rder came for them to proceed directly to Pulaski;
and at noon they were on the road,--the First Wisconsin going with them.
The left section had, also, an order to go to the same place, and left
immediately, under command of Lieutenants Sypher and Sturges. I will here
state, that Lieutenant Sypher had returned, and joined us at Columbia,
some two weeks previous, having recovered his health. He had been sick
nearly two months, and went home from Houstonville, where we had left him.
A number of our sick, who had been left behind, rejoined us here.

On the 20th of May, Lieutenant Bennett returned to Columbia with the right
section, and immediately proceeded to Kalioke Station, six miles from
Columbia, and on the railroad. On the 21st inst., the left section, under
Lieutenant Sypher, returned, and went into camp at the old place. The
night of June 2d, had another alarm, caused by the firing of our pickets.
The next day, a Union meeting was held at the place; and during the
afternoon had still another alarm, but, like the former, proved without
cause. On the 29th of May, the left section again left Columbia, the
center section now only remaining; and, on the 9th of June, they also left
for Murfreesboro.

CHAPTER VI.

EXPEDITION OF THE CENTER SECTION.

On Monday, June 9th, the Center Section left Columbia for Murfreesboro,
leaving the forge, battery and baggage wagons behind, together with the
tents and camp equipage. The reason for this move was supposed to be an
attack apprehended on Murfreesboro, as there had been several skirmishes
in that vicinity.

At 5 A. M. the two guns started, under command of Captain Standart and
Lieutenant Baldwin. At 2 P. M. the forge and battery wagons, together with
what men were left; also left along with the First Kentucky Cavalry.
Standart's command marched four miles beyond Franklin that day, and camped
for the night. The remainder went within five miles of the above place,
and also camped. The next day, the last-named went to within seven miles
of Murfreesboro. The center section reached the town at 2 P. M. the same
day. The roads, with the exception of some six miles, were in fine order,
being macadamized. The country is well adapted for farming, and we passed
many large fields of wheat, corn and cotton. The wheat, generally, was
being cut. On Wednesday morning, June 11th, with our two guns we set out,
in company with the Sixty-ninth and Seventy-fourth Ohio, Third Minnesota,