Camp Asboth, October 13th. Mr. Cameron, Senator Chandler of Michigan, and Adjutant-General Thomas arrived at an early hour this morning; and at eight o’clock, the General, attended by his staff and body-guard, repaired to the Secretary’s quarters.  After a short stay there, the whole party, except General Thomas, set out for Syracuse to review the division of General McKinstry.  The day was fine, and we proceeded at a hand gallop until we reached a prairie some three or four miles wide.  Here the Secretary set spurs to his horse, and we tore across the plain as fast as our animals could be driven.  Passing from the open plain into a forest, the whole cortege dashed over a very rough road with but little slackening of our pace; nor did we draw rein until we reached Syracuse.  A few moments were passed in the interchange of the usual civilities, and we then went a mile farther on, to a large prairie upon which the division was drawn up.  McKinstry has the flower of the army.  He has in his ranks some regular infantry, cavalry, and artillery, and among his subordinate officers are Totten, Steele, Kelton, and Stanley, all distinguished in the regular service.  There was no time for the observance of the usual forms of a review.  The Secretary passed in front and behind the lines, made a short address, and left immediately by rail for St. Louis, stopping at Tipton to review Asboth’s division.  The staff and guard rode slowly back to camp, both men and animals having had quite enough of the day’s work.  It is said, that Adjutant-General Thomas has expressed the opinion that we shall not be able to move from here, because we have no transportation.  As we are ordered to march to-morrow, the prediction will soon be tested.

Camp Zagonyi, October 14th. We were in the saddle this morning at nine o’clock, A short march of eleven miles, in a south-westerly direction, and through a prairie country, brought us to our camp.  As we came upon the summit of a hill which lies to the west of our present position, our attention was directed to a group standing in front of a house about a mile distant.  We had hardly caught sight of them when half a dozen men and three women mounted their horses and started at full speed towards the northeast, each man leading a horse.  The General ordered some of the body-guard to pursue and try to stop the fugitives.  We eagerly watched the chase.  A narrow valley separated us from the elevation upon which the farm-house stood, and a small stream with low banks ran through the bottom of the valley.  The pursuit was active, the guardsmen ran their horses down the slope, leaped the pool, and rushed up the opposite hill; but the runaways were on fresh horses, and had no rough ground to pass, and so they escaped.  One of them lost the horse he was leading, and it was caught by a guardsman.  This was the first exhibition we have seen of a desire on the part of the inhabitants to avoid us.