10th. Soon after breakfast brigade ordered to Morristown on a reconnoissance. Sent June to see about rations and left the rest of the boys to go for cattle and pork. At the river encountered rebel pickets. Drove them back on Morristown and Cheek’s Cross Roads. Drove the pickets steadily. 2nd O. V. C. on X [...]

9th. Up early and breakfasted on mush. Supper last night the same. Infantry soon commenced passing. Left all boys but Thede and went on. Passed through Rutledge. Command moved on to Bean Station and camped–some skirmishing. Issued Hard Bread and beef! Boys came up. Bunked down by the fire and slept soundly. Cold night. Boys [...]

8th. Awoke considerably rested. Surprising how a tired man can sleep. Drew one day’s ration of meal and two of H. Bread. Moved around Clinch Mountain to Blains Cross Roads. Boys killed a flock of sheep. Passed a division of the 9th Army Corps in camp. Stopped with boys at a house near road leading [...]

7th. Awakened by firing over Clinch Mountain. Sent back details and teams for rations. Clear beautiful day. Moved at 9 A. M. up the valley. About 3 P. M. arrived at Bunch’s Trail, a pass through Clinch Mountain. Rebel pickets here and drove them. Col. Acker dismounted 9th Mich. and dislodged them from the Gap. [...]

6th. Up at daylight and breakfast in time to move at 7. Cloudy, cleared up in P. M. Moved down near Maynardsville road and halted. Sent for rations. Scare in 2nd Brigade. Some firing. Rebels left Knoxville and on way to Va. Cavalry here in valley. Graham’s Brigade after them. Guess all will get away. [...]

5th. A damp cloudy day. Sent out for meat and wheat. All failed save the butchers. Some talk of moving. Played checkers with Ordnance Sergt. Got badly beaten. Went to bed early with orders to be ready to march at 7 A. M. the next morning. All quiet.

4th. Considerable movement among the troops. Beers and Woods up from the 2nd Ohio. Played considerably at checkers with the boys. Saw paper of the 27th. Several scouting parties sent out and appearances of rebs leaving Tennessee for W. Virginia. Sent letters yesterday home and to Fannie.

3rd. During the day was quite busy getting wheat, etc., together. Ordered to be ready to march this P. M. Got all ready but failed to move. Issued meal and flour till Tuesday. Wrote in the evening. Had some apples to eat. Boys played checkers. Two poor stoves.

2nd. Finished Burns yesterday. Pleased with him except that he tends too much to vulgarity. A good deal of wit. Firing all day in the direction of Walker’s Ford. Infantry moved down. Cavalry obliged to fall back across the river. Commenced running mill at Big Springs. Fisher failed to return the meal. Teams sent back [...]

Tuesday, 1st. In the morning issued rations to the 9th Mich. Sent Coats to see Fisher. Promised to send to me or come himself. Rebels reported across the river. Scout sent out. Maj. Gen. Foster arrived last night. Guns fired in his honor. Telegram from Leavitt to know about rations.

30th. June came down looking better. No news of importance. Yesterday morning firing heard in the direction of Knoxville, very heavy. None since. Rebels thought to be leaving. Thede came back about dark with rations of sugar and coffee. Had a long jaunt of it. Went from T. to Walker’s Ford.

29th. Started Theodore to find Leavitt and rations and to see Jackson. Also sent for salt. Read several chapters in Bible. Have neglected reading Bible too much since I have been in the army. Borrowed “English Orphans” and reviewed it. Good story. Mrs. Jones’ Hdqrs. Two sons in rebel army.

28th. Have an old store for the Commissary, storehouse below and office above. Cleaned up and put up a stove. Looked about to get mills. Hear no word from B.–borrowed meal. Aggravating. Lewis not successful. Dan fixed up a very good desk from an old P. O. box. Read some in Burns. Settled some accounts.

27th. Lt. Byard started for home. People sick. Sent two letters, one home. Did some writing, business. Near night moved to Bay Springs. Foster’s Brigade passed today on K. road. Crossed Clinch River. Sent Lu Emmons to the Gap to see if he could not get rations. Cattle came up. Gave hogs to the regiments.

26th. I shall be glad when the suspense shall end and we can move forward or back where we can find plenty to eat. Had some hogs driven up for 9th and 2nd. Bought 5 head of cattle. Drove up 7 from near Gap. Infantry Brigade, Wilcox’s, came up, still half starved. Jackson so begged [...]

25th. In the morning rode out and found the wagons 1 ½ miles from town. Had Dan and Lewis go with Lt. Leavitt 14 miles for flour and meal. Got back about midnight, clear and cold. One of the Drivers came down. No move today. Spent the day at the wagons mostly. Read some, pitched [...]

24th. Rob came before daylight and got flour for 2nd O. V. C. Hard up for rations seemingly. Another alarm and all saddled up before noon. Wagons moved to the rear and flour and meal collected. Letters from home and A. B. Moved to Tazewell. Wagons moved beyond. Couldn’t find them. Slept at Hdqrs. after [...]

23rd. Went to mills and put them to running as fast as possible. Capt. Rankin in charge of two mills. June and Dan went to town. No pay. Read papers. Alarm towards night. Pickets fired upon. Some arms lost in the river. Pleasant day. Very strong position here at this gap.

22nd. A bright pleasant morning and day. After breakfast went up to Col. Foster’s. Telegraphed to Garrard whether to go to Command or remain at T. while the train went to the Gap. Ordered to report. Drew rations and moved to Sycamore. Saw the papers at the Col.’s Hdqrs. Talk of the paymaster coming. Burnside [...]

21st. Raining heavily. Issued flour and beef to 2nd O. V. C. Robertson came down. Moved north of town and pitched tents and sent for forage. Two boys, “Shorty” and another, sat by the light and played “Seven Up.” Became pleasant before night. Left flour for the brigade with Powers. All wonder at our movements.

20th. Troops still passing. Various rumors as to the position of Burnside in Knoxville. Got breakfast. 2nd O. V. C. came along. Nearly 20 ate with us. Moved on at 9. Got over the mountain nicely. Two wagons broken. Long hill and rather steep but smooth road. Went down into the valley and fed. Made [...]

19th. About two stopped at a house and warmed. Got into a bed for two hours. Pitied some poor people. Gave a woman $22 scrip. Wolf and I went to a Mr. Tate’s (rebel off the road) for breakfast. One very affected rebel girl with curls, perfectly disgusting. Train corralled near. One and one-half miles [...]

18th. Aroused early and notified that a general evacuation is to take place. Saddled, and so till noon. Train ordered to Rice’s Lower Ford. Rode over hastily to St. Clair and notified Pearson when to cross. Got two teams to go to Kirkpatrick’s mill. Some fast and hard riding. 2nd O. V. C. train ferried [...]

17th. Sent Lewis to Russelville to see about rations. June came with load of flour weighing 4,000. 2nd. N. Carolina and 23rd Ind. Batt. in our Brigade drew rations. Saw post Commissary. No rations. Things begin to look a little dubious. Considerable running about for one day. Rode from Gap to camp with Lt. Pearson.