88 Ten Years of r,iy Life. 



merry yoimg woman, sold ys with pleasure some welcome 

 milk. 



There lived in the neighbourhood a few farmer-families, who 

 submitted to circumstances, and entertained a more iriendly 

 intercourse with our officers. We sometimes paid them visits, 

 which were not without danger, and had to be made always in 

 company and under arms. Guerillas were lurking about in the 

 woods, and it happened not rarely that single soldiers were 

 caught or even killed by them. 



Orders had been given to act with great severity against such 

 houses as were reputed to serve rebels as a shelter, though it 

 was only natural that the guerillas now and then ventured to 

 visit their families. Salm had to burn down several rebel 

 houses, though he did so with great reluctance. The inhabit- 

 ants of these houses were, however, rarely to be found at home ; 

 they had their spies, and were generally warned beforehand. 

 In one of such doomed houses was found onlv a rather fat 

 pointer, which was taken prisoner and appropriated by Salm, 

 who christened him Gerber, which was the name of his rebel 

 master. . •• 



Our position was much exposed and full of danger. The 

 island and the bridges were well guarded, but there existed 

 fords which were better known to the rebels than to us, and if 

 there had been an able leader amongst them they might have 

 surprised us without much difficulty, as they from their moun- 

 tains could observe everything w^e did on the island. Betbre 

 assistance could have arrived even from Bridgeport they might 

 have killed us all, and a few thousand men might even have 

 taken that place, notwithstanding its fort, before succour could 

 come up from Stevenson, about ten miles off, where a great 

 number of troops were assembled. 



The pontoon bridge laid over the Tennessee for araiy pur- 

 poses was guarded by a picket, and protected by two good 

 blockhouses provided w^ith guns ; and on the southern side of 

 the river, on a commanding eminence, was built a fort called 

 Fort Prince Salm. Though it was considered to be rather 

 strong, it was overtopped by neighbouring hills very favourably 

 situated for rebel batteries. 



Under these circumstances, it \vas not to be wondered at 

 that frequently reports about intended attacks were circulated 

 in the camp, and that arrangements were made in case of a 



