Downing’s Civil War Diary.–Alexander G. Downing.

Tuesday, 1st–We left Canton at 8 o’clock this morning, our brigade taking up the rear. There was some skirmishing with the rebels’ cavalry, which began early in the morning before we got started. Bullets commenced to fly and the guards formed a line to protect the headquarters’ baggage. Finally, however, the rear guard opened a light battery on the rebels, who soon dropped back out of danger. The army, on account of an all day rain which made the roads very muddy, covered only eight miles, and went into bivouac, our rear not getting in, however, till 4 o’clock in the morning.