OCTOBER 14th.—A letter from Gen. Lee to the Secretary of War, dated 11th inst. at Madison C. H., complains of the injury done by the newspapers of Richmond, which contain early accounts of his movements, and are taken quickly (by flag of truce? or Gen. Winder’s corps of rogues and cut-throats?) to the enemy. He [...]

October 8—Corps moving. October 9—Leave at 5 a. m. Pass Orange Courthouse. October 10—Pass Madison Courthouse. October 11—Pass Bethlehem Church. Meet Mrs. Griffin, 86 years old, has never joined any church. Says her husband kept her out 36 years ago. Camp four and a half miles from Courthouse. Rev. Dr. Boyce preaches at night. October [...]

13th. Got the desk out and papers to vote. Mail came. Seven letters for me. Fannie, Ella, Fred, Will and home. Never felt as today, an epoch in my life. Felt sad all day. Ordered forward. Moved out on Blountville road, damp day and somewhat rainy. Read considerable in the Independent. Letters seem so acceptable [...]

Tuesday, 13th–This is election day for the soldiers of Iowa, they having been given the right to vote while in the army. No one is permitted to electioneer for his favorite candidate and those who persisted in doing so were arrested and put in the guardhouse. General Tuttle, the commander of a division, is from [...]

“CAMP NEAR FOX’S FORD, “RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER, Oct. 13, 1863. “Dear Mama, “We are once more on the campaign. We had a running fight day before yesterday fighting all day. My little grey was killed under me at the first position we went into. The battery lost four killed and wounded, three of them from my [...]

OCTOBER 13th.—Gen. Lee’s cavalry are picking up some prisoners, several hundreds having already been sent to Richmond. It is said the advance of his army has been delayed several weeks for want of commissary stores, while Commissary-General Northrop’s or Major Ruffin’s agent Moffitt, it is alleged, has been selling beef (gross) to the butchers at [...]

12th. Up at an early hour, breakfast and then move on. Again took the advance. Reached Jonesboro. Rebels passed last night in great hurry. 2nd Batt. passed through Jonesboro and went on scout to Johnson’s Station. Rebels left three hours before. One rebel deserter, W. S. Davenport, thinks of joining Co. A. Smart fellow from [...]

Monday, 12th.—Very sick to-day. Haven’t eaten anything for four days. Ordered to hospital. Came to Ringgold instead of going to hospital; went to Cousin D. A. Lowry’s and sent word for Brother A. N. Magill to come over for me, which he did. (Note: picture is of an unidentified Confederate soldier.)

Monday, 12th–We remained here in bivouac all day, and shall probably continue at this place several days. Our brigade was sent here to relieve the Third Brigade of General Tuttle’s expedition toward Jackson, Mississippi. It turned very warm today. It is raining this evening, and we have no tents in which to stay.

OCTOBER 12th.—Hon. G. A. Henry, Senator from Tennessee, writes to the Secretary that it is rumored that Gen. Pemberton is to command Gen. Polk’s corps in Tennessee. He says if this be true, it will be disastrous; that the Tennessee troops will not serve under him, but will mutiny and desert. It is reported to-day [...]

Sunday, 11th. Enemy found to have gone. Infantry pursue. Pass them before reaching Greenville. Hear of the enemy at Henderson and Rheatown, and Foster heading them. Trotted and loped much. Could hear artillery from Henderson to R. Then dismounted and part of regiment went in. Enemy break, then again pursue. Keep the advance till sundown. [...]

Sunday, 11th–We left this morning according to orders and marched fifteen miles, when we stopped to eat dinner. We then continued our march about five miles farther, and at 4 o’clock we reached the Black river bridge, just ten miles out from Vicksburg, thus making a circuit of twenty miles to reach this important point.

Sunday Oct 11th 1863 This has been a delightful day but rather cool. I got up this morning and took a long walk before breakfast. Spent some time in the Stanton Hospital and heard Dr Gurley preach this evening. He gave an interesting account in his Sermon (or remarks) of the Life and Martyrdom of [...]

OCTOBER 11th.—I attended a meeting of “mechanics” and citizens at the City Hall last night. The prime mover of this organization is E. B. Robinson, some twenty years ago one of my printers in the Madisonian office. It was fully attended, and although not so boisterous as might have been expected, was, nevertheless, earnest and [...]

Memphis, Tenn., October 10, 1863, 4 p.m. Have just got here; bored to death. Had to march around three sandbars between Helena and Memphis. Never want to see a steamboat again. Never want to journalize again. We started at 5 in the morning for Corinth and then, maybe, for Rosecrans. I’ll be furiously glad to [...]

10th. Before breakfast was over, “Boots and Saddles” sounded. Packed up and moved to Blue Springs. Burnside up. Ordered to various parts of the field but always recalled till near night when the 9th A. corps charged and drove the enemy. Result of day’s fighting, 60 wounded and 8 killed. Bivouacked where night found us. [...]

Saturday, 10th–The Thirteenth came in and the Eleventh again went out on picket this morning. I was relieved from camp guard after two days’ steady duty, and accompanied my regiment on picket. About dark our brigade received orders to be prepared to march at 6 in the morning, with one day’s rations in haversacks and [...]

OCTOBER 10th.—The enemy is undoubtedly falling back on the Rappahannock, and our army is pursuing. We have about 40,000 in Lee’s army, and it is reported that Meade has 50,000, of whom many are conscripts, altogether unreliable. We may look for stirring news soon. About 2500 of the “local” troops were reviewed to-day. The companies [...]

October 10th. Our boys who had been prisoners since the fifteenth of June, had been released and exchanged. Lieutenant-Colonel Peale, commanding regiment, ordered to Camp Parole, Annapolis, Maryland, to bring the boys to camp for duty. A happy meeting talking over our past experience. Guns and equipment given out. All were ready for duty. Drilling, [...]

9th. Sent out with “C” and “E” companies for forage. An attack on train anticipated. Went where Co. I had scare the other day. Was touched by the mourning of a lady over the devastation the army was causing. I feel thankful that my best friends are far from the presence of war. Finished letters [...]

Friday, 9th.—Saw Jeff Davis. (Note: picture is of an unidentified Confederate soldier.)

Friday, 9th–The rebels have made no attempt at a raid into Vicksburg, but seem to be at their old trick of making our officers believe that they are in this vicinity in large force. Our officers, however, are on their guard, and are not to be caught napping. They continue a strong support of the [...]

OCTOBER 9th.—From the West we have only unreliable reports of movements, etc.; but something definite and decisive must occur shortly. Gen. Lee’s army crossed the Rapidan yesterday, and a battle may be looked for in that direction any day. It is said Meade has only 40,000 or 50,000 men; and, if this be so, Lee [...]

8th. Sergt. Beers worked on Quarterly Returns. Corp. Wood went out with detail and got potatoes and honey. Thede went for some apples, and took my washing. Orders came to make report or history of companies, all the details since their formation. A tedious duty with all books away. Wrote part of letter to Fannie. [...]