was found strongly posted, with his cavalry dismounted and acting as infantry and artillery. A brisk fire was opened by them upon a company of the Second Indiana Cavalry, commanded by Lieutenant----, which was reconnoitering on foot. They met the fire gallantly, and were immediately relieved by the Sixth Kentucky, which moved forward splendidly, and after a brisk skirmish of thirty minutes the enemy retired precipitately. In this skirmish the Sixth Kentucky lost 1 killed and 2 slightly wounded. The enemy lost 11 killed and several wounded.

The Ninth Indiana now relieved the Sixth Kentucky as skirmishers, and pushing forward about 2 miles found the enemy again posted, with dismounted cavalry and artillery, in their favorite position, being upon the hill-sides opposite an open valley. One wing of this regiment, under Lieutenant-Colonel Suman, by a rapid movement succeeded in flanking the enemy and came near capturing his artillery, which was lost only by the rapidity of its retreat. A sharp skirmish was kept up during this movement, resulting in the killing and wounding of several of the enemy and the capture of several more, including a captain.

In moving forward the remainder of the day an almost uninterrupted skirmish was kept up, the enemy impeding our progress by felling timber. The brigade bivouacked at Big Rockcastle Creek. The prisoners of this day amounted to between 30 and 40.

On the 17th the command moved only to Camp Wild Cat, a distance of 4 miles, the Nineteenth Brigade being in rear of the division.

On the 18th, it being reported that the enemy were posted in strong force a few miles in our front, I was ordered forward to drive him from his position. This was effected after a sharp skirmish, in which the Ninth Indiana and the Forty-first Ohio took part, the enemy losing several officers and men, without casualty to our own arms. In obedience with orders the command was marched back to Camp Wild Cat and bivouacked for the night.

On the 19th I received orders to march to Pitman's Cross-Roads, but no farther without orders. The Forty-first Ohio was deployed as skirmishers, and the command moved forward without coming upon the enemy until within 5 miles of Pitman's. The roads had been blocked with fallen timber almost continuously, but by the hard labor of the pioneer party we were enabled to reach within one-half mile of Pitman's by night-fall, a sharp skirmish taking place about sundown, in which Lieutenant Hardy, adjutant of the Forty-first Ohio, had his horse shot and one man of the same regiment was slightly wounded.

The enemy posted himself with artillery at the cross-roads, throwing shot over my lines, but doing no damage. The Forty-first Ohio was pushed forward under cover of the darkness to examine their position, the people of the country reporting that a strong force of all arms was strongly posted there for an engagement. The women and children of the neighborhood had been sent away, which gave color to the report. The reconnaissance was pushed within 50 yards of the artillery, when the regiment was withdrawn some 400 yards and posted for the night behind a spur of the hill. Disposition was then made for an attack at