day’s ride has been delightful, the atmosphere soft and warm, the sky cloudless, and the prairie firm and hard under our horses’ feet.  We passed several regiments on the road, who received the General with unbounded enthusiasm; and when we entered Tipton, we found the country covered with tents, and alive with men and horses.  Amidst the cheers of the troops, we passed through the camps, and settled down upon a fine prairie-farm a mile to the southwest of Tipton.  The divisions of Asboth and Hunter are here, not less than twelve thousand men, and from this point our course is to be southward.

Camp Asboth, near Tipton, October 11th. For the last twenty-four hours it has rained violently, and the prairie upon which we are encamped is a sea of black mud.  But the tents are tight, and inside we contrive to keep comparatively warm.

The camp is filled with speculations as to our future course.  Shall we follow Price, who is crossing the Osage now, or are we to garrison the important positions upon this line and return to St. Louis and prepare for the expedition down the river?  The General is silent, his reserve is never broken, and no one knows what his plans are, except those whose business it is to know.  I will here record the plan of the campaign.

Our campaign has been in some measure decided by the movements of the Rebels.  The sudden appearance of Price in the West, gathering to his standard many thousands of the disaffected, has made it necessary for the General to check his bold and successful progress.  Carthage, Wilson’s Creek, and Lexington have given to Price a prestige which it is essential to destroy.  The gun-boats cannot be finished for two months or more, and we cannot go down the Mississippi until the flotilla is ready; and from the character of the country upon each side of the river it will be difficult to operate there with a large body of men.  In Southwestern Missouri we are sure of fine weather till the last of November, the prairies are high and dry, and there are no natural obstacles except such as it will excite the enthusiasm of the troops to overcome.  Therefore the General has determined to pursue Price until he catches him.  He can march faster than we can now, but we shall soon be able to move faster than it is possible for him to do.  The Rebels have no base of operations from which to draw supplies; they depend entirely upon foraging; and for this reason Price has to make long halts wherever he finds mills, and grind the flour.  He is so deficient in equipage, also, that it will be impossible for him to carry his troops over great distances.  But we can safely calculate that Price and Rains will not leave the State; their followers are enlisted for six months, and are already becoming discontented at their continued retreat, and will not go with them beyond the borders.  This is the uniform testimony of deserters and scouts.  Price disposed of, either by a defeat or by the dispersal