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Family moves to Iowa William declines a commission in a "darkey" regiment March 1st A.D. 1864. we got up at daylight. & it was raining at a good fast rait & had rained all knight. We was wet & the close was wet. But we did not mind that very much. I remembered as soon as I awoke that it was my birthday. I was 22 years of age & I reflected back over my last year & thought of the many dangers & trying seens that God had brought me through. He had spared me whilest many had fell in battle around me & I felt very thankful that I was as what I was. I remembered that on the first day of March A.D. 1863 that Levi P Huntzinger & I was together at Murfreesboro Tenn & we went to a garden & plucked some flowers & enjoyed a happy day for it was a beautiful day. But since that day Levi P H was wounded & went home on a furlow & has not returned to the regt yet but desires very much to be with us. At 10 A.M. there was some of the boys came up that had bin at home recruiting for the regt & James Hague came up. & I saw a man that had saw Levi P H at Nashville & he wanted to come up. But he was detailed for guard at the depot. & he was well & fat. We drawed some beef. & it rained very hard all day. & we had to just dable about in the mudd & rain. & the Boys got some bread & butter amounting to $1.50 which helped us. For our rations was very scarse. We drew some coffee & sugar & bacon. & it turned cold & spit snow. & it stoped at dark. & we got orders to be ready to march at 5 in the morning. & revelie was to sound at 4. We dried our beading & clows & retired at half past 8 o'clock. & it soon cleared of & was very cold & I did not sleep very well. March 2nd A.D. 1864. revelie sounded at 4 & we got up & got ready & the Genl sounded at half past 4. & at 5 we started & marched to the road. & to our great astonishment we started back towards Knoxville. The ground was froze very hard but not anough at the mud holes to bar us up. & the sun raised. & it was very slavish walking when the ground thawed. We stoped at 15 minuts till 12 M. at Mossey crick Station to eat dinner. At 25 minuts till 1 P.M. we started & marched on the railroad & we got to New Market in one hour & five minuts. & we marched nearly a mile South East of town & stoped to camp at 15 minuts after 2 P.M. & we had a good place to camp. & I & 2 others of our mess went out to a house & got some wheat & corn bread & returned at sundown & we drawed some beef & 3 days rations of coffee & suger & some crackers. & at dark we got orders to be ready to march at a moments warning & not leve camp. & we retired to reast at half past 8 o'clock & slept good. March 3rd A.D. 1864. revelie sounded at half past 3 o'clock & we got up & got ready to march. But did not go. & it was a beautiful day. & we drawed beef but it was as usual so poor that we did not eat hardly any of it. We was told that the 9th corps was goying back to the Plains. & that the cavelry had a fight at Morristown after we left & that our men whiped & took some prisnors. The boys seen the prisnors. So it was not to be disputed. We was called on for a report of the number of men that was armed & the number of rounds of cartrages that each man had. I don a rit smart of writing & we was looking to have to march at any time. We did not leve but we put up a tent & had roll call & retired at 8 o'clock & slept fine all knight. March 4th A.D. 1864. we got up at revelie at 5 & it was cool & a little cloudy. I writ & sent out a letter with the mail. & I writ another & I got sick & had to stop writing. I felt like I was goying to have the chills. I layed in the tent nearly all day. The boys traided some coffee for 6 lbs of bacon & 3 1/2 dozen of biscuit & bought some pies. We drawed some beef for a half a day. It was a cloudy day. At 7 o'clock at knight Co's I & C was detailed to go down in town & guard a train that had came in with rations. & as I was not well I did not go. & I layed down at 8. & in a fiew minuts the mail came. & there were 4 letters for me. & I felt two bad to read them all & I just read each one far enough to find out that the persons was well. One was from Levi P & one from James W. & the other two from my love. One had a Valintine in it which was fancy. It rained in the knight & turned cold. I did not reast very well. March 5th A.D. 1864. I went to the docter & got some medicine & I felt tolerable unwell. I read my letters & found the very best news & lovely letters to read. I writ some. We drawed some rations & the comps came back from guarding. The mail came in & I got a letter from home from Maw. Paw had sold his place & nearly all of his stalk & had went to Madison Co to see if he could buy a farm to soot him. & if he could not he intended to go to Ioway. I sent out letters with the mail. It was a clear cool day. I hired my cloths washed as I did not feal able to wash & we had no camp kettles or mess pans with us. We drawed some cloth. I got a shirt. We retired at 8 o'clock & slept fine. March 6th A.D. 1864, Sunday. we was up at 5 & had roll call. I went to patching my cloths for I could not get anough of cloths & had to fix up my old ones. The boys traided coffee for bread. At 1 P.M. we got orders to be ready to march at a moments warning & not leave camp. We dun up our things & the boys lost my canteen that I had got on the Battle field of Chickamooga. I went to writing. I loned Abram H Terhune $5.00 & he is to pay me $7.00 at next pay day for it. I suffered with the newralgey in my head & jaw. I don some writing. Some of the Boys saw some of our men that had bin killed in front yesterday by the rebels. They was brought in to be burried. I did not get to send out mail. We retired at half past 8 o'clock & slept fine all knight. March 7th A.D. 1864. we got up at revelie & it was raining & we looked to have to march. I went to writing. It soon stoped raining. We got orders that we had to have passes to go to town & have rollcall 4 times a day & report all absent from rollcall. I was detailed to go out on picket but before I got ready the order was countermanded. I was glad. I got some more of my cloth washed at 15 cts a piece. The mail came in & we sent mail out. We got orders to cleen up quarters & burn brush. It comenced raining at 3 P.M. & continued raining. We retired at half past 8 o'clock. March 8th A.D. 1864. it had rained all knight & turned cooler at day light. I writ some. A waggon came up with the things that had bin left at the Plains. Our things was all right. It was a cloudy day & tolerable windy & cool till noon & then cleared off & was warm. I don some writing. The mail came. I received two letters. The mail went out. It was ration day. But we only drawed some beef & a cracker to the man. I had the newralgey in my head & jaw so bad I could hardly reast any way. We retired at half past 8 o'clock & had plenty of blankets to sleep on. March 9th A.D. 1864. we got up at revelie & had rollcall & It was a nice spring morning. We drawed a days rations. I don some writing. & in the Evening we drawed some more rations. The mail came in & went out. I put my time in at reading till after 9 o'clock at knight & retired & it rained in the night. March 10th 1864. we got up at day light & it was raining. I went to reading & it stoped raining. We bought two dollars worth of corn bread for the bread wasent enough to do us. We drawed one more days rations of ham meat. We got orders at 2 P.M.to lay off camp & to put up our tents single in a line & we did so. James Hague & I put up together. But our old mess all cooks together as before. As we have all our tents up close togeather. We got the mail. I got a letter. I don some writing & reading. We pooled some pine boughs to lay on & we retired at 8 o'clock, & slept fine. I awoke at midnight & it was thundering & soon rained. March 11th A.D. 1864. we got up at revelie & it was raining. & I went to writing & I suffered with the newralgey. It cleared off & was windy. We drawed some clothing. I got a blows & a pr of pants & a pr of socks. We got orders to be ready to go out on picket at 3 P.M. We went out & I was on the 3rd relief. & my relief went on centenal post at half past 7 & was relieved at half past 9. & I suffered with the newralgey & could hardly reast. We heared the cars come in town. & they drawed rations in camp & our quarter master & Docter got orders to march. March 12th A.D. 1864. my relief went on post at half past 1 & before we was relieved the revelle sounded. & we thought we would have to march. & when we was relieved we layed down & layed till daylight. The General sounded. & at 15 minuts till 6 we got orders to come in of ove picket. & we went in & drawed rations of coffee & suger & crackers to do 5 days. The troops went out. & the right wing of our regt was left to get ready & went to the depot. & our regt stacked arms. & we sent out mail & received mail. & the teems was loading up rations & ammunition & goying to the front. It was a cool frosty morning. We eat some crackers & raw meat. As we had not time to cook. At 8 A.M. the bugle sounded. & we started in the rear of the suply train. & the orders was for the commanding officers to walk in the rear of their comps to ceep the men in ranks. We marched as the train went till half past 2 P.M. & we got to Panther Springs 12 miles from Newmarket. We stoped & camped & was very tired & hungry. & we prepaired a little supper. & we had bought some corn bread. We put up tents for the sky was overcast with clouds. We got orders to have reville at 4 in the morning & march at 6. I read some. The cars came up as far as beens Station. Nearly as far as us. We retired at 8 o'clock. & the mail came in. We slept tolerable well. But I did not feel very well. March 13th A.D. 1864, Sunday. we got up at reville at 4 & got ready to march. It was clear & cool. We had some molasses for breakfast. The bugle sounded at 6 & we started a little after 6 o'clock. Our brigade in center of our devision & we got to Morristown & went in camp near where we had bin before at 15 minuts after 8 A. M. & we could see the 9th & 23rd A.Cs in camp in front of us. We put up our tents & I got a paper. & we read the news. The trains of cars came in town with troops. The mail came in. I put the afternoon in at sewing pockets in new pants. & it was an awful windy cold day. & at dark we got orders to have reville at half past 4 & get breakfast amediatly & stand in line of battle from 5 till a half hour by sun or till we heared from the pickets. & to stay in camp all day ready for any amergency. We retired at 7 o'clock & it clouded up & the wind blew harder & harder. & I had to get up twice to fix the tent & I had to tie it to ceep it from blowing away. It rained a little & the fier got in the leaves & brush & burned some of the boys tents & huts. & it was an awful time. March 14th A.D. 1864. reville sounded at 4 & we got up & had roll call & at 5 we formed in line of battle & had roll call. We stacked arms & stood in line. & we nearly froze. For the sky was clear & it was very cold. & we stood in line till a half an hour by sun. & I had suffered a great deal with the toothache & newralgey that I thought I would go to the docter & get something don. For I had to cook all of my crackers soft or I could not eat them. The Docter said the tooth was two good to pool & he would put some Creisote in my tooth soes to kill the marrow. & I did not suffer so much. I put my time in at reading. About noon a train of cars came in. & after noon there was considreable musketry fiering for a fiew minuts in front of our brigades pickets. & we heared that it was rebels after our boys that had went out to get some bread. It is said that they got two of the 86th Ind boys. & our boys went out & got 13 of the rebels. I saw one of the 3rd Ind cavelry. & he said that the rebel cavelry run in their picket this morning at daylight. & our cavelry run them back again & captured 9 of the rebels dressed in our uniform. We drawed 2 days rations. It clouded up in the afternoon & was very cool. At half past 4 P.M. the cars came in. It sprinkled rain a little. The mail went out. We had orders to have reville at half past 4. & stand in line from half past 5 till a half an hour by sun. We retired after 7 o'clock. March 15th A.D. 1864. reville sounded at half past 4 & we got up & eat breakfast & the bugle sounded. & the batallion was formed & we stood in line of battle till the sun was a half an hour high. The sky was cloudy. & it was cold & windy. The ground was froze & so we suffered with cold. I put my time in at reading. The mail went out. It will go out regular I think while we stay hear. The mail came in. It still continued cold cloudy & windy. We drawed some beef & eat all of our bread for supper. We heared that our boys surprised the rebels camp & run them out capturing some last night. Old Mr. Blankenship who use to be our Major came up to our regt on a visit on the evening train. We bought some small biscuit for 50 cts pr dozen. We retired at 8 o'clock & it was so windy & cold that we could not sleep good. March 16th A.D. 1864 reville sounded at half past 4. & we went in line at 5 o'clock & stood till sunup. & we nearly froze for it was awful cold. The ground was froze. & the sky was nearly clear & the wind blew very strong. We had biscuit for breakfast. I went to writing but it was so cold that I could not write but a little bit between each time I warmed. The 5 companys of our regt that had went out on picket yesterday morning at 9 A.M. was relieved & came in at half past 9 A.M. As we came up from Newmarket there was lots of the boys throwed away their overcoats & wool blankets & some of their gum blankets. & now they suffer with coald. But I was a little two old a soldier for that. I knew that we could not go far without having a fight & I cept all of my things & so I & James Hague & Lt Batchelar sleeps warmer than the rest of the boys as the Lt stays with James & I. We have four wool blankets. The coald seemes to go as heard with us as it did in the winter. For the wind seems to blow clear through our cloth. The troops in the 9th & 23rd A.C. has drilled every day since we have bin hear for we could see them. It spit snow a little but was two cold to snow. I sent out a letter. We drawed 5 days rations of coffee & suger & some salt & one days rations of pork & a half days rations of crackers to do a day & a little beans. We have no news from the front yet today. The papers came in but no mail. The train came at 1 P.M. as usual. Samuel Swan came up yesterday from Knoxville. I sent $0.75 to Knoxville by our mail carrier for stamps. It was the coldest kind of a day all day. We retired after 7 o'clock & a train of cars came in after night. It was the coldest night we have had for some time. March 17th A.D. 1864. reville sounded at 4. & we got up & had roll call & had orders to get breakfast amediatly & be ready to march at half past 5. We got breakfast & it was an awful cold morning. The sky was clear & the ground was froze heard. The bugle sounded & we started at 15 minuts after 5 o'clock & marched through town & about a mile east of town & stoped at 6 o'clock where the other troops had just left & we layed out our regular camp & put our tents in nice order & pooled weads to lay on. The sun shun nice & warm. I went to sewing & changing pockets in new pants. It clouded up & got cool & windy. We drawed some beef & fool rations of crackers & some beans & rice & a potatoe & a half to the man & an onion to the man & some sour crout the first we have drawed I believe since we have bin out. We heared orders came to Gen Wood comanding our Devision last night for us to go back to Louden & I heared that Wood requested to stay hear & then Genl Schofield comanding our department sent some of the 9th A.C. & we came this morning & took their place. Two trains came in. We got orders to be ready for Genl Inspection at 1 P.M. tomorrow. The evening train Brought in our mail carrier & he said that the mail had not come to Knoxville for they was afraid to send it for fear of the rebels making a raid on the railroad & capturing the mail. We retired at half past 7 & slept very fine. March 18th A.D. 1864. reville sounded at half past 3 o'clock & we got up & had orders to get ready to march in one hour & we got ready. & the Genl sounded at half past 4. & at 5 we started. & the orders was to call the roll every time we stoped. & we marched two miles & stoped to let the teems get in front for we was goying back towards Knoxville. After the teems was past us we started & the roads was dry & very hard. & the wind blew tremendlous hard & met us & the dust blew some nearly preventing us from seeing. We marched tolerable fast & the road being solid it blistered boath of my feet in the bottem. & a great part of the Boys are in the same fix. We stoped in our same old camp at Newmarket at half past 1 P.M. having marched 18 miles. The mail came in. But not as much as was dew us. We got our money back that we sent for stamps & I got 8 stamps. We drawed some crackers & rice & some bacon. We heared that some of the 8th A.C. was marching out to Morristown to the 23rd A.C. & that they was there yet. But I dont know whether they came in our rear or not. We got orders to be ready to march at 5 o'clock in the morning. We had a good mess of beans for supper & potatoes. We put up our tents & retired at 8 o'clock & slept fine. March 19th A.D. 1864. reville sounded at half past 4. & we got up & eat breakfast & the Genl sounded at 15 minuts after 5. & at half past 5 the bugle sounded to the colors & we started. Our regt in front of our devision. & we marched towards the plains & marched two miles & stoped to reast. & capton How told me to take two men & march Wm Critser in the rear of the Comp in the road. For he had bin out of camp all night & he had just came up. I suffered with the Newralgey in my jaw. We got to the Holston river & crossed on the Pontoon bridge at half past 9 A.M. & we stoped & was told to make some coffee. But the boys had not got it done till we was ordered to go on. & we went about a mile up the river & stoped to camp. & we got the mail & I got a letter for Levi P Huntzinger. It was not directed rite & so it came to the Company. At 12 M Capton How had Company I to fall in line. & had me to bring Wm Critser in front of the Comp. & he talked to him very nice. & Capton told him he was oblige to conflict some punnishment on him for he had been comiting deprodations i dissobeying the orders which was ordered to be obeyed or punishment inflicted on the persons not obeying. & Capton talked very nice to the Company & ast them to never do anything deserving punnishment for he did not want to punish any of us. & he was honest in what he said. But as Wm Critser had only bin in camp one night during the time that we had bin in camp at Newmarket, before he had left last night & did not return untill after we had left camp. Capton told him he would ceep him in camp one night. & he would tie him up soes he could not leave & so Capton How told me to take two men & carry out the order. I took two men & I tied Wm Critser to a tree with his hands behind him. It was tolerable cool & windy. I gave 40 cts for a scene [skein] of pattent thread. I went to writing. & at 3 P.M. we was ordered to go out on picket & we went out. I had charge of the 2nd relief but I had the toothache & a jaw ache so bad that I could not take charge of the relief & I was almost destracted with misery in my jaw. I went to the camp & got some Creisote put in my tooth but it don no good. & I stayed at the reserve till nearly dark. & the Boys & Lt cept at me to go to camp & get a poltis of ashes put on my jaw. As it was swelling. I went in & Wm. D. Mitchell made a polties of ashes & that gave me some relief. Wm Critser was untied from the tree but his hands was tied behind him yet. I layed down at 8 o'clock with a large rock warmed & rapped up to my jaw & I could sleep a little. March 20th A.D. 1864, Sunday. reville sounded at half past 5 o'clock & it was a beautiful morning. The sun raised in splendor. I could hardly eat my crackers when they was stewed soft. I went to writing. & the Genl sounded at 10 minuts till 9 A.M. & Wm Critser was untied. We got ready to start. I loned $5.00 to Wm. D. Mitchel for $6.00 next pay day. We layed around wating for orders to start till half past 11 A.M. The bugle sounded & we started our regt in rear of our two Brigades. Genl Willichs was not goying & Hasons Brigade was in front. & we marched to the crossroads where we was camped in the winter & we took the Rutledge road & marched through some very poor cuntry & saw some flowers in fool bloom. It clouded up & turned cold. We went 8 miles & stoped to camp at 15 minuts till 5 P.M. My jaw was paining me a great deal. & I had nothing to eat since breakfast for I could not eat unless I boiled my crackers soft. We put up our tents. We had nothing to eat but crackers & coffee. We retired at 8 o'clock. & I suffered considreable with my jaw. March 21st A.D. 1864 reville sounded at half past 4. & we had orders to get breakfast & be in line of battle till 6 & then march. & at half past 5 we formed in line of battle & then broke ranks. It was very cool & cloudy. The Bugle sounded & we started at half past 6 o'clock. Our brigade in front. & we could see a big smoak about 6 or 8 miles in front in the direction that we was goying. It looked as if it might be a camp fier. We went about 2 miles & stoped. And a section of the artillery (Bridges Battery) was ordered in the center of our Brigade. & there was some skermishers throwen out in front of our brigade I think. & after a long reast we started & marched on. & at 15 minuts after 12 M we marched in Rutledge the County Seet of Granger County. & turned to the right & went in camp near town at half past 12 M. & the citezens told us that it was 28 miles from Rutledge to the Cumberland Gap & 16 miles to Morristown & 9 miles to Been Station an old stage Station. & we had come about 10 miles this morning. I went to town & got our coffee ground & had a good talk with a good looking union girl. We bought some corn bread as our rations was out. & we got some good home made suger. I done some writing. We got orders to have roll call at 4 P.M. & not leave camp unless with a pass & not then unless with perticular buisness. It was nearly clear all afternoon. We drawed some beef & some rations of coffee & shuger & salt & crackers to do a day. We saw in the papers that president Lincoln had called for 200,000 more men. We got orders to have reville at half past 4 o'clock in the morning. & stand in line of battle till we got orders. We retired after 8 o'clock. March 22nd A.D. 1864. reville sounded at half past 4 o'clock & we got up & had roll call & at half past 5 the bugle sounded & we formed in line of battle & called the roll. & stacked arms. & stood in line. It was a cool & cloudy morning. We was in line till after 6 o'clock. At about 8 A.M. it comenced snowing & snowed faster than it had this winter I think. I put my time in at sewing till noon puting pockets in mens Pants. We had some meat that we got of the Lt Colonel for dinner. The first we had for two days. There was some forriagers sent out. I done some writing. The Papers stated that Genl Fremont had bin assigned to a command in North Carolina & Genl Rosecrans would be sent back to the Army of the Cumberland. It was snowing after 1 P.M. & the little cedars was loaded down with snow & all things looked very dull & discouriageing & we suffered with cold for it was two discouriageing & dissagreable to be standing in the snow. We look forward to the day when this Equanoctial storm will be over & the sun will make its beautiful apperance. We got some pie for we was so hungry we could not do without when we could buy. At dark it stoped snowing. It had snowed all day & had melted some. We drawed what we called fool rations for 2 days of crackers coffee & shuger & salt & two days rations of bacon & one of beef which we threw away. & we got beans soap & candles. Colonel Fred Knefler came up to the regt after dark. We retired to sleep at half past 8 o'clock. March 23rd A.D. 1864. reville sounded at half past 4 & we got up. & it had cleared off in the night & was very cold. We fell in line of battle at half past 5 o'clock & stood till after 6 & then break ranks. & the sky became clear & at 7 A.M. we was ordered to get ready to go on picket at 10 A.M. Colonel Fred Knefler said that he thought that we would have a good time yet this summer. He said that our devision was the only devision that had been in the field or traveling all winter, of our army. & it was thought that we would go back & do garrison duty at Chattanooga this summer.* The bugle sounded & we started a little before 10 A.M. & went out on picket in front of town up the valley. Our whole regt had to go out on picket except Company A who was provost guards at Devision head quarters & trainguards. We got mail. I got a letter from a cousin who I never saw.** At 12 M I was sent in charge of two men from the reserve to Genl Woods head quarters to report a man there. It cleared off in the fournoon. & the sun shun very bright & thawed the snow very fast. A requisition was made for clothing. Several boys in our camp was as near barefooted as could be to have shoes atall. The 1st O.V.I. regt went out a scouting up the valley. The mail went out. The snow went off till night on the sun side of the hills. At night the regt went in that had went out. & reported that they saw no rebels. & they had bin out 6 miles. It was clear & it was full moon & our comp did not have to go out on out Post. But we stayed at the reserve. We retired at half past 8 o'clock. __________ * Not an accurate prediction. ** This was Miss Mollie F. Huntzinger, Fishersburg P.O., Madison County, Ind., according to his notes in the back of the memorandum book. __________ March 24th A.D. 1864. we got up at 4 & it was very cold & clear & the ground was froze hard. We formed in line of battle at 5. & was dissmissed at half past 5. The sun shun very warm & nice in the fournoon. We was relieved at half past 10 A.M. & we went to camp & at half past 11A.M. the Genl sounded in Hasens Brigade & at 12 M we got orders to pack up amediatly & be ready to march. We drawed one days rations of beef & one days rations of crackers & one of bacon & two days rations of coffee & shuger & a little soap & vegitable for soop. At 1 P.M. we started & went towards the Plains & Colonel Fred Knefler took charge of the Brigade. We saw the 10th Michigan regt of cavelry. & they said that the 3rd Ind cavelry was back at Knoxville. We went back a fiew miles to where the 59th O.V.I. was in camp at a gap & they joined in with us & we marched back 10 miles from Rutledge & stoped to camp at half past 5 P.M. & had orders by devision to the rear in to columns .. batallion rite face .. march .. we formed in that stile. We was ordered to put up our tents in regular stile for we might get to stay a fiew days. It was cloudy & cool. We did not get our tents up till after night. We got mail. I received a silk handkerchief from my love. & I received a letter from her with 16 postage stamps in it which I sent for. We retired at half past 9 o'clock. March 25th A.D. 1864. reville sounded at 4. & we got up. & it had snowed a good big snow in the night. & was partly snowing & raining. & we had a very dissagreable time. & at half past 5 we formed in line of battle & did not stand very long. It rained often on all fournoon. & we put our time in at writing. I think our mess will have about 21 letters to send out which we writ today. I writ two letters. One had 4 sheets in it. & the other 3 sheets. At 1 P.M. the 41st O.V.I. came up to the 2nd brigade. They had went in as veterans. Mr. Silas Martin came up to the Company. At 6 the orders was for 6 companys to go out, of our regt, on a scout for it was reported that there was some rebels out on the side of the Mountain. But the order was countermanded & they did not go for it was a raining. We retired at 8 o'clock & it rained often on all night. & at 2 in the night the 6 companys went out on a Scout. March 26th A.D. 1864. reville sounded at half past 4 & at half past 5 we fell in line of battle & stood a little while. It was cold & cloudy. The 6 companys came in & they did not see any rebels where they had bin reported to be. & the two boys was condemed to carry a rail a peace for two weaks & to carry it 6 hours each day for reporting rebels where there was none. They belong to Comp G. I put my time in at writing. At half past 11 A.M. the orders came for us to get ready to go out on a scout with 3 days rations & take everything with us. We left our mail to be sent out. & we had to draw rations. We got 3 days rations of crackers & 2 days rations of coffee shuger & bacon. At 1 P.M. 3 companys of our regt & nearly all of the two brigades started. Our Brigade in front. We went towards Rutledge. The roads was very muddy. & it was very bad walking. We went about 2 1/2 miles up the rich land valley & then turned to the left & went through a gap between the poor land nobs & turned down the poor land valley & marched along winding up the side of the Clinch Mountains till we got back nearly even with our camp to Powder Springs Gap. & we had marched about 5 miles & we marched down of ove the Clinch Mountains. In flat crick valley (it is Clinch river Valley but each neighborhood names the differant little valleys.). & marched North East up the valley & we marched 5 miles &went in camp at 6 o'clock & E. J. Hicks & I went to a house & got a good supper for a quarter a piece. & the boys got fresh meat & bought some flour & some corn bread & some molasses. We retired after 9 o'clock. March 27th A.D. 1864, Sunday. reville sounded at half past 4. & we got up & eat. & it was clear & cool & our orders was to march at 6. & the bugle sounded & we started at 25 minuts after 6 o'clock. & we had tolerable bad roads to march on & we passed several houses. For it was thick settled along the road. The news along the road by the citezens was that there was 20,000 rebels about 11 miles up the valley. & our cavelry which was 6 companys said that our other brigade had went up the valley by Rutledge & our artillery & we was goying to try to suround some rebels & capture them. We marched tolerable fast. & I think there is no rebels only home guards & guerillas. It was a beautiful Sunday & was easter. & the girls of the valley was geathered to the roads & nearest houses to see the Yankies pass. & when we had marched 5 miles our advance (the cavelry) saw a rebel home guard. & he mounted his horse. & they halted him & he road off as fast as he could. & our men shot him dead. & I saw him as we passed by him where he layed by the road on the ground. He was said (by the citezens) to be a very mean man & had done a good deal of harm & mischief. & after we got in very rough roads & nobs we advanced very slow & careful. The citezens told that there had bin 20 rebels passed by a little before we came along. & when we marched about 9 miles we stoped & formed in line of battle & stacked arms & was told to boil coffee & cook dinner. At half past 10 A.M. we eat dinner & at 15 minuts till 1 P.M. we started & marched back to the same place where we had camped & stoped at 5 P.M. & E.J.Hicks & I went to the same place where we got our supper & got our supper. & we saw a cavelry Sergeant that had charge of the advance today. & he told all about how Mr Fleming had bin killed. Fleming was the advance of a rebel squad of cavelry or home guards. & they was coming down the valley toward us not knowing that we was meeting them & they was goying to have a good Easter Sunday dinner at Sanders. & our advance man road up & when they met he ast the rebel if he was a Northern man (for he had a yankies overcoat on) & the rebel said yes & drew his revolver & demanded our cavelry men to surinder. Our cavelry man said well there is no use to be in a hurry knowing that the Sergeant & another man was just down behind the rais of ground. & he took his Spencer rifle off ove his shoulder as though he was goying to surinder & as them guns are dangerous to carry with a load in the barrel when riding he had no load in the barrel but the loads was all in the britch. & he put the britch under his overcoat at his side as tho he was goying to loosen it from his side or rig & then threw down the guard which threw a load in the barrel & he raised the hammer very still & then he reached out the gun as if he was goying to surinder. & the Sergeant was just coming in sight then. & the rebel looked up at him & our cavelry as he reached the gun out nearly to him. Tuched the triger & shot the rebel as he sat with his revolver drawed & hammer raised. & the rebel said O, I am shot. & put his hand on the neck of the horse & threw himself off on the ground & fell over dead. This was all dun in a little time. & by this time the rebels cavelry had come up over the rais in sight & formed in line of battle only a little ways off. & our cavelry was coming close. & the rebels whealed their horses & road off as fast as possible without fiering a shot. & afterward they skermished with our boys & our boys with them. I guess this is the true statement of the case but I heared a good many differant ways about it. We had orders to march at 7 in the morning. & we retired after 8 o'clock. March 28th A.D. 1864. reville sounded at half past 5. & we was up. & it was cloudy & looked like_rain. & at 15 minuts past 7 A.M. a squad started up on the mountain to hunt around for rebels for there had bin some seen there yesterday. & the boys had went up to the top of the mountain. & I heared that they killed one & wounded one & took several prisnors. I saw the wounded man & the prisnors. I heared the shooting & saw them moving about on the ridge. At 8 A.M. the squad got up on the mountain & we started & could see the men moving along on top of the mountain. & when we got up in the gap the men came to us. & we went to camp & got there at 12M. The mail came in. We drawed two days rations of bacon crackers & coffee & suger salt rice & vegitable. I put my time in at writing. & it rained in the afternoon. I retired at 9 o'clock. March 29th A.D. 1864. we got up at 6 & it had rained very hard nearly all night & we got a little wet but it was not raining when we got up. I put my time in at writing. The mail came in & went out. & captain How was officially notified of the death of George Anderson. We drawed beef. It rained during the day. William B. Ellis that use to be our Captain came up to the regt. & has got suttler goods back at Knoxville I heard. It was very cold & rainy. & we retired at 8 o'clock. March 30th A.D. 1864. reville sounded at 5. It was snowing but it thawed as fast as it fell. It was cold & very dissagreable. It stoped snowing at noon. I put my time in at sewing. We drawed some beef. It was a very cold rainy windy day. I read in the afternoon. We got orders to have reville at 4 in the morning & get breakfast & form the batallion at the first dawn of day & stand till sunup. & if the rebels was not in force near we was alowed to take off our acutrements & stay in camp all the time. We retired after 8 o'clock. March 31st A.D. 1864. reville sounded at 4. We stood in line of battle. It was cool & cloudy. Abram H Terhune came in our mess. John Anderson got a pass & went to Knoxville to see about George Andersons things. We went on picket at 10 A.M. & it cleared off. I was in charge of the 2nd relief. I was out of rations & bought some pies. We got the mail. I received a letter from home & paw had sold his plase & was goying to Iowa the 28th of Mar. I also received another very interesting letter. It was a beautiful day. We got a fiew rations.
April 1st A.D. 1864. it rained a good deal in the night. It stoped at daylight. I writ a letter home. We was relieved at 11 A.M. & went to camp & we met the most of our two brigades goying out on a scout. & 4 companys of our regt was left because we was on picket. It was raining. We got 3 days rations & some tents. I drew a tent the second one I ever drew. For the first one was intierly roted out. It rained nearly all afternoon. We set in our tents & thought it was almost a mericle that we did not go out on the scout. We retired at 8. & it rained nearly all night. April 2nd A.D. 1864. reville at 4. It was very cool & windy. I went to writing. Wm.B.Ellis started back. It rained a little. The mail came in & I received a letter from home a very interesting one. It drizzled rain a little during the day. We drawed some beef. John Anderson came up again from Knoxville. We retired at 8 P.M. April 3rd A.D. 1864, Sunday. reville sounded at 4. It was a cold clear frosty morning. & the sun shun very nice & in magnifficent splendor & it seemed like a Sunday morning use to be at home when I heared the beautiful little birds singing joyously their sweet enchanted lays. & O how glad I would have bin to have had a chance to go to church as I use to. But I could not enjoy myself that away & so I went to writing after washing good & shaving. It was a beautiful day. & the troops came in. & our Brigade had went the same way they did before. & went some further. They went to Thornhill. We drawed rations, for 3 days. There was a waggon came up with a fiew boxes which was expressed to Colonel Fred Knefler & some other officers & one box contained tin buckets with a led & a bale to carry them by. & they would hoald about a quart. & they was presented to the privets of our regt by the Colonel. He got them made when he was at home on a furlow. & he presented them to the boys free of all cost. They will be very handy. After they was issued there was one bucket to the 3 Corporals of our Comp. & they drawed cuts for it. We retired after 8 P.M. April 4th A.D. 1864. reville at 5. We stood in line of battle till we heared from the pickets. It had rained nearly all night & was still raining. We got orders to go on picket at 10 A.M. We went out on picket. I had charge of the 4th relief. We saw some fiew peach bloom. & the grass looked like it was goying to grow. & everything intimated that spring had presented itself at last. It rained from noon till night prety hard at times. We had chicken for supper & made the dumpling out of crackers. We slept some. For we had a shed to stay under. April 5th A.D. 1864. we stood in line of battle. It had rained nearly all night tolerable hard. & it was still raining. It stoped raining at 9 A.M. & turned cooler. We was relieved at 11 A.M. & went to camp. & we drawed beef & bacon & the branches [brooks] was very high & overflowing. We got orders to be ready to march at 6 A.M. in the morning to march to Strawberry Plains. The mail came in at 4 P.M. & I received a letter. The Colonel gave each of the Orderly Sergeants a coffee mill for the use of the Comps. The mail went out. We retired to reast at half past 8 P.M. & slept very fine. April 6th A.D. 1864. reville sounded at 4 & at 5 the Genl sounded & we got ready & at 6 we started & formed on the road ready to march. & at 7 A.M. we started. Our regt in front of the Devision in rear of the teems & battery. We had to march through the fields & woods for the roads was almost impassible. Part of the Hasens brigade was across the richland Crick. & they had to carry the things across the crick on a foot log out of the wagon & then ungear the mules & swim them across. & the horses also. & pool the wagons across by rops. It was very cloudy. We got along very slow. For the branches had to be crossed on rails. The boys got up a dispute about a mountain. Some bet that it was house mountain & others bet that it wasnt. They bet $5.00. & I think there was upwards of $100.00 bet on it. & I had my mind made up that the mountain was House Mountain. & when we got near it it was house mountain. & the men that bet that it was house mountain won their money. It cleared off at 11 A.M. & we got inwith 1 1/2 miles of the Plains & stoped at 15 minuts till 1 P.M. We drawed 3 days rations of coffee & shuger & crackers & bacon. & we bought some shuger as we did not get anough to do us. I don some writing. We had orders to have reville at 4 & to march at half past 5 & to go to Knoxville. & we was called on for a detail of men to hunt up the men that belonged to our regt in Knoxville in the hospitals when we got there. & we hered that we was relieved from the department of the Ohio. I writ till nearly 9 o'clock & then retired & slept very fine. April 7th A.D. 1864. reville at 4 & the Genl sounded at 5 & at half past 5 Genl Hasens Brigade started & we had teems sent to our regt that had bin our regimental teems. & while we was from the railroad they was throwen into a suply train & as we was goying back they hawled our things such as blankets tents & all that we wanted them to hawl of the baggage kind. It was cloudy. & at 15 minuts till 6 A.M. we formed our regt. & the order was read to us from Genl Scofield. He tendered his thanks & respects to Genl Woods for our soldierly duty while temporarily under his command. & so we knew that we was goying to leave the department of the Ohio. At 6 we started merry & fool of life & with chears & yells. We went to the railroad. & Genl Willich's Brigade was by the road formed at close column & stacked arms & wating for us to pass. & old darkey John had a spell of singing & it caused a great deal of laughter among them as we passed for John was singing with all his might. We could see the snow on the side of the Allagany Mountains. The peach trees was nearly in fool bloom. We saw a little plowing goying on where there was rails anough to fence a field. At 15 minuts till 12 M we stoped to get diner. When we got inwith 2 1/2 miles of town we was ordered for the men to ceep in ranks & the file closers to ceep their places. It was clear & warm & we swet. We stoped near town & fixed bayonets & marched through town at a right shoulder shift at 3 P.M. & the detail was sent to get the convelescents. & they got Calombus Hancock of our company. We marched about 3 1/2 miles from town on the Louden road & stoped to camp at 5 P.M. having marched about 20 miles today. The mail came in. I received a letter. The mail went out. I had the headache. We retired at 8 P.M. & slept very well. April 8th A.D. 1864. reville at 5. It was raining. Our baggage came up to us. What was left. But a great part of it had bin stole or disposed of some way. For we did not get all of our cooking utensels. I went to writing. The mail went out. It stoped raining at 10 A.M. & at 15 minuts till 1 P.M. the Genl sounded & at 15 minuts till 2 P.M. we started. Our brigade in front. We had very strict orders read to us concerning straggling. & we had orders not to have our napsacks hawled but to carry them & if not able to carry them they had to get a pass from the surgeon & get transportation in the ambulance. We marched about 7 miles & went in camp at 5 P.M. We was ordered not to burn rails. We always put up our tents when we stop for fear of rain. It sprinkled & cept on till it was raining hard at dark. We drawed one days rations of crackers & Pickle Pork & a half days rations of coffee & shuger. I was very unwell & did not eat any supper. We retired after 8. & it rained very regular. April 9th A.D. 1864. reville sounded at 4 A.M. We got up & it was still raining & had bin all night. I could not eat breakfast. The genl sounded at half past 5. & at 6 the two brigades started. & at half past 6 we started. It was still raining. & was awful hard marching. I could not ceep up for I was so weak. It stoped raining before noon. We stoped at 20 minuts till 1 P.M. to get dinner. I eat a little dinner. & we started at 20 minuts till 2 P.M. & marched to Lanor Station about 14 miles from where we started in the morning. & we stoped to camp at 10 minute after 3 P.M. We had saw nearly all along the road where there had bin fighting as Longstreet had drove Genl Burnsides last fawl. The mail came in & a letter came for Levi. For it was not directed rite to go to him. It rained often on all afternoon & at night. We had orders to have revelle at 4 in the morning & to march at half past 5 A.M. We drawed potatoes. We retired at 9 P.M. April 10th A.D. 1864, Sunday. reville sounded at 4. & the Genl sounded at 5 & at half past 5 the bugle sounded. & the troops started. & at 6 our brigade started in the center of our Devision. & it had rained nearly all night. & was still raining a little. We marched 6 miles & stoped at the river oposit Louden at 15 minute till 9 A.M. & it was still raining a little. We soon started & went up the river one mile. & stoped to camp. & I went to writing. I bought some pies & chees for I had the poorest apetitee for government rations. The mail came in & I received a letter from Levi P Huntzinger. He was as well as could be expected. I writ a letter to him. It rained a little at times. There was two very rood boys in our regt who would not obey any orders hardly atall. & they was both whiped with a switch & then tied by their commanding officer. We drawed a fiew rations but no bread or coffee or shuger. I was offered a recommendation for a commission in a darkey regt by my captain but I did not except. We heared of the Death of Tilman Dodd of our Comp. We retired after 9 P.M. April 11th A.D. 1864. reville sounded at 5 & we was up & at half past 6 our comp was detailed for fortigue duty. & we went to the river where they was crossing the artillery of our devision. There was a steamboat laying there. & they was crossing on a small boat that was run by hors power. At 9 the steem boat comenced transporting across the river. & at 10 A.M. the 17th Ky & 86th Ind of our brigade comenced crossing. & we went back for we could not get rations over the river & our regt was gon & we got our things & come back & crossed the river on the steam boat & went out about 2 miles & turned back & went in camp at half past 2 P.M. I bought a loaf of bread for 5 cts & our mess bought a frying pan for $1.50 & we drawed a days rations of crackers. I eat an aple the first one I eat for a long time. It clouded up & rained. I writ a letter to Levi & captain writ a sheet to him two. The mail came in. We drawed 4 days rations of crackers. We retired at 9 P.M. & it rained. April 12th A.D. 1864. reville sounded at 5 & it was still raining. & we drawed a half pint of Whiskey for 6 men. & we drewe 4 days rations of coffee & shuger Beans & 2 days of bacon. I put my time in at writing. We drawed two days rations more making rations to do till the night of the 17th. We got orders to have reville at 4. & march at half past 5 in the morning. There was a thunder shower came up & rained & hailed & afterwards we saw the rain bow. We retired after 8 P.M. April 13th A.D. 1864. reville at half past 3. & it was a clear frosty morning. & the Genl sounded at 15 minute till 5. & at half past 5 we started our Brigade in front & we got to Philadelphia in Monroe County at 8 A.M. It is situated on the Geo & Tenn R.R. We passed through some very prety cuntry & splendid farms. & we saw where the citizens was laying of cornground & prepairing to plant Corn. & it looked more like civilization than where we had bin. It was a beautiful day. We marched through Sweetwater at 15 minute till 12 M. The same town that we marched through when we was goying up to Knoxville. We stoped to camp at half past 12 M. having Marched about 15 miles. I don some writing. The mail came in. We retired after 8 p.m. & slept fine. April 14th A.D. 1864. reville sounded before 4 & the Genl sounded at 5 & we started at 15 minuts till 6 A.D. [sic] & our Brigade was in the rear. It was cloudy & looked like rain. O. O. Howard had took command of our corps (the 4th A.C.) on the 10th of this month & moved head quarters to Cleveland. We marched past Mouse Crick Station at half past 9 A.M. & at 15 minuts past 12 M we stoped to camp inwith a half mile of Athens having marched about 12 miles. The mail came in. I don some writing. Yesterday was the second day of this month that it did not rain. There was a captain of the 17th Ky of our brigade died in the Ambulance as we was marching along on the 13th of April. He was the ranking Captain of the Regt. I did not eat any supper. We retired at 8 P.M. April 15th A.D. 1864. reville sounded at 4. & the Genl sounded at 5. I did not eat any Breakfast & still had the Diarrhea & was weak. At 6 we started & passed through Athens the County Seet of McMinns Co. A very nice little town situated near the Ga & Tenn R.R. It rained a little at 10 A.M. We passed through riceville. As we was marching along. Toney & C Burris of our regt had a hard fight resulting in Toney geting badly whiped. We got to Calhoon at 20 minuts till 2 P.M. & passed out of McMinn County across the Hiawassie into Charleston in Bradly County & went in camp a 1/2 mile from town at 15 minuts after 2 P.M. having marched 15 miles. William D. Mitchel of our mess having bin sick for several days was unable to march & was transported on the Ambulance. We retired after 8 p.m. & slept fine & reasted very good. April 16 A.D. 1864. reville sounded at 4. & at 15 minuts till 5 the Gen sounded & at half past 5 we started our brigade in front. We marched close to Cleveland & stoped at 20 minuts after 10 A.M. & at 15 minuts after 11 A.M. we started Company right wheal march & we went through town in that way. & we went through Cleveland a beautiful town on the Ga & Tenn R.R. The County Seet of Bradley County. & we stoped when we got through town. We got the mail. It sprinkled rain a little. The Genl had stoped I supose to get orders where we should go to. & we marched down the road toward Chattanooga. We marched 7 miles & stoped at 15 minuts after 2 P.M. to camp after marching about 18 miles from Charleston. I don some writing. Captain Newlan of Comp D. & Orderly Eton of Comp E & Orderly Manney of Comp C of our regt came up to the regt. They had bin at home recruiting for their companys. The Suttler of the 17th Ky of our Brigade came up. The first suttler that had bin up with us since we left Chattanooga. We heared that there had bin some fighting toward Dalton. We retired after 8 P.M. April 17th A.D. 1864, Sunday. reville sounded at 5. It was a frosty morning. But after the sun raised it was a beautiful day. We had company inspection. It rained a little. The mail came in. We drawed some rations. We got some flour. We retired at 8 P.M. April 18th A.D. 1864. reville sounded at 5. It stoped raining at daylight. We had orders to get ready for regimental inspection at 3 P.M. We got our guns ready for Inspection. & at 10 A.M. we got orders to strike tents & get ready to move & we did so & I was to stay with the Captain's & Lieut's baggage to load them in the wagon when they came. For they was all gon to Cleveland after something. The mail came in. We was ordered to get dinner. & I was told not to stay. Colonel Fred Knefler took charge of the regt for Genl Batty had returned to take charge of our Brigade. The Boys would have bin glad for Knefler to have cept the comand of the Brigade for the Boys was all very much pleased with the way our brigade was marched & the way the Colonel commanded the Brigade. We started at 15 minuts till 1 P.M. & our regt was by its self. We marched 7 miles to McDaniels Gap & passed through the gap & stoped at half past 4 P.M. & layed off camp & put up our tents. & we thought we was goying to relieve the troops that was guarding the gap. & I expect we will stay for some time. We have marched 127 miles since we left richland valley. I got some things from a suttler. We retired at 9 P.M. & slept fine. April 19th A.D. 1864. reville sounded at 5. & it was a cool morning. & the sky was clear. We had our things washed. Our teems came up. It sprinkled rain a little. I went up on the little mountain near us. & I could see the Cumberland Mountains and the Alagany Mountains. & we could see Lookout Mountain & Mission Ridge & the smoak raising from the camps at Chattanooga. It is said that we are 15 miles from Chattanooga. I don some writing. The mail came in. I received a letter with a breast pin in it. We retired after 8 P.M. April 20th A.D. 1864. reville sounded at half past 4. It was a very cool morning. I went to writing & the Genl sounded at 8 A.M. & we had orders to report back to our Brigade. & we drawed two days rations of shuger & coffee & bacon & crackers. & at 15 minuts after 9 A.M. we started & got in sight of the brigade where they had moved & layed off & put up regular camp. & we stoped at 15 minuts till 1 P.M. & wated orders where to camp. & we was put in the woods. & stoped to camp at 15 minuts after 1 P.M. The mail came in & I received a letter. We layed off regular camp. & was ordered not to cut down any Timber inside of the camp ground but to leave them for the benefit of the shade when the leves puts out. We policed the quarters. I don some writing. John Eaten came to the regt. I supose to colect. We retired at 8 P.M. I slept fine. April 21st A.D. 1864. reville sounded at 5. We don some policing. We cleared a great space clear from the field officers tents to the front of the color line about 50 yards. & we have a beautiful camp. We put up tents of poles & had the nicest kind of a tent. & Lt. Batchelor went from our tent to the Marker as they came up to the regt. We drawed about one dozen of onions & one dozen potatoes to the man & some vinegar & flower & other things two numerous to mention. We expect to have plenty to eat now while so close to Chattanooga. I don some writing. We heared some Cannonading but I think it was target fiering & we heared musketry fiering. It was Stanley's Devision fiering at targets. It sprinkled rain a little. We retired to reast at 8 P.M. & slept fine. April 22nd A.D. 1864. reville sounded at 5. & we don a good deal of policing & ditched our tents & streats & graded our streats as we did at Murfreesboro & dug ditches between the line officers tents & our quarters. We got orders to be ready for grand review by Genl Howard at 11 A.M. tomorrow. I assisted Captain to make out the clowthing account returns for the several last months. We put up a bunck to sleep on. It was a very warm day. & the Boys was goying around barefooted. After night we got orders to report for picket at 6 o'clock in the morning. I helped capt with the clothing returns. I retired at 10 P.M. April 23rd A.D. 1864. reville sounded at 5 A.M. & we prepaired to go on picket. & at 6 A.M. we started & went out on picket. & the orders was the same that they was at Murfreesboro. & there was a station & out post & centenal post or line. & the same old stile. It was a warm day, & very windy. The Grand review was post poned for some reason unknown to me. I had the tooth ache very bad. & I got permition to go to camp & I got the tooth pooled. It was a lower jaw tooth. The first one of my second set that has bin pooled. It left a part of one root in my jaw. I went back to the pickets & at 10 the sky was overcast with clouds & it comenced raining & at 15 minuts after 1 o'clock I was relieved from out post & went to the Station, & ast the Lieutenant for promission to go to camp for fear of geting cold in my jaw, & he granted my request & sent me to camp. I retired after 2 o'clock to sleep. April 24th A.D. 1864, Sunday. reville sounded at 5. & it was raining & my jaw was a little swelled & a little sore. The pickets was relieved & came to camp at 8 A.M. I don some sewing. We drawed some clothing. We drawed nearly all the boys wanted. I drawed one pair of shoes & one pair of stockings & a hat. I received 3 letters from home. & they was in Iowa. We had orders to have dressparade at half past 6. We had dressparade. & the order was read for us to be governed by the following rools & regulations. The bugle was to be sounded. The differant calls at the following set times for each kind of Duty. Reville at 4:30 A.M. Police call 5 A.M. Sick call 7 A.M. Sergeants call 7:30 A.M. Pickets call 7:45 A.M. Guard mount 8 A.M. Company or Skermish drill from 9 to 10 A.M. Commissioned & noncommissioned Officers drill from 11 to 12 M. Dinner call 12 M. Batallion drill from 2 to 3 P.M. Brigade drill from 4 to 5 P.M. Supper call 6 P.M. The Company officers is to inspect their companys every day just before retreat. Retreat (or dressparade) 6:30 P.M. Tattoo (or roll call) 8:30 P.M. & taps (or lights out) 9 P.M. & Saturday & Sunday is to be excepted for to cleen our guns & wash our cloth. & there was to be inspection every Sunday. & all officers ar requested to strive to carry out theas orders & to strive to get the Discipline of our Devision in as good a condition for an active campaign as we was previous to our last hard campaign. I writ a letter after dark & retired at 9 P.M. April 25th A.D. 1864. reville at the set time & we comenced carrying out the orders & everything goes acording to the bugle. It sounds at the time set in the order. I put my odd minuts in at changing & sewing pockets in new trousers. It was a warm & nice day. We did not have brigade drill but we had batallion in the place. & we drilled longer than the order was. I writ after night. & retired after 10 P.M. April 26th A.D. 1864. there was brigade guards put on. We had orders to practice shooting at targets. But our regt did not get ready to practice. I done some writing. I received a letter. The Commiss- & non-commissioned officers had to drill from 10 to 12 M. as the order said. The non-commissioned officers received sheverns. I helped with the clothing acounts. I writ after dark & retired after taps. April 27th A.D. 1864. it was a beautiful day. We practiced fiering at targets. Our comp shot the target 19 times. Each man fiered 3 times the distance over 100 yards off hand. I don some writing. I sent of some letters. We had a good deal of our camp & garrison Equipage Condemned by the Devision Inspecter. The officers had orders to have their vilises packed & ready to be sent to Chattanooga to be stored away. & that denotes move soon. & they also had orders to make out pay rolls for 4 months pay, amediately. It thundered & lightened. & I writ till taps. & then helped Lt Batchelor with clothing returns. I retired after 10 P.M. April 28th A.D. 1864. it had rained a little in the night. I put my spair time in at writing. It was very warm. & the buds on the trees ar opening very fast. & I think it wont be long till the woods will be nice & green & shady. I received a letter. There was a good deal of cannonading towards Ringgold. I recon it was practicing Target shooting. I put the after noon in at reading. The general supisition of the officers is that our corps is goying to the east to Genl U S Grants army. We drawed two days rations of flour. I helped make out muster rolls. We got orders to get ready for brigade camp guard at 15 minuts till 6 in the morning. I retired at 10 P.M. April 29th A.D. 1864. reville sounded at 4. It was raining a little. & we started on picket as part of our comp had to go on picket & part on guard around the Brigade. We had very strict orders on picket. We had orders from Genl Thomas in print for the centenal to walk the beat & not salute the officers if they passed but to carry their arms at a carry or shoulder arms. & not let their guns on the ground & not meat on the line & talk & if they sit down on the line they was to be arested & sent to the guard house. & a great many other very strict orders. & when the Brigade inspecter came around he caught the centenal on post nomber 5 of my relief without his gun in his hand & he ordered me to arest him amediatly & send him to the Station under guard. & I did so. & the Lt sent him to Brigade head quarters. It stoped raining before noon. I traided some shuger for pies & got some splendid custard pies. I put part of my time in at writing. At 10 P.M. it comenced raining & thundering & lightening & stormed. & at 15 minuts after 1 in the morning my relief was relieved at out post & went to the Station. & it soon stoped raining. & we slept about 2 1/2 hours.
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