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Colonel Miller wounded Charles Wheatly dies
III. MURFREESBORO TO CHATTANOOGA June the 24th [1863]. It looked very much like rain. We drilled before breakfast. There was a General moove in the army from the looks and apperance. Levi was detailed for picket and was excused at guard mount for his clenlyness and soldierly apperance. It comenced raining at about 9 A.M. And we got orders to get ready to march. And the pickets was sent back and the ones that was out on post was ordered in and the camp guards was took of ove post. And we hered canonading in front and not a great way off. It continued to rain. And at half past 1 P.M. we hered the bugle sound to strike tents and the boys jumped out of their pup tents and yelp and we struck tents. And at half past 2 we started and marched through the mud and rain to the depo and then to the fortyfycations. And at 4 P.M. we stacked guns in the mud and wet. And fixed to pitch our tents. And we got them pitched till dark. Ready to go to bead. We are at fort Lunette Davis. It rained all knight. The cannonading seaced late in the evening and seemed a great deal further away than at first. June the 25th it was still raining and the mud was ankle deap all round and under our tents. It rained till 12 M and then seaced, and we hered cannonading in front very frequently. The word came in camp that we was goying in front in the morning and another devision take our places. June the 26th it was raining as hard as it could put it down. And had rained almost all knight. I was detailed for picket. And I went out and it continued to rain. And I was on the pike where there was traines and amulances passing all the time which made it very bothersome looking at the passes. And at 12 M it stoped raining and in the evening and at knight it rained at times. And a train of Amulances and provision train came in with nearly 200 wounded. A mung them was Colonel Miller acting brigadere. It is supposed it is a mortal wound. And they report some fighting in front all the time. June the 27th I was relieved at 9 A.M. And it rained some. The boys was very buisy fixing up their tents in stile. And some prisners came in. And at 5 P.M. the order came for us to get ready to march as soon as possible to go to the front to fight. We got ready to go at any time we might be called. The officers are ordered to have 10 days rations for them selves, and 7 for us. It rained some through the knight. And we ************************************** James I recon we are goying front to fight. I want you to write as before and direct as before. And we will write as soon as we get a chance. [Signed] Wm H Huntzinger to James W Huntzinger ************************************** expected to get up before day. Sunday, June the 28th it was a rainy morning and we expected that we would start all the time. And we saw troops marching out to the front with a train. And we did not send out any pickets this morning. At half past 2 P.M. the bugle sounded strike tents and we got ready and at half past 3 we started and went to the Manchester pike and went in the center of A train which was formed on the pike. And then we found that we was to guard the General Supply train. We marched on as fast as the train went. And I was glad to think that my brother and I was boath able to march side by side although I was week from the affects of the Diarrhea and Levi was too fat to stand marching very well.* But a gloomy thought past through my mind when I thought that it might be possible that we might not march back together if we would get in an engagement. We stoped at half past 8 at knight 8 miles from Murfreesboro and I got water and put up a pup tent and was ready to lay down at 10. We was camped in a nice grassy medow. And it was very late till all the teems got in. For I recon there was about 500 teems in the train. It rained in the knight but I had foder under me. And I did not get wet. __________ * Since Levi is so fat he must have weighed 196 on March 3rd. __________ June the 29th we got up at half past 4 in the morning and we started at half past 5 A. M. and led the front. And we found the roads very bad and cut up. Levi was not very well. He had the head ache. We stoped at times to rest and for the team to close up and it rained as hard as it could put it down for hours. And the roads got wors. And some wagons got stalled and upset. and We passed the gap called Hoovers Gap. We saw the graves where the killed had been burried. But the main battle field was on the hills of ove the road. It was said that lots was not burried yet. We stoped on the North fork of Dick [Duck] river at 4 P.M. 21 miles from Murfreesboro. And it rained till 5 and then we had our tents up. And we went to a saw mill and got lumber and put floors in our tents. And had fat hogs and mutton brought to camp. And we eat harty. And they drawed whiskey. We have a napsack and shelter tent and gun blanket and shirt and a pair of drawers and socks to carry besides our rations and gun and accuterments. We waded the cricks and mud all day. And at knight we slept fine. June the 30th we got up at sunup and eat breakfast. And the most of the train and troops past on and we stayed back. And I dont know what for. And at about 10 A.M. we went to the shade and it rained. And at half past 2 P.M. the bugle sounded and we fel in and marched to the same place where we stayed the knight before. And pitched tents and the train did not get up till evening. And a large train from front came and camped with us. And when we eat our supper of fresh meet and a fiew young potatoes and stewed apples and Mulburrys the bugle sounded to lay down. And at half past 8 we layed down and at 9 at knight we was called up for 14 men from the Co with gun and accutrements to help load a lot of amunition that had bin left back at bad roads or broken waggons. And we went back about 5 miles and loaded the train and came back. And we got to camp at half past 1 in the knight and slept at a great hurry.
July the 1st revelee sounded at half past 4. And we was hurryed to get breakfast and at 7 A.M. we started in the train and we had to stop every little ways to help some waggons out of the mud. And we went through the gap where there was only room for a road. And on each side the hills was very high. We got through till about 12 M. and we had came about 5 miles. And we had some leveler road after we got up on top of the hills. It reminded me of the Nashville hills and the same cind of under brush and huccleburrys of 3 different kinds. We eat scors of them. And the roads beat enything I ever saw for mud. And the teems would stick with 8 mules. And we would half to help push them out. And at 8 o'clock at knight we got to Manchester 9 miles from where we started that morning. We crossed on the pontoon bridge across the east fork of the duck river. Manchester is a tolerable nice little town. It is situated on a hill. It is the county seet of Coffey Co. We got our tents up and floors in them till 9. And at 10 the bugl sounded and we went to bead. July the 2nd revelee at 5. We did not go on with the train. There was thousands of cavelry started from here to the front this morning. The word is now that we are not in posession of Tallehomy [Tullahoma] yet. About 9 A.M. the bugle sounded and we got ready and started out to hunt a nice place to camp. And we came back to the same spot and layed out camp at last in regular stile. And we bathed. And it threatened rain. We got some read beats and cabbage and cooked them for supper. And the word came that we went in Tallehomy yesterday morning. And that Rosecrans head quarters was in Tallehomy. And that the rebs was scedaddling in every which way. It is thought that we will stay here some time. We sent out pickets. July the 3rd a very hot day. And there was troops mooving to the front from here. There was a big storm and rain came up. We got pees and potatoes and cabbage and had a fine supper. And at half past 5 P.M. I was detailed for picket. And I and 3 men went to the railroad bridge across the east fork of duck river where the citezens tryed to.. burn the bridge 2 nights before and was caught and brought in. And we stood and watched and had a fine time. And we hered that the cars came to Tallehomy. July the 4th it was a nice morning. And I was relieved at 8 A.M. And Levi was detailed to go out on picket. I writ a letter home. And it rained hard. And we hered hevy cannonading out south. We was very scarce of rations. And the lieutenant sent out 3 men to forriage for the co. And they got mutton and apples and potatoes and devided them and we was proud of it. There was a reble officer enrolling. And he conscripede a citezen and the citezen had bin taken 2 before and deserted them. And the citezen told him to come on with him and he would tak him where he could get more. And he came with the citezen. Started with his double barled shot gun and he came a little ways with him. And the officer ast where he was taking him. The citezen said to General Batty. And he whirled his horse and started back The citezen halted him but he did not stop and the citezen shot him with one load out of his shot gun and he droped dead. He was shot in the back. And the citezen put him in a fence corner and put rails over him and road his horse in town and told General Batty. And General Batty sent an amulance out after him. And they brought him in and burried him. Part of our co saw him burried and it is not to be doubted for the citezens are taking a part in bush whacking. They come and get amunition and run it to soot their guns. And pitch in for their union men. July the 5th, Sunday Levi was relieved and was very unwell. It rained some we could not have inspection. It was very hot and showery. There was a teem sent from our regt and 3 men from each Co after foriage. And they got hogs and sheep and chickens ducks and gees and terkeys. And our Co got hogs and mutton. And we devided it and had a fine mess. At 4 P.M. the Church bell rang for Church. And I went and there was a hous fool of yankees. And we had a good sermon delivered by a Chaplain. It was a nice church yard. But the house was some what wrecked. And at knight the bell rang again but it was raining. And the Church was fool. And some could not get in. And I did not go. It rained nearly all knight. July the 6th there was about 60 rebbels that came to our lines and gave them selves up. Sent to Talehoma to be sent north. I was very unwell all day. The lieutenant bought some coffey and sugger with back rations money. And it was issued out and we got 2 spoonsful a peace. There was thunder showers past around. July the 7th I rested very bad all knight. And at sick call I went and got some powders. It rained. We drawed one days half rations of coffey sugar and salt and beef. We got 3 spoonsful of coffey and sugger and one of salt a peace and a pint of meal to the man. It rained some. We had co drill from 9 till 10 A.M. Levi got some blackburries and stewed them. And we had a good mess. We had batallion drill from 5 till 6 P.M. The telegraph line was repaired from here to Tulehona and from there to Hurfreesboro. We hered cannonading out south 7 times to the minut. July the 8th it was raining and had rained nearly all knight. I was not well yet by a good deal. There was a tellegraph despatch came to Colonel Kneffler in the knight that Grant had took Vixburg on the 4th day of July. And at 10 A.M. the cannons was fired for a salute for the great victory that Hooker had gained or meedes army. I gethered some blackburries. There was some troops came in here and the report is that we will go on to McMinsville. I was unwell and layed the most of the day in my bunck. Our train came from Murfreesboro. They brought us rations. July the 9th it was a nice warm morning. At 9 A.M. the bugle sounded to get ready and we struck tents. And I was very weak but was some better. We drawed some rations and got the mail. We fooled around and wated for some teems that was stuck in the mud back towards Murfreesboro till half past 1 P.M. And then we started to McMinsville. And we marched tolerable modred. I stood it tolerable well. We marched through low flat black oak swamps. And there was more Huccleburries than I ever saw. And when we would come to a farm it was black with blackburries. And we hered the cars pass us goying from Manchester to McMinsville. We stoped at 7 A.M. to camp 9 and 1/2 miles from Manchester. And got plenty of fresh meet appls and potatoes. And at 9 we went to bead. July the 10th we got up before 4 in the morning and eat breakfast and at 5 we started. It was a very foggy morning. We found some better roads. We marched till half past 1 P.M. And we waded the river. For the railroad bridge and the wagon bridge was burned. The river was very cold and swift here. For the springs affords so much water and we camped on the baron fork of the Colens River at the fare ground near McMinsville. And the rest of our devision was camped at town. It is 22 miles from here to Manchester and as we was coming we hered the cannons at McMinsville firing a salute over the victory at vixburg and in the east. For they had just got the news. This town is the Countyseat of Waron Co. We formed our Camp in regular stile. Our blankets that we had left at Murfreesboro came up. And the boys got some fresh meet. July the 11th I went over the river and got some black burries. And I pooled off my shirt and filled it with ripe apples. And brought them to camp. I waded the river and it took me to my waist. I don some washing. We cleened up our guns and rig. And blacked our shooes. And had dressparade at 5 P.M. And Sargent R.M.Gosnez was reduced to the ranks for staying back at Murfreesboro when we left. July Sunday the 12th it was a very foggy morning. We formed the batallion and called the roal and had Inspection. And we had Co. Inspection at 9 A.M. It rained. The cars came up and brought rations and I hope some mail. We had dressparade at half past 5 P.M. And had a scant supper. July the 13th we formed in line as we use to. It rained in the knight. We was ordered to cleen off a drill ground. We had crackers alone for our breakfast. And we put our tents up of ove the ground and it rained. I had a little chil and then a severe fever all day. We drawed rations. And the cars came up again. There was dressparade at half past 5 P.M. July the 14th I was some better but felt very bad yet. I reported to the docter and got medison. There was orders to get ready for General Inspection at 10 A.M. We had Inspection. It rained. Our Devision sends out teems after wheat and then they thrash it and grind it. For there is a mill in Town. The word was that General Rosecrans and his escort came in here but I think the noos is not corect. We had dressparade at half past 5 P.M. And drilled after wards. The orders was read for us to have 10 days rations for our selvs and 10 for the mules and entrenchment utentials and be ready for a long Campaign. The cars comes in regular every day. We got a larg mail. I got 3 letters and Levi P 2. The Sutlers came up but had nothing hardly. It rained some in the knight. July the 15th I was better but I was very week. I got some more quinine. At half past 7 A.M. the bugle sounded to get ready to moove. We struck tents and got ready and started at 8 and mooved about a mile and camped. And I think it is the intention to stay here a good while. July the 16th it was a cool morning. I got some pills and I think I am still Better. The news is that we have took fort Hudson. I put my time in at writing. Levi got apples and blackburries and we eat them. The regt drilled Batallion drill one hour. July the 17th I was still better. I think I an all rite now. It is very cool at knight here and heavy dews. I writ some. Levi got some apples. We got news that Charleston was taken. We had dressparade at 6 P.M. July the 18th we formed in line. Levi was detailed for picket and was excused at guard mount. & I traded our coffey for 3 pies and some corn bread. At 3 p.m. there was a call for 5 men from the Co to go out on a scout and Levi volunteered to go and others went. We had dressparade at 6 P.M. July the 19th we had Co Inspection at 9 A.M. And Capt Wm B Ellis of our Co told us that he had tendered his resignation papers 2 weeks ago. And that an order had come that they had bin received and granted. And he expected to leave us soon and he gave us a cinde of a fare well speech. And he shed tears. And the company did two at the thought of him leaving us. But he thought it was best as he had got the ill will of the Colonel and was under a rest. And the Colonel advised him to resign. We hate to see him leave for he had bin so good to us. The scouts came in in the evening and they had a fine time. It was a butiful day. We had dressparade at half past 5 P.M. July the 20th it was a very warm morning. We drilled from 9 till 10 A.M. And we had dressparade at half past 5 P.M. And drilled till after 7 batallion drill. We have hered good news of Morgans men beying captured. It rained in torents and thundred and lightened. July the 21st we drilled Co drill one hour. I got blackburries and stewed them with crackers. And we had a good mess. I put my time in at writing. We had dressparade at half past 5 P.M. And drilled till half past 7 batallion and then got supper. July the 22nd revelee as usual a little after 4 o'clock. It was cool. Cloudy but soon got warm. Levi was detailed for picket but was excused at guard mount. We drilled Co. drill from 9 till 10 A.M. We had more blackburries. I writ some. We signed the paroles for 2 month pay. We had dressparade at half past 5 P.M. And drilled batallion till half past 7. July the 23rd we formed the batallion and had role call and Inspection and drilled a half hour. And we graded up our street and put forks and poles up for shades over our tents. We drilled from 1 till 2 P.M. It was a very hot day. We had dressparade at half past 5 P.M. And stacked arms as we often do a half hour. And then drilled till half past 7. Then the stars was shoning nice. July the 24th I was detailed for picket and I had nothing but crackers and water for breakfast. And crackers was all that I took with me on picket. And fortionatly I met with a chance to traid some coffe for dryed peaches. And so I had something to eat besides crackers. There is an order issued for citezens to come to the picket lines with market. They have their prices set as follows. potatoes $2.00 pr bu green Apples $1. 50 pr bus dryed aples 40 cts pr gal dryed peaches 50 cts pr gall blackburries for 10 cts pr qt milk 20 cts pr qt butter 30cts pr lb pies 25 cts a piece cucumbers 4 for 10 cts onions 3 for 10 cts Chickens from 25 cts to $1.00 dressed green beens $1.00 pr bu huckle burryes 20 cts pr qt pars 20 cts pr doz corn bread very dear. The regt drilled from 9 till 10 A.M. and had dressparade at half past 5 P.M. July the 25th I was relieved at 9 A.M. and went to camp. And the regt hadent sent out any pickets and was geting payed. We got 4 months pay. And we fixed some up to send home by Capt Wm B. Ellis. We was out of rations and was very hungry. & we drawed some rations. It was a very warm day. We had dressparade at half past 6 P.M. And the colonel formed us in a hollow squair & about-faced us & told us how we could send our money home to be safe & that each Com commander should get an inlotment roal & all wishing to send money home should tell the amount and the person who they disired to send to and the Express office and the Co state. & pay the money to the Com comander and he would pay in to the paymaster and take a receipt for it and send the list of names to Governer Morten and he would have the money sent to the different Express offices. & we found that was the only way to send money safe. & we concluded to send it that way. July the 26th Sunday Capt Wm. B. Ellis started home at 4 o'clock in the morning. We had Co inspection at 9 A.M. Levi and I washed our clothing. It was a very hot day and thunder showers past around and sprinkled some here. We payed our moneys over to Lieutenant Colonel S. P. Oyler and 8 com of our regt sent upwards of $14,000 to the paymaster. And then the ones that payed the money over writ to their friends to go to the different Express offices and get the money. Levi P and I sent $75.00. We had dressparade at half past 5 P.M. July the 27th Levi was detailed for picket and was excused at guard mount for his soldierly and cleenly apperance. & I got a pass and went to town. We drilled in the fournoon. We had a splendid dinner of blackburry and crackers. They are splendid to break the cracker up and put them with the burys in the mess pan & stew them till they are perfectly don & then sweeten them. Ah then you have a dish good enough for a soldier. We drawed soft bread. We had dressparade at half past 5 P.M. & drilled till 15 minuts till 8 o'clock. July the 28th We formed the line and had role call and inspection and there was a call for 3 men from the Co to go a foriaging & I volunteered to go & we went to the Mountains & we got to a small stream at last and got to the medow 13 miles from Camp at 11 A.M. & went to mowing with the reaper & sythes. And our whole brigades train loded with grass & we started back at 5 P.M. & got som apples and traided some coffey for a fat hen and gave 30 cts for 18 very large onions. & I got some of the largest blackburys I ever saw. We got to camp at half past 9 o'clock at knight. July the 29th I had a bully mess of onions for our breakfast & I dressed my chicken & at 9 A.M. I was requested to go to the hospital by the Lieutenant to wate on Charls H Wheatly and Elias M Downing as he was just sent to the hospital. & I went. And they was both very low. And Levi and James Hague boiled our chicken and potatoes. It tasted nice to eat chicken. At 3 P.M. the Docter wanted me to be detailed and stay a while at the hospital but I did not want to stay. The Docter said that E. M. Downing suffered more and needed closer atention than any one that they had in the hospital for 6 month. The regt had dressparade at 6 P.M. And drilled till nearly 8 o'clock. I sit up till 1 o'clock and then layed down to sleep. July the 30th Downing seemed to be a little better. I went to the Co and slept nearly all fournoon & at noon it rained hard. Levi bought some potatoes. And we had a fine mess of beef and potatoes and the soop thickened with flower. I got a letter from home. It was my turn to go to the Colonels tent for alarm guard. And they excus me because I had been at the hospitle and lost sleep. We had orders to get ready for General Inspection the next day at 10 A.M. July the 31st we fixed up our street and quarters for Inspection. Levi was detailed for Co picket and was excused at guard mount for having a cleen gun and most soldierly apperance. We had General Inspection at 11 A.M. And the Inspector general said that we had splendid guns and made a nice apperance. & at 25 minuts till 12 M. Sargent Charls H Wheatly of Co I 79th regt Ind Voln Inft died at the regt hospital near McMinnsville, Tenn. He was so week and poor that he died very easy as if he was goying to sleep. He was a good soldier and a fine boy. We will miss him in the Co and in the battle field. It rained a little. We had a fine mess of onions and potatoes & blackburries & crackers. I put my time in at writing. & we had dressparade at 6 P.M. & drilled till half past 7 P.M. & Charls Wheatlys father came to see Charls. We got a letter from home. Quite an interesting one.
August the 1st, A.D. 1863. it was a butiful morning. I went to the picket lines and traided my rice for 50 cts worth of pye and sold some apples & potatoes for the Lieutenant & some for my self. Levi got some burries and cooked them. & he don some washing. & Levi and some others burried Charls Wheatly till the metallic coffin came. We had dressparade at 6 P.M. & Lieutenant D.H.Howe got his commission & is our capt. & orderly Thomas C Batchlar received his comish as first Lieutenant & the capt treated to the segns [?]. I got a letter which don me a great deal of good to read The Capt left it to a vote whether he should appoint an orderly or leve it to a vote. They said leve it to a vote. & Joseph M. Drybread & Richard M. Gosney came out as candidates. August the 2nd, Sunday. WE had Co Inspection at 9 A.M & the Lieutenant got a pass. And we went to town to church. The congregation was mostly soldiers. There was a fiew Old citezens & several splendid looking ladies. We hered a good sermon delivered by a citezen after reading the 53rd Ps. The text was the 24th verse of the 73rd Ps. There was thunder showers past around. There was an awful time of lexionering for orderly. The Lieutenant told me if I had come out as a candidate at first that I would have got the office but he said my modesty worked against my own interest. I put my time in at writing. We had dressparade at 6 P.M. & after dressparade we put our tickets in a ballot box & then they was counted out & Joseph M. Drybread got 20 votes and R. M. Gosney got 15 votes. And so our orderly is Joseph M. Drybread . The matallick coffin came to take Charley Wheatly home in. August the 3rd Mr Wheatly started home. I was detailed a fiew minuts before picket call to go on picket & I went out on the Smithville road. It was a very hot day & there was thunder showers past around. August the 4th I was relieved at 9 A.M. and came to camp and Levi had went out on picket. I put my time in at writing. And at 4 P.M. we had orders to get ready to go on a scout. & at half past 5 P.M. we started & went to the Sparty road & went to the river & waided it. It was from knee deep to waist. & we marched over the hills and over the mountain. & at 10 the moon raised. At midnight we got to the Colens river at rocky Island about 15 miles from McMinnsville. And came to the reble cavelry pickets and captured them and found out there was two many for us. And we had orders to form in line of battle and lay down to sleep. August the 5th We had orders to go back. We got up at sunup and eat breakfast and we started at 8 A.M. and took another road and marched over the rough road by some tolerable good houses and farms but poor crops. And got some ripe apples. We marched a fiew miles and stoped and layed down and slept till 12 M. Then we crossed over the mountain taking cattle & sheep in with us to devision head quarters. We waded the river. It rained from 3 P.M. till we got to camp at half past 4. & we was merry but my feet was blistered very bad but I did not mind that much. August the 6th I got a letter from home. It was thanksgiving day. We had orders from the Colonel to eat as much as we could. I put my time in at writing & at washing & at half past 5 P.M. we had dressparade & it was read that Joseph M. Drybread was orderly of the Co. & Corporal Micheal R. Buttler was appointed Sergeant & Richard M. Gosney was appointed two. & it was approved by Fred Kneffler Col commanding 79th Regt. There was thunder showers past around. August the 7th We had orders to get ready for Inspection the next day at 10 A.M. We cleened up our guns. It rained and as the bugle sounded for dressparade there came up a storm and rain. We did not have dressparade or drill. August the 8th We got ready and at 10 A.M. We had company inspection. It was to decide who had the 3 cleenest guns & who was the cleenest. We have Inspection every morning of guns and tents. And they have a book to each company and report each Saturday who has the 3 best ditched tents & the cleenest tents & the 3 cleenest men in every respect & 3 cleenest guns & 3 most obedient soldiers. At the last weeks report (which was the first we ever had since we got the order) I was first of the 3 cleenest & first of the 3 most obedient soldiers & first of the 3 best in every respect. The 9th Regt Ky Voln of our Brigade & 44 Ind Voln of 2nd Brigade & 21st Ky Voln of 3rd Brigade went over the river to fortify. They mooved Camp & now it will be prety hard for us to picket. We had dressparade at 6 P.M. The Colonel compelled us to have Co Cooks. Levi & I went to the picket lines and bought pies and milk & eat till our bellies was as tight as a mool [mule] bag. I got a letter quite interesting one to read. August the 9th, Sunday. it was a butiful day only it was very hot. We had orders to get ready for Regt Inspection at 5 P.M. I put my time in at writing and singing & cleening my gun. Levi was detailed for picket and was excused at guard mount. It rained in the afternoon. At half past 5 P.M. the bugle sounded the General Assembly & we fell in & was Inspected by the Colonel & at half past 6 we had dressparade. August the 10th I went to the picket lines and got a half bushel of potatoes. I put the most of my time in at writing and reading. We had dressparade at 6 P.M. And drilled till nearly 8. The report of the last weeks was read. I was first of the 3 most obedient & James Hague was second. I was first of the 3 best in all respects. August the 11th I was detailed for picket and was excused at guard mount. & I and Levi washed 3 pare of panse & 2 Blouses & 5 shirts. The way I wash our government Cloth I soap them & Boil them a little. Then wash them. Then boil them good then rub them again then ranch them. Then they are tolerable cleen. We got orders to get ready for General Inspection the next day at 11 A.M. We had dressparade at half past 5 P.M. August the 12th We got ready for Inspection and it was the hotest day I ever saw nearly. The Inspecter came at 12M. And the water run down in drops of ove us. The Inspecter said I had a prety gun and accutrements two. My gun was so bright that I could see my face and Eyes in it & it was in splendid order. We had dressparade at half past 5 P.M. & drilled till nearly 8. August the 13th this is the beginning of a new yere for us in the service for Levi and I . Levi was detailed for alarm guard last knight. And he swaped with one of the other boys for picket this morning. And he went on and was excused at guard mount. We put our time in at writing. It rained. We had dressparade at 6 P.M. & drilled till nearly 8. There was a great excitement in the regt about reinlisting in the 3 yere service. But I dont know whether many will go or not. I got a letter. August the 14th it was very warm. Levi and I don a big washimg. It rained often on all afternoon & at 6 the bugle sounded for dressparade & it was two rainy to have dressparade or drill. & at knight Co A & F got tight or a part of them. & the Col had a despert time to get them quiled. He had them up in line and had the rool called. August the 15th the Col had a corporals stripes cut off at guard mount of Co. A. & a sargeant of Co A reduced for drinking & one of Co F was tied to a stake and a guard placed around him. Levi was detailed for picket. I went to the picket lines and got sider & pies & cakes & apples. And had a fine time. & I traded my coffe for pies and sold them for the money & made a little on my aples. We had Inspection at 4 P.M. & dressparade at 6 P.M. & at 7 we got orders to get ready to moove the next morning at 6 o' clock . We did not do much toward fixing to moove. Sunday, August the 16th we commenced fixing to start on a march. We drawed shooes and socks. It was thundering and threatening rain. & at 8 A.M. they detailed pickets & the pickets came in & at 11 A.M. the bugle sounded and we struck tents and loaded the waggons. We had one wagon to two Co's. & at 10 minuts before 12M we started and went to the Pikeville road. Waided Baron fork of Colens river & it comenced raining & rained till half past 2 P.M. & at half past 3 we came to Colens river & waded across & stoped to camp 6 miles from McMinnsville & got corn & got supper & eat & put up our tents & it rained & we slept very nice. August the 17th the bugle sounded revelee at half past 2 in the morning & we got up & dried our tents & at half past 5 we formed in line ready to start & we rested & wated for orders to go on. The 3rd brigade went in front. There is 2 brigades with us. The 2nd brigade of our devision stayed at Mc M.V. And we have General Mindas brigade of Cavelry and 3 batterys with us. We had 2 or 3 battles with cobbs among ourselves just for sport. At 10 A.M. the bugle sounded the assembly & we fell in & started (I had just eat my dinner of cooked corn). We fell in the train one Co after a waggon to help them over the mountains & we got to the mountain at 12M. And we pushed the wagons nearly endways up the mountains. & we would stop every little bit for teems that was stalled in front. The mountains are very steep and rocky. So the muels could not get foot holts to pull much. We could only get a fiew feet at a pull sometimes When we got part of the way up the mountains it thundered and sprinkled rain a little. But we soon got up where it was clear. The roads beat the Wild Cat Mountains. We had to push at the waggon all that could get to it and the others pushed us. And by that means we got up. We got up at half past 6 o'clock & we could look as far as our eyes could see & it was the pretiest sight & view of the mountains and valleys. We could see very nice farms down miles below us. They looked nice. We formed the regt & called the rool & started & the boys felt merry & yelled like indians. We soon came to where it had rained hard. It was very mudy. We marched to the hill descending to Stoney Branch & layed down and wated for the teems to go in camp. They gave us orders after a fiew hours to fix down our beds & sleep. & when we got our beds layed down the orders came for us to come to Bateys head quarters & we crossed the branch & camped 11 miles from McMinnsville. We had come 5 m. We camped at 11 o'clock at knight under appletrees in Vanburen Co. August the 18th we got at 5 P.M. [sic] & got ready to start & at 9 A.M. they called for a detail of 6 men from the Co to help the teems up the hills in front. At 20 minuts after 10 A.M. the bugle sounded & we started & found very bad sandy roads and plenty of water. Mountain springs and branches. The principal part of timber as we ascended the mountains was sugar Oak poplar hickry lin & shrubery & on top the principal timber is Oak and some white pine. There is almost all kinds of bushes & under groath plenty of hucclebury bushes. It was a very hot still day. At 1 P.M. we crossed brushy branch & at half past 3 P.M. we crossed rock Crick & saw a very nice farm. & we found a very nice ridge road. At half past 7 at knight we went down a large hill and stoped to camp 13 and l/2 miles from where we started & 24 1/2 miles from McM-V. We had nothing but crackers and coffee or water to eat. At half past 8 the bugle sounded and we retired to sleep. It was thundering & lightening & threatening rain. August the 19th at 4 the bugle sounded revelee & we got up & eat our crackers & at 15 minuts after 5 we started our brigade in front. We sent 4 men from the Co to help the teems. It is a curiosity to the boys to cross the mountain for there is some new things to draw the atention of the boys and caus them to pass time faster. It is said there are bars [bears] in the mountains here & I dont doubt it for it is said that the 35 Ind caught a cub and some of the boys saw it. We had a very bad road. We crossed over lots of hills that the road was solad rock & some went clere across that was from 20 in to 2 feet high perpendicular which was very hard for the teems to come up over. We had to work the roads as we went. We passed one house where the Ladies had water out at the fence for us to drink. At 9 A.M. we got to where we could see over in to Sequatchie valley (an indian name), & it was the beautifulst sight that the most of us had ever saw. We went a dashing down the mountain. It was a bout 2 miles down. Very steep. We was amused by the rockes which was on eather side of us. All built and layed as if masons had layed them. They were hundreds of feet high. And the sides of the mountains was fool of white pine trees. Lots of rocks was sticking on the side of the mountain larger than any house. & we was amused by an old darkey John who sang several songs for us as we dashed down over the rocks. He sung the book of revelation, & children you shall all be free. And the 4 white horses and the riders following on. & hold out brethren for this am the battle ground. & God he delivered Daniel & why not deliver me. & a great many others which was very interesting. The boys yelled till the mountains sounded like it was fool of yankees. After 10 A.M. we got down in the valley & rested a while & got water. & the valley has nice farms. The valley lays North East & South West & we turned to the left & went up the valley & unfolded the silk flag & marched proudly along while the sun was shining on us so hot that we almost smothered. At 1 P.M. we stoped for guides to look out a camp for us. For we was only one mile from pikeville & 37 miles from Mc M-V. At 2 the bugle sounded & we went to pikeville the County Seet of Blodsoe Co. & we saw a fiew old men & some as harty & prety young ladies as I have seen in the south. We passed through the little town & stoped to camp at half past 2 P.M. & pitched tents & went after water about a half a mile. & got a blanket fool of roasting ears 7 had a fine supper & we drawed beef & retired to sleep at 9 o'clock at knight. August the 20th We got up at the usual time. It was a beautiful morning & we went to the river (Sequatchea river). All streems here are called rivers. We baithed & came back by Col Woods head quarters of 51st Ohio to see a bear. I saw it. It was a black bear. It was the cutest thing I nearly ever saw. It played with me. It was bought of a citezen who had caught it in the mountains. The quarter master went and got 2 loads of corn and issued it out to us & we cooked the roasting ears & eat them. It was a very hot day. I writ a letter home. We drawed fresh beef & it is said that we wont get any sow belly for a long time. We was notified that the mail would leave soon for Mc M-V. August the 21st a supply train started back to Mce M-V. It comenced raining at 11 A. M. but did not rain very much. I writ some and went to the picket lines & got appls & peaches. We fixed up camp & poleeased. The word came that our men had Chattanooga. I don some washing. We had 2 more wagon loads of corn issued to us and some beef. August the 22nd it sprinkled rain a little. I was detailed for picket & went out & had nothing to eat but crackers. I bought a fiew peaches. It was an oncomon hot day. August the 23rd, Sunday. I was relieved at 8 A.M. & at 9 they had Inspection & I slept a good nap & don some writing & I went & got a lot of corn out of a field. We almost live on corn. It was an other hot day. August the 24th I don some writing & went to the picket line & got some peaches & made a Cobler of Crackers & peaches. Levi was not very well. The bugle sounded for dressparade but they gave orders not to have any. But to call the roal in the quarters. August the 25th Levi was unwell yet. It rained a good shower. I went to the picket lines and got $2.00 worth of peaches and brought them in camp and we eat all we wanted and sold the remainder and got my money back. The clouds turned from the north and it turned very cold. I was very unwell all afternoon and knight. I felt like I was goying to have the chills. August the 26th Levi was Better. I felt very poorly. Yet I went to the picket lines & got some sider & peaches. & I got some potatoes for I could not eat anything else. It was a very cool knight & we felt like we would soon want overcoats. August the 27th I felt better & found out that it was only a bad cold that I had taken (it was just one year ago that we was going to Louisville & we landed in Ky at 3 o'clock). I went to the picket lines & got some peaches. It was a warm day. There is a call for some men to go as officers to comand darkey regts & there is 7 out of our regt that has put down their names to go & they will have to be examined to see if they are capable of comanding Companys or regts. R. M. Gosney of our Co is one of the 7. At 2 P.M. the train comenced coming in from Mc M-V. & at 3 we got the Mail. As much as 2 men could carry for our regt. I got 3 letters I don some writing. We drawed some pickle pork. August the 28th it was some warmer and threatened rain. I don some writing & borried a skillet & boiled my beef and potatoes. Then baked them brown & had a splendid mess for dinner. We orders to get ready for General Inspection the next day at 10 A.M. We had dressparade. Thomas McIlvain presented a silver 5 cent peace to me and it was the first Silver I had owned for a long time & I will put it on my watch chain and ceep it for fun to see dick run.* __________ * Must be a Hoosier proverb or a family saying: "just for fun to see Dick run." __________ August the 29th Levi was detailed for picket. We got ready for inspection and had Inspection at 10 A.M. And we got the mail and got word that the maile would leave at knight. I don some writing & we got orders to go to Mc M-V. with the supply train the next morning. We had dressparade at half past 5 P.M. & after rool call the whole brigade got to yelling like Indians & the bugle sounded fall in line and stand for hollowing. I was very unwell. I did not yell any so the capt sent me to my quarters & then they sent the 5 companys back to go to bead that had to go to Mc M-V. the next morning and I dont know how long they kept the others out for hollowing. It was almost cold enough for frost. August the 30th, Sunday the regt had to stand in line at 4. And at 6 they started with the suply train. The docter told me I had better not go so I stayed. They left all the tents and everything only what they was obliged to take with them. It was a splendid day. Alexander Stewart started home on a 20 day furlow. The pickets was relieved at 9 A.M. There was 13 men and the capt left in our company. & Capt told me to act as orderly while the regt was gone. It was a splendid day & we enjoyed our selves fine. The sutler came up. August the 31st I was some better. I felt tolerable well. I helped capt work at some muster rools & drawed rations & issued some rations and at about sundown the word came that we had to leave at 6 in the morning. Well it put us to our study to know what to do with the boys things that had gone to Mc M-V. At 11 o'clock at knight Capt and I got things tolerable well fixed up & layed down to sleep.
Sept the 1st revelee blew at half past 3 in the morning and we got up and I boxed up the rations and we rooled up the tents and blankets and we loaded up the wagon and at 5 minuts after 6 the bugle sounded the General assembly & we fell in & marched (our brigade in front) to the road leading down the valley to Dunlap. We marched tolerable moderate. The roads was very dusty & the sun shone hot & it was tolerable hard on us for the roads was very hilley. We swet & almost smuthered in the dust. We eat peaches during the day & we stoped to camp 15 m from pikeville at 20 minuts till 2 P.M. I layed down & slept a good nap & at half past 7 the bugle sounded & we retired to sleep. Sept the 2nd at half past 3 in the morning the bugle sounded & we got up & eat brakfast & got ready to start & at 6 the bugle sounded & we fell in & started our brigade in the rear. & before 9 A.M. we got to Dunlap the county seat of Sequatchea Co 22 miles from P.V. & stoped & drank water & rested & started on to Jasper. The roads was very dusty & sandy & it was a very hot day. We stoped to camp at 4 P.M. 12 miles from Dunlap. Making 19 miles march today. We hered that they was fighting at Chattanooga & that Chattanooga was ours. I baithed. I issued rations & slept fine. Sept the 3rd at half past 5 the bugle sounded & we fell in & started our Brigade in front & it was so dusty & foggy that we could hardly see at all. It was a very hot day. We got to Jasper the Co seet of Marion Co 26 miles from Dunlap at 15 minuts after 1 P.M. & stoped & stacked arms. This has bin a nice little town before being destroyed by the effects of war. The town is close to the mountain on the right hand side of the valley. We got orders to stay all night here. We drawed beef & got orders to draw 3 days rations and get a full suply of cartrages which we did. & I writ a letter home & we layed down to sleep at 8. Sept the 4th the bugle sounded at half past 3 in the morning and we got ready & at 5 the bugle sounded to get ready. We was ordered to go with the train of wagons so as to get with the rest of our regt when they came up and the rest of the devision started the near way to Chattanooga at half past 5 & we was ordered to go to Bridgeport to cross the river& at 8 the bugle sounded & we started & 40 of us was advance guards & we marched 5 miles & came to the Tenn river at half past 9 A.M. & I was surprised at the size of the river. & we marched down the river & crossed battle crick of which we had heared so much talk of a short distance above where it empteyed into the Tenn River. It was a hot day. The dust was awful dep & raised very easy & at about 12 M. we crossed out of Tenn into Allabana & marched to Bridge Port 14 miles from Jasper & at 15 minuts till 3 P.M. we stoped & stacked arms & went to see the poontoon bridge & we saw the ruins of the railroad bridge. It has bin a splendid bridge. It had 8 stone pillows. The bridge was kept buisy to cross. They told us that we could not cross till the next day & so we marched about one mile down the river & went in camp. There is some forts at this place & some entrenchments & it is an important place to cross. The cars came up here from Stevenson Alla. We went to the river to baith, & we slept all knight fine. Sept the 5th the bugle sounded at 5 & we went & swam in the river. & at 15 minuts after 8 we fell in & marched to the Bridge & the rest of our regt joined us. And at 15 minute till 10 A.M. we crossed the Tenn river over on to the Island. And the bridge was upward of 1000 feet long & at 20 minute after 10 A.M. we crossed of ove the Island across the north part of the river. This bridge was upward of 500 feet across. We marched out a fiew miles & stoped at 12 M. to let the train close up. The mail came up to us. We marched slow along up the Tenn valley & at about 4 P.M. we stoped & eat supper 6 miles from Bridge Port & had orders to get 3 days rations & had orders to leave the train except one wagon to take the officers baggage. & at half past 5 P.M. we started to join our brigade & marched very fast till we joined our Brigade. Then we marched slow by jurcks for miles up the side of the mountain where there was only room enough for the wagon road between the river and the mountain. I was told that some teems rooled off and the railroad was away up the side of the mountain. And the mountain was almost perpendicular & was tremendous high. We all wished that it was daylight so that we could see the sight. We turned to the right among the hills & mountains. And the roads was the worst we thought that we ever saw. The rocks was thick & large in the road. And we went stagering along like blind gees over rocks. We stoped between 2 mountains in a hollow in a corn field about 14 miles from Bridge Port to camp at half past 12 (midnight) and layed down to sleep. Sept the 6th, Sunday at half past 5 we got up & eat breakfast. At 8 A.M. the bugle sounded & we started our Brigade in front of the devision. We marched along in a big gap. The roads was awful. This was enyamount worse than the roads from Alferd Kings in Brown Co to Caterens crick up the rocky branch. We have some large guns along with us. Some 12 & 24 Pdrs shell & shot. At 10 A.M. we stoped & stacked arms & layed down in the woods to rest. & a train of wagons passed us with ammunition & a train of ambulances & a large drove of beef cattle. Levi was in a bad fix to march for he got poison on his self & it was awful disagreable to him. About 2 hours by sun there was a train of wagons comenced passing and passed till after 7 at knight when I layed down to sleep. We camped about 2 miles from where we did the knight before. Our teems came up in the knight. Sept the 7th revelee blowed at 5 in the morning. We drawed some beef & sowbelly. A large train passed us & a drove of beef cattle. We could here the cannons from the top of the mountains. I don some writing. It was said by the citezens that we was in Dade Co Georgia. There is the largest weeds here in the south that I ever saw. I mesured one weed. It was 14 1/2 feet high. So thick that they fill my hand to span around them. We camped at the same place for the knight & layed down to sleep at 8 o'clock at knight. Sept the 8th revelee blowed at 3 in the morning & we got up & got ready to start & a suply team passed back & our regt started out in the rear of the whole devision. We started at 10 minuts till 6 & marched about 3 miles & stoped to feel our way I think. & I think I hered cannons on another road towards Chattanooga & after we was here a while we could here them very plain & they came around to get men that had no guns to carry litters. They was detailed to stay with the Docter till this battle is over. There was some of our old acquaintance came over to see us. John Calvin & Peaterom & James Sparks. They was camped near us. At 4 P.M. we moved down of ove the mountain in a field to camp for the knight. At 7 Levi & James P Johnson brought in a fat hog & we eat as much as we wanted & I went about a mile after water to boil it. We got orders to go to bead early for we had to leave soon in the morning. & I went to sleep at about 9. Sept the 9th at 20 minuts after 1 o'clock in the morning they came around & waked us up & did not sound the bugle. & we got up & eat our breakfast of fresh pork. & had 20 rounds of Carterages issued to us to carry in our pockets. We fell in as still as possible & marched off at 3 O'c our Brigade in front & our regt led the front. We marchad over hills & hollows & through fields & waded streams & got to Lookout Mountain & comenced goying up. It was the hardest climbing that we had ever don. It was a bypath passed over the mountain. We got to the top 6 miles from where we started & deployed Co G as skermishers & sent them to the front & we stacked arms at 7 A.M. We could see where the rebs had bin. Bt they was gon. We expected their idea was to wate till we passed & then capture our train. As they was Cavelry. We can see back to camp from here. & so I think the rebs took the hint and left. It is 8 A.M. & we have not hered any firing from the skermishers. We stationed a signal flag on this mountain as soon as we got up here. It is the butifulst sight that we have seen yet. We can see further & a splendid view it is indeed. Levi got some beens & corn & got them on the fier & the bugle sounded & we fell in between 12 M & 1 P.M. & marched on top of the mountain towards Chattanooga. & we got word that the rebs had evacuated Chattanooga. & we was ordered in town till knight. We marched very fast then & it was very hot & I took sick & could hardly get along. We marched 10 m. about. & came to a little town called Summer Hill on the side of the mountain in Hamelton Co at 4 P.M. & the boys could see Chattanooga 5 miles distant. We rested a good spell but I felt so bad that I did not go to see the town of Chattanooga. We could see the Alagany Mountains & the Cumberland Mountains & see over the valleys & the roads looked little like a dusty path & we could see over the second row of mountains the dust raising of the rebs retreating & our men was in the first valley following them. We had never saw such a sight in all of our lives. It was said that we was about 1500 feet above the level of the valley & we was partly down the mountain then.* The trains of cuvered wagons looked as small as sheep & the houses looked like little portecos in front of a house. We started & went down the mountain & got nearly in Chattanooga & turned to the right & marched 3 miles & went in camp at 7 o'clock at knight. Lots of the Boys did not get to camp. But I strugled along & got in with the regt. But I was so sick & tired that I did not know what to do. We had marched about 24 or 25 miles. & where the rebs had bin the dust was so deep that we diped it up in our shoes as we walked along & we nearly perished for water. Levi cooked his beans & corn (for we had carryed them all the way) & I eat a little & slept some during the knight. __________ * The bypath on which they climbed up the east side of Lookout Mountain was known as the Nicka Jack Trace. At least part of the regiment got to fill their canteens with water from Lulu Lake on top of the mountain. The plateau of Lookout is 2410 feet above the Tennessee River at the mountain's base. The rebel troops which they saw marching on the dusty roads were General Bragg's whole Confederate army retreating from Chattanooga over roads leading south - "retreating" is what General Rosecrans thought. But Bragg was cleverly withdrawing his smaller army to Lafayette, Georgia, to protect his supply lines from Atlanta, to gather more troops, and to strike again. In the forthcoming battle of Chickamauga he was to drive the Union forces back into Chattanooga and hold them in a siege of near starvation for two long months. (The first part of this footnote is drawn from the HISTORY OF THE 79TH REGTMEMT, INDIANA VOLUNTEER INFANTRY, The Hollenbeck Press, Indianapolis, 1899. The rest is the common knowledge of historians of the War Between the States.)
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