Camp Ewing, November 10, 1861. Sunday morning. — I am officer of the day today and interested in the weather. It stopped raining towards evening yesterday. It is foggy and damp this morning—will probably be pleasant during the day. I have to visit all the pickets; the stations are ten or twelve in number and it takes about three hours’ riding to visit them. They are on the Lewisburg pike for three or four miles, on the Chestnutburg road about the same distance, and on suitable points commanding views of the country on either side and of the river.
Went with Colonel Scammon, Captain Crane [Company A, Twenty-sixth Ohio], [and] Lieutenant Avery to Pepperbox Knob and looked over into enemy’s camps on [the] south side of New River; thence with Avery to Townsend’s Ferry, the proposed crossing place. Most romantic views of the deep mountain gorge of New River, near the ferry. Climbed down and up the hill by aid of ropes. Two Rebel soldiers got up an extempore skiff, just opposite where our men were getting our skiffs, and crept down the cliffs. They came over and were caught by our men as they landed. They were naturally surprised and frightened. A third was seen on the other bank who escaped. So our scheme is by this time suspected by the enemy.
