Colonel Lyon’s Letters.
Claysville, Ala., Thursday, Aug. 18, 1864.—Everything is quiet here. Occasionally a scouting party of rebels make their appearance on the other side of the river and fire across at our pickets, but they do not stay long. Yesterday this occurred opposite Company C. They are careful to keep the river between them and us. There are guerillas in the mountains on this side, but they never come on our beat. These fellows always give cavalry a wide berth, but they sometimes pitch into infantry.
A great many deserters, contrabands and refugees come to us from the other side. We send them North. Some of the deserters enlist in our regiment. They tell the same story of despondency, destitution, and a growing Union sentiment in the South. Lieut. Murray is very sick at Huntsville. Fears are entertained that he will not recover.
