pened the letter and read it aloud. It ran substantially as follows:

"'We arrived at Columbus, O., on the morning of ------, when
there was some delay. While walking about the depot I
chanced to meet your old friend the Governor. He was very
glad to see me, and said to me, "Lyon, you are the very man
I am looking for." I asked, "Why, Governor? I am on my way
to Washington to tender my services to the President in
behalf of the Union." The Governor answered, "You are
hunting service, I see. Well, sir, I have a splendid
regiment enlisted, but want to have a man of some experience
for their Colonel, and as you have been in the Regular Army
and maintained a good reputation, I will give you the
position if you will take it. I grasped him by the hand and
thanked him with all my heart. This was more than I could
have expected. So, you see, I start off well. We are now in
camp. I am duly installed as Colonel. Harvey has been
mustered in and I have him detailed at my headquarters. He
seems to take to soldiering very readily. I have written
Jennie all about matters. I hope she and my darling children
are well and as happy as can be under the circumstances.

"'Your affectionate son,

"'David Lyon.'

"He did not know that I had them at my house, and all were assisting one
another to keep up courage. This letter affected the whole family, and
caused many tears to fall, in joy as well as grief; joy that he had
succeeded so well at the beginning, and grief at his absence. That
evening Jennie received her letter from the 'Colonel' as we now called
him, all becoming very military in our language. Her letter was of the
same import, but much of it devoted to family affairs. This made Jennie
happy. We all retired and rested well that night, after pleasing the
children by telling them about their father being a great soldier, and
that they must be good children, and in that way cause their mother to
write pleasant things about them to their good papa."

CHAPTER II.

BATTLE OF THE "GAPS."--YOUNG HARVEY LYON BRUTALLY MURDERED.--
UNCLE DANIEL'S RETURN.--RAISING TROOPS IN SOUTHERN
INDIANA.

"When sorrows come they come not single spies, but in
battalion." ---Shakespeare.

"Three days later Peter returned from Indianapolis, with full authority
for Tom Anderson to recruit a regiment for the Union s