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oon； and I concluded to wait till the next morning； but that night I received a dispatch from General Anderson in Louisville to hurry back； as events were pressing； and he needed me。
Accordingly； I rose early next morning before daybreak； got breakfast with the early railroad…passengers； and about sunrise was at the gate of General Fremont's headquarters。 A sentinel with drawn sabre paraded up and down in front of the house。 I had on my undress uniform indicating my rank； and inquired of the sentinel； 〃Is General Fremont up？〃 He answered； 〃I don't know。〃 Seeing that he was a soldier by his bearing； I spoke in a sharp； emphatic voice； 〃Then find out。〃 He called for the corporal of the guard； and soon a fine…looking German sergeant came； to whom I addressed the same inquiry。 He in turn did not know； and I bade him find out； as I had immediate and important business with the general。 The sergeant entered the house by the front…basement door； and after ten or fifteen minutes the main front…door above was slowly opened from the inside； and who should appear but my old San Francisco acquaintance Isaiah C。 Woods； whom I had not seen or heard of since his flight to Australia； at the time of the failure of Adams & Co。 in 1851！ He ushered me in hastily； closed the door； and conducted me into the office on the right of the hall。 We were glad to meet； after so long and eventful an interval； and mutually inquired after our respective families and special acquaintances。 I found that he was a commissioned officer； a major on duty with Fremont； and Major Eaton； now of the paymaster's Department； was in the same office with him。 I explained to them that I had come from General Anderson； and wanted to confer with General Fremont in person。 Woods left me； but soon returned； said the general would see me in a very few minutes； and within ten minutes I was shown across the hall into the large parlor； where General Fremont received me very politely。 We had met before； as early as 1847； in California； and I had also seen him several times when he was senator。 I then in a rapid manner ran over all the points of interest in General Anderson's new sphere of action； hoped he would spare us from the new levies what troops he could； and generally act in concert with us。 He told me that his first business would be to drive the rebel General Price and his army out of Missouri； when he would turn his attention down the Mississippi。 He asked my opinion about the various kinds of field…artillery which manufacturers were thrusting on him； especially the then newly… invented James gun； and afterward our conversation took a wide turn about the character of the principal citizens of St。 Louis； with whom I was well acquainted。
Telling General Fremont that I had been summoned to Louisville and that I should leave in the first train； viz。； at 3 p。m。； I took my leave of him。 Returning to Wood's office； I found there two more Californians； viz。； Messrs。 Palmer and Haskell； so I felt that； while Fremont might be suspicious of others； he allowed free ingress to his old California acquaintances。
Returning to the Planters' House； I heard of Beard； another Californian； a Mormon； who had the contract for the line of redoubts which Fremont had ordered to be constructed around the city； before he would take his departure for the interior of the State； and while I stood near the office…counter； I saw old Baron Steinberger； a prince among our early California adventurers； come in and look over the register。 I avoided him on purpose； but his presence in St。 Louis recalled the maxim； 〃Where the vultures are； there is a carcass close by；〃 and I suspected that the profitable contracts of the quartermaster； McKinstry； had drawn to St。 Louis some of the most enterprising men of California。 I suspect they can account for the fact that； in a very short time； Fremont fell from his high estate in Missouri； by reason of frauds； or supposed frauds； in the administration of the affairs of his command。
I left St。 Louis that afternoon and reached Louisville the next morning。 I found General Anderson quartered at the Louisville Hotel； and he had taken a dwelling hones on _____ Street as an office。 Captain O。 D。 Greens was his adjutant…general； Lieutenant Throckmorton his aide； and Captain Prime； of the Engineer Corps； was on duty with him。 General George H。 Thomas had been dispatched to camp Dick Robinson； to relieve Nelson。
The city was full of all sorts of rumors。 The Legislature； moved by considerations purely of a political nature； had taken the step； whatever it was； that amounted to an adherence to the Union； instead of joining the already…seceded States。 This was universally known to be the signal for action。 For it we were utterly unprepared； whereas the rebels were fully prepared。 General Sidney Johnston immediately crossed into Kentucky； and advanced as far as Bowling Green； which he began to fortify； and thence dispatched General Buckner with a division forward toward Louisville； General Zollicoffer； in like manner； entered the State and advanced as far as Somerset。 On the day I reached Louisville the excitement ran high。 It was known that Columbus； Kentucky； had been occupied； September 7th； by a strong rebel force； under Generals Pillow and Polk； and that General Grant had moved from Cairo and occupied Paducah in force on the 6th。 Many of the rebel families expected Buckner to reach Louisville at any moment。 That night； General Anderson sent for me； and I found with him Mr。 Guthrie； president of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad； who had in his hands a dispatch to the effect that the bridge across the Rolling Fork of Salt Creek； less than thirty miles out； had been burned； and that Buckner's force； en route for Louisville； had been detained beyond Green River by a train thrown from the track。 We learned afterward that a man named Bird had displaced a rail on purpose to throw the train off the track； and thereby give us time。
Mr。 Guthrie explained that in the ravine just beyond Salt Creek were several high and important trestles which； if destroyed； would take months to replace； and General Anderson thought it well 。 worth the effort to save them。 Also； on Muldraugh's Hill beyond； was a strong position； which had in former years been used as the site for the State 〃Camp of Instruction；〃 and we all supposed that General Buckner； who was familiar with the ground； was aiming for a position there； from which to operate on Louisville。
All the troops we had to counteract Buckner were Rousseau's Legion； and a few Home Guards in Louisville。 The former were still encamped across the river at Jeffersonville； so General Anderson ordered me to go over； and with them； and such Home Guards as we could collect； make the effort to secure possession of Muldraugh's Hill before Buckner could reach it。 I took Captain Prime with me； and crossed over to Rousseau's camp。 The long…roll was beaten； and within an hour the men； to the number of about one thousand； were marching for the ferry…boat and for the Nashville depot。 Meantime General Anderson had sent to collect some Home Guards； and Mr。 Guthrie to get the trains ready。 It was after midnight before