Tuesday, 22d–Everything is very quiet. We learned that Alexander Ragan of Company E died at Benton Barracks, St. Louis, on the 9th of this month. His is the first death in our company since August 3, 1862, when Ebenezer McCullough died at Corinth, Mississippi, on that date.

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

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

September TUESDAY 22, 1863 Left Grenada for Panola on train at 8 o-clock A.M. Cars ran off the track & murdered a (illegible] No one else hurt but all badly scared. Reached Panola at 1 o-clock P.M. & found Capt H. & Company anxiously awaiting our arrival.

21st. A rainy unpleasant day. Col. saw Burnside and got order (?) for us to be mustered. Sergt. Munson did the business. All right. Saw Pike and Co. D boys. Wrote a letter to Fannie. How anxious I am to know the future. It looks dark enough to me now. C. G. and other boys [...]

Monday, 21st.—Heavy fighting eleven miles from Ringgold. Reported five thousand killed. Drove Federals back Saturday. Yesterday drove them back on each flank, but they held their center. (Note: picture is of an unidentified Confederate soldier.)

21st. Got up reasonably early, breakfasted and then moved on. Reached Jonesboro near night. Quite a town and many secesh. Girls sang “Bonny Blue Flag.” Marched 6 miles and camped on a Rebel’s place. The prettiest and most refined girl I have seen in Tenn. Got some butter and biscuit. Abbey and Thede are messing [...]

Monday, 21st–Three companies were sent out on picket today. I was on camp guard today. It is reported that the battle south of Chattanooga is still in progress, and also that our gunboats are throwing shells into Charleston, South Carolina. We hear that there was a riot in Mobile, when six hundred women and children [...]

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

Furlough. Sept. 20. Our last furloughed men have returned, and I have the promise of one next week, and am congratulating myself on the prospect of once more seeing home. I am anticipating a great deal when I get home; among other things the pleasure of once more sitting down to a clean, well-spread table, [...]

20th. Ground white with frost. Quite jolly at Hdqrs. talking over old Ky. times. Moved out at 7. Passed Bull Gap and got nearly to Russelville and received orders to return to Jonesboro. Battle expected. Stopped for supper and to cook beef and then moved on. Reached our old camp 5 miles north of Greenfield [...]

Sunday, 20th–We had dress parade this evening at 5 o’clock and important orders were read to the command. The first is, that our division is now to be known as the First Division of the Seventeenth Army Corps; second, that on a march we are to carry only nineteen pounds, and third, that we are [...]

September 20        There has been a very brave & successful repulse of an attack on Fort Sumter. The Artillery have been moved from the Fort & an Infantry Company, the Charleston Batallion put there & Major Stephen Elliott placed in command it is said they took the flag that used to be on the Fort, [...]

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

Saturday, 19th.—Heard there had been some fighting on Pea Vine Creek, near West Chickamauga, supposed to be general engagement. (Note: picture is of an unidentified Confederate soldier.)

Saturday, 19th. Remained in camp till 1 P. M. Orders came to report to Corps Hdqrs. at Knoxville. Supposed to go to Rosencrans. Drew flour and beef and made ready for the march. Marched at 1 P. M. Passed through Greenville and camped at Blue Springs, 8 miles from G. A very cold night. Boys [...]

Saturday, 19th–Company E went out on the picket line today. The nights are getting cooler and the middle of the day, though warm, is not so oppressive. Since our rainstorm it begins to look like autumn; the trees are beginning to turn various colors and the sun shining over the timbered hills in the late [...]

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

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

18th. Moved out between 2 and 3 A. M. Got on the wrong road and lost some time. Marched to within 5 miles of Greenville and got breakfast and dinner at 11:30 A. M. Bought a chicken and turkey. Good dinner. Drake ate with me, about sick, looks miserable. Moved on to Greenville and saw [...]

Friday, 18th–It is reported in our camps that General Rosecrans has taken Chattanooga, Tennessee, and that General Burnside took two thousand prisoners and twelve pieces of artillery without firing a gun. We hope that the report is true, for Chattanooga will afford our army there a strongly-fortified place.

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

17th. Made arrangements to get the boys away if possible. Had boys posted all night. No demonstration to our surprise. Passed through Morristown and Whiteville and camped at Bull’s Gap or the junction on railroad. Went to a Doctor’s and purchased some bacon and sweet potatoes and tomatoes. Good many citizens out to see us. [...]

Thursday, 17th–We had a cool rainstorm this afternoon which was quite refreshing. The sick in the general hospital here in Vicksburg are improving and are being sent home on thirty-day furloughs.