3rd. Ordered to fall back to McCook at daylight in anticipation of a fight. Went to Dr. Peck’s. Sent up beef and meal. Went to New Market in P. M. Got receipts and invoices. Let Spike go at 2:40 on a trot. Good chat with the boys around the fire.

2nd. Cold, disagreeable day. Letters from home and Fannie, 1st of Jan. Both happy and sad. Made a fool of myself talking to old Brown at Hdqrs. Wrote to Fannie.

2nd. Still cold as Greenland. Spent most of the day at the white house. What a splendid day to attack the enemy were our infantry on hand. Wrote letters home, to Fannie and Ella.

1st. Happy New Year! Gay and festive. Frozen and just starving. Re-enlistment question presented to the boys. Three from the 2nd Ohio. Took dinner at hdqrs., at white house. Cabbage and beef and mutton. Had a chat with the people. All have suffered badly. Even underclothes taken during the late fights by rebs, also wheat [...]

31st. Looked for rations all day. Read some in Harper’s. In evening Lt. Baird and I rode to Mossy Creek in search of rations and to make an effort to procure a mill. Put up a tent fly in the P. M. Rained till 12 P. M. and then turned awfully cold and blew a [...]

30th. Slept by a big fire last night–very comfortable. Regiments saddled ready for a fight. Sent Lewis back to S. Plains for rations. Had some beef driven up and killed. Boys would have suffered had they not been fortunate in getting from the country.

29th. At 2:30 A. M. got orders to march to Mossy Creek. Marched at 3. Waited at the creek till nearly daylight, quite cool. Went into a house and warmed. Woodford’s and part of McCook’s divisions went with Foster’s to Dandridge. Found no enemy and returned to Mossy Creek. Stopped to feed. Heard cannonading and [...]

28th. Dried our clothes and got breakfast. Col. Purington came and reported under arrest for disrespectful language to Gen. Potter. Read a little in “Scottish Chiefs” and Independent. Good article on a visit to Oberlin. Lay about the fire until night. About 7 P. M. got an order to report to Col. Foster and then [...]

27th. A rainy unpleasant day. A negro came into the lines giving news, making an attack on the rebels expedient. Wrote a line more in F’s letter. Were out all the P. M.–most of the fighting on horseback. Some artillery firing. Drove the rebs beyond “Talbot Station.” Regiments lay in line saddled, our brigade in [...]

26th. At midnight orders came to be ready to move an hour before daylight, not much sleep. Lewis not back. Col. Cook attacked the enemy near Mossy Creek. Capron and Garrard for support. Rained all the morning. Uncomfortable. Regts. in line all day. Some artillery and a little musketry firing. Foster sent his thanks for [...]

25th. Cloudy and letter from home. How I should like to be at home today. God bless all the dear friends. Wonder where Thede is today. Gave two or three little Christmas gifts. Rachel Brazelton gave me a nice large apple as a Christmas gift. Took dinner with Maj. Nettleton. Had some apples to eat. [...]

24th. At 1:30 orders came to move immediately to the Chuckey for the purpose of capturing a rebel brigade. Campbell’s brigade to attack in front and Garrard the rear, Garrard to have command. Col. Palmer, senior, of G.’s, had detachments from 11th Ohio, 75th Penn., 1st Tenn. When half a mile from road, rebels fired [...]

23rd. Hillhouse came around early. Hurried breakfast and wrote a few lines home and to Fannie, for Thede to take. Got George a saddle and Lewis govt. horse. How I dislike to have Thede leave me. I shall be homesick. Still it is best. Poor fellow. God grant he may get well soon. Command moved [...]

22nd. Sent out my letter early in the morning. Had some pork and soft bread to issue. Saw A. B. and talked about Thede. Concluded to have him start for home with Hillhouse and George also. Both talk of going to Knoxville tomorrow. Mark goes down to work for Chamberlain. Finished the first volume of [...]

21st. Remaining troops paid off. About noon went down to the 2nd Ohio and to my unspeakable joy found a letter from Fannie. How long I have suffered from anxiety and suspense. I love the dear child more than ever, if such a thing be possible. I answered it during the evening. Col. Purington got [...]

Sunday, 20th. June and I rode to cross roads, but got no rations,–discouraging and disgusting the way things run. Leavitt is no man. Returned to camp. McDowell paying off our brigade. Drew pay while Lieutenant–State Agent here. Sent $250 home and paid all my debts, including servants. A cold night, read some in “Scottish Chiefs.” [...]

19th. Up quite early in the morning and sent word to the details and to Leavitt. June came up with two wagons. Got 975 meal. 4th Army Corps camped near Cross roads. Saw Ed. Brice, orderly for Gen. Hazen, 41st near by. A good many troops here now. Sleep in a bed again tonight.

18th. Got 2nd O. and 7th O. details running mills. Bought some beef cattle and settled some accounts. Various orders for the brigade. Uncertain about its movements. McDowell paying off 2nd Brigade. Our Brigade to be paid off soon. A cold day. Water frozen. I am so anxious to hear from Fannie. I am miserable [...]

17th. Boys with no rations last night and none this morning. Started details this afternoon. Issued meal in evening. Brigade marched three miles, little northwest of cross roads. Hdqrs. at Sawyer’s, he away. Brigade ordered to the front. Cold night. Beef killed but not issued. Col. permitted me to remain. Expecting brigade back tomorrow night.

16th. Long, Normaldorf and I went ahead and lay down by a fire. Went back early to command and took breakfast on popcorn, rather weak subsistence. Our brigade in rear. Remained two hours after command left. Rebels soon commenced work and we fell back and soon took positions. 7th O. V. C. in rear. Rebels [...]

15th. Last night I accompanied Col. Garrard, carrying his orders. He is very cool under fire and indifferent as to the nearness of shell, shot and musket ball, many of which gave him a close call. Hugh White, Co. A. killed. Many narrow escapes. The scene after dark was fine. I felt a wild enthusiasm [...]

Bean Station, Tenn. Monday, 14th. Dark, cloudy and foggy. Hear Jacob Smallered of “C” Co. was killed yesterday. At noon Col. Garrard came along with the Brigade. Teams ordered to hitch up. Didn’t feel well but concluded to go out. June went with me to station. Artillery firing commenced. Found rebels near the station in [...]

Sunday, 13th. Remained at quarters nearly all day. Rainy in the morning. Read in the Independent. About noon ordered to pack wagons ready to move. Struck tents and all ready. Troops returned to camps and tents again pitched. Begin to worry about Thede. A. B. thinks he had better be discharged. So do I.

12th. After breakfast rode to station and got bread. Went down to the 2nd O. V. C. and saw Co. C boys. Seems good to mingle with them occasionally. Brigade ordered out to scout. Gone before I was aware of movement, but unable to go anyway. Went four miles above Morristown, and ran against too [...]