Colonel Lyons.
Stevenson, Ala., Sept. 21, 1863.—Just as I closed my letter to you yesterday, I received an order to take command of this post, and with the 13th relieve the regiment that was doing provost guard duty here. So I found myself up to my eyes in business immediately. I relieved Lieut.-Colonel Cahill, of the 16th Illinois, whose regiment has gone to Bridgeport. I moved over this morning and have a house with plenty of room for headquarters. I wish you were here to enjoy it with me. The regiment is moving into town today. There is a great deal of work at this post.
There is doubtless a terrible battle raging some fifteen or twenty miles south of Chattanooga [battle of Chicamauga], but we can not get any definite intelligence as to how it is going. We hear many rumors, some of success and some of disaster, but nothing reliable. This is the third day of the fight. The cannonading can be heard at Bridgeport, and Lieut. Warren told me that he heard the firing yesterday morning distinctly from a little east of this place. You may hear of this battle before we do. Keep up good spirits, for the usual luck of the 13th still clings to us.
