hich we are encamped is, with his family,
sleeping in the woods to-night, if, indeed, he sleeps at all.

14. The Ninth and Fourth Ohio, Fifteenth Indiana, and one company of
cavalry, started up the mountain between seven and eight o'clock. The
Colonel being unwell, I followed with the Third. Awful rumors were
afloat of fortifications and rebels at the top; but we found no
fortifications, and as for the rebels, they were scampering for Staunton
as fast as their legs could carry them.

This mountain scenery is magnificent. As we climbed the Cheat the views
were the grandest I ever looked upon. Nests of hills, appearing like
eggs of the mountain; ravines so dark that one could not guess their
depth; openings, the ends of which seemed lost in a blue mist;
broken-backed mountains, long mountains, round mountains, mountains
sloping gently to the summit; others so steep a squirrel could hardly
climb them; fatherly mountains, with their children clustered about
them, clothed in birch, pine, and cedar; mountain streams, sparkling
now in the sunlight, then dashing down into apparently fathomless
abysses.

It was a beautiful day, and the march was delightful. The road is
crooked beyond description, but very solid and smooth.

The farmer on whose premises we are encamped has returned from the
woods. He has discovered that we are not so bad as we were reported.
Most of the negroes have been left at home. Many were in camp to-day
with corn-bread, pies, and cakes to sell. Fox, my servant, went out this
afternoon and bought a basket of bread. He brought in two chickens also,
which he said were presented to him. I suspect Fox does not always tell
the truth.

16. The Fourteenth Indiana and one company of cavalry went to the summit
this morning to fortify.

The Colonel has gone to Beverly. The boys repeat his Rich mountain
speech with slight variations: "Men, there are ten thousand
secessionists in Rich mountain, with forty rifled cannon, well
fortified. There's bloody work ahead. You are going to a butcher-shop
rather than a battle. Ten thousand men and forty rifled cannon! Hostler,
you d--d scoundrel, why don't you wipe Jerome's nose?" Jerome is the
Colonel's horse, known in camp as the White Bull.

Conway, who has been detailed to attend to the Colonel's horses, is
almost as good a speech-maker as the Colonel. This, in brief, is
Conway's address to the White Bull:

"Stand still there, now, or I'll make yer stand still. Hold u