The latter deliberated upon the policy of attacking us, and decided that their town might be destroyed by our retreating army in case we were disturbed.

They left us our horses, that we might get away from the place as speedily as possible.

So we bade adieu to Lebanon with much delight.

That we came unmolested out of that nest of disloyalty, was a matter of much surprise.

Subsequent events, there and elsewhere, have greatly increased that surprise.
After a ride of thirteen miles we reached the Gasconade River, which we found considerably swollen by recent rains.