OCTOBER 16-25, 1862.-Operations in Bath, Powell, Estill, Clark, Montgomery, and Bourbon Counties, Kentucky.

Report of W. H. Wadsworth.

MAYSVILLE, KY., October 29, 1862.

GENERAL: I arrived here yesterday evening from Mount Sterling having left there Monday night last at 9 o'clock.

On Thursday, the 16th of this month, I left this place with 381 men, recruited for the Fourteenth Kentucky Cavalry, all but 70 unmounted, and one piece of artillery, an iron 6-pounder, the property of citizens of this place, and in charge of a volunteer squad under Mr. Gilmore.

We reached Sharpsburg, 11 miles from Mount Sterling, Friday evening, and there learned that Humphrey Marshall, with 6,000 men, fifteen pieces of artillery, and a train of 200 wagons, was at Ticktown, 7 miles from Mount Sterling, on the Hazle Green road, in full retreat. He had come from Camp Dick Robinson through Richmond, Red River Iron Works, &c., to that place.

Saturday morning early I marched to Mount Sterling and captured 17 of Marshall's men in the town. I immediately pushed out my small squad of horsemen with some mounted Lewis County and Fleming County Home Guards, under Jeff. Walker and Isaac Keely, and a few citizens of Montgomery, Bath, and Clark, on the Ticktown road. These brave men drove up Marshall's and captured altogether 49 almost in sight of his headquarters.

Learning Saturday night that 900 rebel horsemen, under Trigg and Camron, were at Owingsville, 15 miles on my left, and that John H. Morgan had captured Lexington that morning, and having received a letter from Major Bracht from Paris, dated Friday, saying he had but 125 men there and could not help me harass the retreat of Marshall, I fell back with my command and prisoners to Paris; there I telegraphed you Monday for help. Your ordered Colonel Wisner, of the Twenty-second Michigan, to go with me at once to Mount Sterling, and we started off that night, our forces consisting of that regiment and one section of artillery, my lads, and one piece and two companies of the Tenth Kentucky Cavalry, under Major Doniphan. We reached Mount Sterling Tuesday evening. Next morning, under orders from Colonel Wisner, I took all the mounted men in camp that could be spared, 210 in number, and scouted the country for 80 miles through Bath, Powell, Estill, and Clark, capturing a number of prisoners, horses, and arms.

As I was returning from Winchester on Friday afternoon to Mount Sterling I met Colonel Wisner, with all his forces, marching toward Winchester and thence to Lexington. He was ordered to proceed cautiously by General G. C. Smith, as he had learned there was a large body of rebels there. These rebels (7 white men and 1 negro) had captured a picket of some 140 horsemen, sent to Winchester by General Smith the Tuesday before; whereupon the horsemen went back to Paris and made that report, I presume. These 7 whites and 1 negro I came on at Red River; captured 5 and shot 1, and that was all the rebel force in 30 miles of Winchester.

I went on to Mount Sterling again to endeavor to protect my district with 382 recruits, not in the service of the United States, against Humphrey Marshall's horsemen. Marshall, with his train and artillery, and such of his infantry as did not desert, has easily escaped, without any pursuit except such as I have detailed, through Prestonburg and on his