Colonel Lyons.
Stevenson, Ala., Sun., Sept. 27, 1863.—No changes at the front that I know of. Our army is in a strong position, close in front of Chattanooga, awaiting reinforcements, but where they are to come from is more than I know. The rebel army is close by ours but don’t seem inclined to attack. I can not learn that there has been any fighting for several days. We do not anticipate any attack here. All the fords of the river are strongly guarded, two brigades of cavalry having just come to this vicinity on that duty.
We hear a report from Ft. Donelson that the 83d Mounted Infantry had a fight near the rolling mill with Hinson’s gang and killed George Hinson, thus cheating the gallows.
Col. Smith of the 83d is at Clarksville with one-half of his regiment. The 102d Ohio is on the railroad, thirty miles above us. Not a regiment is passing through here to reinforce Gen. Rosecrans, and there he is confronted with more than double his numbers. He may get 12,000 or 15,000 of Burnside’s men from Knoxville, but I do not learn that even these have come up yet, and when they do they will not any more than make up his losses in the late battles. I doubt whether we have another General who could have prevented that army from being totally routed and cut to pieces last Sunday. There are but few who could prevent it from being done now. He ought to have 50,000 more men today than he has to make him safe. Still, I believe that he will come out all right.
The agents of the Sanitary and of the U. S. Christian Commission are on hand to take care of the wounded, and are doing (particularly the latter) an immense amount of good. I am glad to be in a position to be able to render them considerable aid in prosecuting their good work.
All of the wounded who are able to travel, I think, have gone on, and we are rid of our prisoners, so matters are not quite as pressing as they have been for a few days past.
