Messengers Ferry, Big Black River, Miss., September 26, 1863. When we assembled at regimental headquarters this p.m., the colonel informed us that our corps was ordered to report to Rosecrans, at Chattanooga, and that we should prepare to move at a moment’s notice.

Messengers Ferry, Big Black River, Miss., September 26, 1863. Pass in your congratulations. We are under marching orders for Chattanooga. Our whole corps is going. We steam o’er sand-bars to Memphis, and then will probably “foot it,” though may go by cars as far as Corinth. From Memphis the march will be some 450 miles. [...]

SEPTEMBER 26th.—Nothing additional has been received from Gen. Bragg, but there is reason to believe Rosecrans is fortifying Chattanooga, preparatory to crossing the river and retreating northward with all possible expedition. From the Upper Rappahannock there is much skirmishing, the usual preliminary to a battle; and Kemper’s brigade, of Pickett’s division, went up thither last [...]

Friday, 25th. Write me down a witch, a prophetess, or what you will. I am certainly something! All has come to pass on that very disagreeable subject very much as I feared. Perhaps no one in my position would speak freely on the subject; for that very reason I shall not hesitate to discuss it. [...]

SEPTEMBER 25th.—The latest dispatch from Gen. Bragg states that he has 7000 prisoners (2000 of them wounded), 36 cannon, 15,000 of the enemy’s small arms, and 25 colors. After the victory, he issued the following address to his army: “HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF TENNESSEE,…………… FIELD OF CHICKAMAUGA, Sept. 22, 1863. “It has pleased Almighty God to [...]

September 25th. Our regiment with supplies and munitions ordered to Martinsburg, West Virginia. Packing up, getting ready to march.

SEPTEMBER 24th.—A dispatch from Gen Bragg, received today, three miles from Chattanooga, and dated yesterday, says the enemy occupies a strong position, and confronts him in great force, but he is sending troops round his flanks. No doubt he will cross the river as soon as possible. Only a small portion of Longstreet’s corps has [...]

SEPTEMBER 23d.—We have nothing additional up to three P.M. to-day; but there is an untraceable rumor on the street of some undefinable disaster somewhere, and perhaps it is the invention of the enemy. We still pause for the sequel of the battle; for Rosecrans has fallen back to a strong position; and at this distance [...]

Camp at Messenger’s Ferry, Big Black River, Miss., September 22, 1863. I wrote you a few lines from Vicksburg on the 18th inst. to notify you that I had escaped the perils of navigation (sandbar and guerillas) and of my safe arrival. I had a delightful trip down the river. A splendid boat, gentlemanly officers, [...]

CAMP ON RAPIDAN RIVER, SIX MILES NORTH OF RAPIDAN STATION, Sept. 22, 1863. My Dear Mother: I had intended to write you the very day we left Orange Court House, but the movement prevented me. We left there yesterday week, marched towards Rapidan, camped near the river for two days, hearing the cannonading between our [...]

SEPTEMBER 22d.—Another dispatch from Bragg, received at a late hour last night, says the victory is complete. This announcement has lifted a heavy load from the spirits of our people and as successive dispatches come from Gov. Harris and others on the battle-field to-day, there is a great change in the recent elongated faces of [...]

SEPTEMBER 21st.—The President was called out of church yesterday, and was for three hours closeted with the Secretary of War and Gen. Cooper. It appears that the enemy were occupying Bristol, on the line between Virginia and Tennessee, with seven regiments, and Carse’s brigade was ordered (by telegraph) to reinforce Gen. S. Jones. But to-day [...]

SEPTEMBER 20th.—We have nothing to-day from any of the seats of war but I saw several hundred head of cattle driven through the city this morning, marked “C. S.,” which I learned had come from Essex and King and Queen Counties, which may indicate either a raid from the Lower Rappahannock, or another advance on [...]

SEPTEMBER 19th.—The reports from Western North Carolina indicate that much bad feeling prevails there still; and it is really something more than a military trick to obtain a command. But I think the government had better keep out of the field its assistant adjutant-generals, and especially those in the Bureau of Conscription, unless they are [...]

Vicksburg, September 18, 1863. Left Cairo last Sabbath and arrived here this (Friday) morning. Am feeling splendidly. Better than for three months. Intended visiting you before going to my regiment, but know you’ll excuse me. Address me 4th Division 15th Army Corps.

SEPTEMBER 18th.—Nothing new from the Rappahannock, but a battle is looked for soon. Rosecrans, who had advanced into Georgia, has fallen back on Chattanooga, which he is fortifying. If he be not driven from thence, we shall lose our mines, and the best country for commissary supplies. But Bragg had from 60,000 to 70,000 men [...]

SEPTEMBER 17th.—Lee and Meade have their armies daily drawn up in battle array, and an engagement may be expected. It is said the enemy is evacuating East Tennessee; concentrating, I suspect, for battle with Bragg. It is now said that Brigadier and Col. Lee, A. D. C. to the President, etc. etc., is going to [...]

SEPTEMBER 16th.—The enemy advanced yesterday, and, our forces being unequal in numbers, captured Culpepper C. H. Our cavalry fell back several miles, and a battle is looked for immediately, near Orange C. H., where Gen. Lee awaits the foe in an advantageous position. From the Southwest also a battle is momentarily looked for. If the [...]

SEPTEMBER 15th.1—Gov. Vance writes that he has reliable information that the 30,000 troops in New York, ostensibly to enforce the draft, are intended for a descent on North Carolina, and Gen. Whiting has said repeatedly that 3000 could take Wilmington. The Governor says if North Carolina be occupied by the enemy, Virginia and the whole [...]

SEPTEMBER 14th.—The report from Lt.-Col. Lay of the condition of affairs in North Carolina, received some days ago, was indorsed by Judge Campbell, Assistant Secretary of War, and father-in-law of Col. Lay, that the destruction of the government was imminently menaced, does not seem to have alarmed the President; on the contrary, he sends the [...]

SEPTEMBER 13th.—A letter from Gen. J. E. Johnston, Atlanta—whither he had repaired to attend a Court of Inquiry relating to Pemberton’s operations, but which has been postponed under the present peril—repels indignantly the charge which seems to have been made in a letter from the Secretary of War, that in executing the law of conscription [...]

SEPTEMBER 12th.—–Lieut.-Col. Lay, “Inspector,” reports from North Carolina that some twenty counties in that State are “disaffected;” that the deserters and “recusants” are organized and brigaded; armed, and have raised the flag of the United States. This is bad enough to cause the President some loss of sleep, if any one would show it to [...]

SEPTEMBER 11th.—A dispatch from Raleigh informs us of a mob yesterday in that city. Some soldiers broke into and partially destroyed the office of the Standard, alleged to be a disloyal paper; after that, and when the soldiers had been dispersed by a speech from Governor Vance, the citizens broke into and partially destroyed the [...]

Thursday, 10th September. O my prophetic soul! part of your forebodings are already verified! And in what an unpleasant way! Day before yesterday an English officer, not the one who came here, but one totally unknown to me, said at Mrs. Peirce’s he was going to visit the Confederate prisoners. He was asked if he [...]