I did not wish to get there before daylight of the 6th, and directed therefore that the boats should lie at anchor out in the stream until the time to start.

Not having received an answer to my first dispatch, I again telegraphed to department headquarters that I should start for Paducah that night unless I received further orders.

Hearing nothing, we started before midnight and arrived early the following morning, anticipating the enemy by probably not over six or eight hours.

It proved very fortunate that the expedition against Jeff.

Thompson had been broken up.