ord's Cavalry.

On Sunday noon, one of the cavalrymen came riding into camp in hot haste,
and nearly out of breath. He stated that the enemy were advancing, and
that they had made an attack on our picket guard, killing and wounding
several, and had taken the rest prisoners.

At first, his story was doubted. It, however, proved true in many
respects. One of the guard was killed, one wounded, and fifteen or twenty
taken prisoners, all of them belonging to the Thirty-fifth Ohio.
Immediately, bustle and confusion pervaded the camp. The long roll was
beaten in the Infantry, and all were soon in line for action. Our horses
were harnessed, tents struck, when we at once proceeded towards Somerset,
which we had only left a few hours previous; and, at double quick, soon
went rushing into the town.

We at once took up position on a high hill just north of the town, which
gave us a fine command of the country. The Seventeenth Ohio were stationed
with us. The remainder of the force were stationed at different points,
and all quietly awaited an attack; but at dark, no enemy had appeared. The
horses were kept harnessed, and every one remained near his post of duty
all night.

During the night, we were reinforced by the arrival from London of the
First and Second Tennessee Infantry. The next morning nothing was seen or
heard of the enemy, and it was supposed that they had become alarmed
during the night, and had fallen back to their intrenchments at Mill
Springs. Small reconnoitering parties were sent out daily, but with the
exception of a few slight skirmishes, and occasionally a little firing
between the picket guards, nothing of importance occurred for a number of
days. During these skirmishes, a few prisoners were taken on both sides,
so that neither derived but little advantage. The weather for about two
weeks, continued fine; but neither force seemed inclined to make good use
of it.

On the 17th December, Gen. Schoepf ordered the whole brigade to be in
readiness to make a reconnoisance the next day. That night, one day's
provisions were cooked, and all prepared for an early start. At daylight,
December 18th, the entire brigade, with the exception of a sufficient
number of men to guard the camp, were on the move. The forces were divided
into two divisions. The Ohio and Kentucky Regiments, with two sections of
our battery, under General Schoepf, went up Fishing Creek. The two
Tennessee Regiments, with the right section of our