Went over to see secesh but they had gone. Shattuck went on
detail as chief of commissary. Capt. Seward said I must make out morning reports
after this. Major Purington received orders to proceed at once with his command
to Evansville. Blair's Battery practised with artillery — shell. Major and
detachment started out on a scout, an odd old genius on a white horse as guide.
Went by a byroad. When 4 or 5 miles from Cincinnati, crossed a byroad where 400
or 500 had passed. I had charge of advance. Before going a half mile, saw two “butternuts.”
Wheeled and ran like fun. Followed about a mile and learned from a family that
4 or 5 had passed not more than ten minutes before. Reported back. Followed
most of the time at a trot. When we had gone two miles, we struck the main road
and here the rebels fired at us from the brush. I had 20 men. All wheeled but 3
men. Soon rallied. Moved on a few rods and saw 15 or 20 in line by the bushes
ready to fire. They fired and we in line fired in return. Soon Major sent word
to reload. While reloading the rebels crossed the byroad to the main road. We
followed a few hundred rods and were ordered to halt. Soon some of the 3rd Wis.
came up, and passed dismounted. When 5 or 6 rods ahead a volley was poured into
them, wounding two. Two days after, we heard that they were 400 of Quantrell's
men and that they ran to Cane Hill, also that 4,000 went over the mountains.
Also that we killed two men. Bivouacked without fires.
SOURCE: Frances Andrews Tenney, War Diary Of Luman
Harris Tenney, p. 44-5
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