p.

of [govt.?] cattle out to pasture that way somewhere -
Col. [Becgwith?] sent for them this morn - the drovers have just
come back - met the rebs. 9 miles out this road &
had to return - They have force enough to hold that
place a while - & send over & cut the Rail road - &
then strike for Penn & [Lu.?] I hardly think they will
return as they came - If they do it will be to-night
& we shall hear nothing more of them. I dont think
we shall see them here either, for they wont come within
range of Artillery except by accident - but they will ravage
the country in front - & property of all sorts is being
run within the lines. Another force was sent out at
night under L'r Austin to beguard Blair's place.
Burton went out there this p.m. leaving me orders to,
if I heard any firing from his party, drop a couple of
shells over them - which I was ready to do - Tonight
"C" is in the fort of course - & enough from the other Co's.
to man the guns - Burton is there too - If there is
an alarm I am to get the rest of the Battalion there
sudden - But I dont at all anticipate it - What I
most fear is that the R.R. will be cut, & you not get
my letters - I enjoy this I tell you -