To Mrs. Lyon
Feb. 3, 1863.—Our mails are very irregular. All the steamers are used by the Government to carry troops to Vicksburg and Nashville. There are no signs of our being ordered away from here at present, although I should not be surprised if we had a march and a fight soon. We get intelligence that the rebels in large force are preparing to obstruct the passage of the Cumberland river between Donelson and Clarksville. If so, they must be dislodged, as the use of the Cumberland is indispensible to General Rosecrans. A late order transfers us from General Grant’s to General Rosecrans’ command.
