16th. Before rising, was ordered to Garrard’s quarters. Went over and received orders to go to McKinney’s Mill and get 40 sacks of flour and then go to Bulls Gap where Hdqrs. had moved. Did my business and rode to the Gap after dusk. Cold ride. Learned that the Brigade was at the Lick Creek [...]
15th. After breakfast packed up. Went up town and got rations of coffee and sugar for ten days, and beef. 7th marched to St. Clair, also Col. Garrard. Drove the cattle. Found a comfortable room. An old stove for quartermasters and Commissary. Cleaned it out, and got stove and seemed comfortable. Little like Sunday. Thought [...]
14th. After breakfast bugle sounded and tents were struck, horses saddled and 2nd Ohio moved to St. Clair, 9 miles distant. Moved qrs. up near Hdqrs. Rainy day, very during the night. Went down and saw the colored men dance jigs and reels. Quite a jolly time. Commenced messing with Com’ry detail. Good time. Heavy [...]
13th. Drew flour for the brigade. Set the butchers to killing hogs, 20. Some talk of moving. Wrote a short letter to the “blue eyed bonnie” I once called mine. No particular news. Wrote to Delos. Long time since I wrote to him. Weather pleasant. Got “Spike” shod. Oh my heart is sad and weary. [...]
12th. Late in the morning sent June and squad out for more cattle. Killed three beeves for 2nd Ohio. Went to town and saw Div. coming. Lot of clothing came. Got some horse shoes. George very bad face. Powder exploded and burned his face badly. Letter from Fannie. How anxious I have been and still [...]
11th. Sent out June for cattle. Brought in several nice ones. About noon drew rations and issued them to the 2nd and 7th Ohio. Did the work myself with the help of Mose. The detail for the boys was received. They reported. Mail came. Nothing for me. Oh!
10th. Had little or nothing to do. Went up to see Commissary on business. Absent. Went out to Mr. Lynch’s to see a horse. Learned he had sold it and returned to camp. Left detail for Thede, June, Lewis Emmons and Dan Coats. Night before received letter from Lucy Randall–married.
9th. Up before sunrise. Got breakfast and was off before sunrise. Reached Morristown by 7 A. M. Reported for duty as Commissary. Saw Lt. S., then went back to Russelville and got rations for 2nd and 7th of Lt. Leavitt, Div. Com’ry. 2nd and 7th went into camp north of town in the woods. Cold [...]
8th. Before noon detailed for picket with the company and part of Co. E. Went on Rogersville road, relieving Co. “B.” Got forage and some provisions. Posted pickets. About 7 P. M. Lieut. Newton came out and relieved me. Found at H. Quarters an order to report to Col. Garrard for duty.
7th. Halted near the gap till daylight. Moved on to Russelville where we got forage and halted for dinner. Unsaddled and remained over night. Great reports about the Rogersville affair. 7th Ohio passed by, rather thin. Several 2nd Tenn. prisoners came in, having escaped from the rebels.
6th. After breakfast sent out forage and provision detail. About 8 heavy firing in the direction of Rogersville. Ordered to be ready to march as soon as detail sent for comes in. Got in. Just got supper ready and had to move out. Rested an hour in field–disgusting. A very tedious night ride, heavy frost, [...]
5th. Up at 4 A. M. Co. “C” ordered to go with Capt. Easton on scout. Got on wrong road, being dark. Trotted two or three miles, returned and fell in with the regt. Moved to near Rheatown and waited for 5th Ind. to come down from Leesburg. Rainy and unpleasant. 14th Ill. to front. [...]
4th. Aroused before daylight. Struck tents and loaded wagons. About 8 A. M. again pitched tents and sent out forage detail. Voted on re-enlistment question. Co. C, 21. Well done for it. Felt proud, better than most companies. Had good visit with many of the boys. Finished “Lillian.” Thede got some apples. Pleasant day.
3rd. In the morning went up and saw Provost Marshal about Hayes, also saw him. Fear he will be caused some trouble before getting away. Inspection at 1 P. M. Horses, men and arms. Co. C did itself up in array. Col. P. loaned me “Lillian.” Finished up Quartermaster and clothing, camp and garrison equipage.
2nd. Wrote a letter home. Helped make our ordnance returns –about square in everything. Was kept busy till quite late. Ordered to be ready to march tomorrow at daylight. Plenty of rumors. Col. Kautz came to inspect the cavalry–all wished he would come to stay.
Sunday, Nov. 1st. Took a bath before breakfast. A beautiful Sabbath day. Wish I could spend it quietly at home. May the time soon come when we may all be at home in peace, but contentment we should ask for. I find myself uneasy nowadays. Mr. Brown preached at 2 from Ecclesiastes 12, 1. Very [...]
31st. Immediately after breakfast commenced muster. Co. “C” was first on hand. Teams and 9th Mich. went for forage. Considerable trouble drawing enough. At 2:30 P. M. companies went out and fired revolvers and rifles. I made several good shots with the carbine. Good many boys under the influence of liquor. Helped some about ordnance [...]
30th. Train and sutler came up. Got Co. property. Mail came. Letter from home, expected more. Had inspection and charged boys with ordnance and ordnance stores. Quite a time. Appointed L. H. Thomas Corporal. Busy on muster rolls and Quarterly Returns. Hugh is busy enough. Wrote a letter home. Ordered to march at daylight. Rain [...]
29th. Boys went out for forage, every man for himself, horses having stood hungry all night. Lay and slept considerably during the forenoon. Boys got some apples. Saw the boys play poker some. Am glad I have not the habit of playing. Col. sent for wagons to come up. Mail sent for. Bosworth went. Getting [...]
28th. At 2:30 relieved and ordered to Jonesboro, 11 miles. Cold ride. Reached there at sunrise, reported to Shackleford. Sent on G. road half a mile, dismounted and fed. Whole army retreating. Went mile east of town where Regt. in line. Stayed and waited for Capt. Case to come from the river. Got chestnuts. Sent [...]
27th. In the morning, read some late newspapers–month old. Took Davenport over to be mustered. Found no difficulty in examination. Co. detailed for picket, also myself. Took 50 men to Vaul’s Ford on Blountville and J. road. Awkward place for picket, 7 miles from camp. Long ride posting pickets. Two letters from home. Good. No [...]
26th. Got out desk and Co. property to work. Trains reloaded and sent to the rear. Fear of an attack. Proposed to the boys the order for re-enlistment. Read some in “B. House.” Boys got some good apples and apple butter. Cloudy and quite cold. Contradictory news from the Army of the Potomac. Election news.
25th. Morning work over, set out for regt. Stopped in town and saw wounded boys. Glad to see the boys so long absent. Reached Watauga about noon. Found most of Co. C absent on a scout. Came in about dark. Grand jubilee. Proposed to re-enlist as regiment. All would like to go home this winter [...]
24th. Another unpleasant day. Boys drew some boots. Brought in big pile of butter, bacon, potatoes and oats. Receipted to Union man and Confed. money to Reb. Seems good to have the boys back again. In the evening wrote home and to Ella Clark. Feel ashamed of my carelessness. Ordered up with train. After forage [...]
23rd. Cloudy, started out at 8. Commenced raining. Slippery and nasty roads. Passed the train. When 6 miles from Jonesboro stopped at a big house for dinner and feed. Old rebel wanted Confederate money for pay. Let the boys stay over night. Went on and found all regiment but stragglers gone to Watauga River. Two [...]