We left on the 24th of March, 1864.
It is conceded by all parties that the campaign in East Tennessee, under Gen. Burnside was the hardest campaign that has been experienced since the commencement of this great struggle for the perpetuity of our nation.
The regiment reached Paris, Ky., April the 5th, camping in that vicinity a few days, and then moving to Nicholasville where the work of refitting was commenced.
Major Gen. Stoneman commanding the cavalry in this department.
Nothing of interest occurred here except that of sending companies into different counties to protect the Provost Marshals, while they were enrolling the negroes.
About the 10th of June it was ascertained that John Morgan was moving toward Lexington. Gen. Stoneman having started with two brigades two weeks previous to Georgia, Col. Garrard’s brigade was all that were left in that immediate vicinity.
On the 10th Col. Garrard moved his command to Lexington reaching there a few hours after Morgan had left, who had entered the place in the morning, robbed the banks and many of the stores of their valuables before he departed.
After resting a few hours we continued our march to Paris reaching there about daylight the following morning.
Here 200 men were sent out under Capt. Rankin to make a reconoisance toward Georgetown, after moving in that direction about 16 miles, he met a part of Morgan’s command, routed and drove them two miles in the direction of Cynthiana, returned and reported the same to Gen. Burbridge.
That night Gen. Burbridge moved for Cynthiana, Col. Garrard’s brigade being in the rear.