Colonel Lyons.
Nashville, Tenn., Tuesday a. m., Sept. 10, 1863.— Here I am, safe, sound and hearty, writing this letter in Major Bigney’s private room, where I am domiciled for the present.
I arrived at Chicago ‘by due course of mail’ Monday night, and found there Colonel Robbins, Captains Wolf and Redfield, and Lieut. Williams, of the 8th, who were on their way home. Took the Cincinnati Air Line R. R. for Louisville at 8:30 p. m. Went to bed, and got up in the morning at Indianapolis; breakfasted and moved on. Arrived at Louisville at 1 p. m.; remained there until next morning. Left at 8 o’clock, and arrived here at 7 last evening.
I met Lieut. Boone, Colonel Brace’s Adjutant, at Louisville, who informed me that the 13th had been ordered from Columbia to Larkinsville, in Alabama. The regiment left Columbia last Sunday with the 28th Kentucky, formerly at Clarksville. Larkinsville is on the Memphis and Charleston R. R., about twenty miles southwest of Stevenson, where the railroad, running south from Nashville, intersects the M. & C. R. R., and between Stevenson and Huntsville. There is, of course, railroad communication all the way there. It is a few miles north of the Tennessee river.
Now that Chattanooga is evacuated by the Confederates, we probably will remain for some time in that vicinity. The regiment will probaably not reach there before Sunday, and I shall not leave here until Saturday morning, unless I conclude to go down to Murfreesboro tomorrow and spend a day with the 22d Wisconsin. The Major goes to Larkinsville with me on a tour of inspection. He is well and in good spirits, and does everything in his power to make me comfortable. The route yesterday was through a very interesting country, indeed. Along it have been fought several battles during the war. A part of the way the country is mountainous, and the road runs through several tunnels, one seven-eights of a mile long. We passed within a few miles of the great mammoth cave.
About your coming, there is a late order that no citizen can pass Louisville for Nashville and south, without a permit from Major-General Granger; and I learn that these permits are only given to wives of officers and soldiers who are sick and need the attention and care of their wives. That can all be managed, I think, when we get in some safe place with a reasonable prospect of staying awhile. I think there is no chance for much fighting where we go—except bushwhacking.
The regiment had some skirmishing on its march to Columbia, and I hear had one man killed. I don’t know who it was—did not get particulars. Colonel Chapman allowed 136 men to go by way of Nashville, 100 of whom were able to march with the regiment. They were all sent on to Columbia (Jerry and Minerva with them), except some twenty left here in hospital, mostly from Company D. Dr. Evans brought here about six tons of old truck, which he doubtless had to leave at Columbia. How he must have groaned. None of the regiment are left at Fort Donelson except Captain Ruger and the Quartermaster. I believe Captain Woodman went as far as Evansville with his wife on her way home. He has gone on to the regiment.
