Colonel Lyons.
Fort Donelson, June 21, 1863.—I fear I wrote the last time in rather a depressing vein, but the news is much better now, so I feel much better.
Captain Kingman is detailed to take home money for our regiment. He is now out on an expedition. His brother, Lieut. Kingman, of the 22d, is here; also Lieut. Booth, of the same regiment, a relative of Mrs. Woodman. The regiment is at Nashville, under orders to go back to Franklin. They speak in the highest terms of Captains May and Mead, and well they can, for no braver or better boys than they live.
I spend the whole day at headquarters, and find plenty of occupation. Time passes more rapidly than it would were I unoccupied. I have been ordered to remove obstructions from the river at Line Island, twenty miles below here, and at Ingraham Shoals near Eddyville. I sent Captain Ruger and Lieut. Balis and Lieut. Lamoreau to Line Island yesterday to make an examination, and I think I will go myself to Eddyville on the same business in a few days. These obstructions are barges sunk in the river by Floyd when the rebels had possession in 1861.
