, Joseph, I see that. I will tell Jennie, and also write the
Colonel how splendidly you are doing.'

"'Thanks,' said Joseph, giving me the regular soldier's salute. 'Is
there anything wanted at your house, sir? Tell the Colonel's wife that
I will bring down anything that she may be wanting at any time. I will
certainly bring a load of wood in to-morrow.'

"We were in the habit of getting many things from the farm--butter,
eggs, chickens, potatoes, etc. All our wood came from there. Joseph was
very useful in many ways. I returned home satisfied that all was going
well at the farm.

"The weather was now getting cold and disagreeable; too much so, it was
thought, for any very serious army movements on our Western lines. The
rebels had collected a very heavy force at Dolinsburg, situated on a
high ridge, with hills sloping down to Combination River, one of the
tributaries of the Ohio. Here they had built an immense fortress, with
wings running out from either side for a great distance; on the outer
walls were placed large guns, sweeping and commanding the river to the
north. The rebels were well prepared with all kinds of war materials, as
well as in the numbers of their effective force, to defend their works
against great odds.

"Gen. Silent, who, it seems, always did everything differently from what
the enemy expected him to do, conceived the idea that he would try
to dislodge them. When the enemy heard that he was preparing to move
against them, they but laughed at such an attempt.

"The General, however, made ready, gave his orders, and his army was
soon in motion. The direction in which our army was to march was very
soon known, as it was impossible to keep any of our movements a secret,
on account of the great desire of newspapers to please everybody and
keep every one posted on both sides, the rebels as well as friends;
which prompted them to publish every movement made. This was called
'enterprise,' and it has been considered patriotic devotion by many,
especially the gold gamblers and money kings. This was not permitted
by our enemies; the publication of any secret expedition or movement of
their forces, by any one inside of their lines, would cost him his life;
and so in any army save our Union army. Why was this? It does seem to
me that this ought not to have been so. I have often thought of it, and
concluded it must have been fear. 'The pen is mightier than the sword'
has been truthfully said.

"Our Congr