This was the night generally set for an attack, if any, though I am pretty well satisfied that they have not strength to dare it, and the worst they could probably do is to burn the town.

But to-night, instead of enemies, appear friends,--our devoted civic ally, Judge S., and a whole Connecticut regiment, the Sixth, under Major Meeker; and though the latter are aground, twelve miles below, yet they enable one to breathe more freely.

I only wish they were black; but now I have to show, not only that blacks can fight, but that they and white soldiers can act in harmony together." That evening the enemy came up for a reconnoissance, in the deepest darkness, and there were alarms all night.

The next day the Sixth Connecticut got afloat, and came up the river; and two days after, to my continued amazement, arrived a part of the Eighth Maine, under Lieutenant-Colonel Twichell.

This increased my command to four regiments, or parts of regiments, half white and half black.