31st. Up at 3 and off at 4, rear of our brigade. Wagons in the way again. 8 hours going 10 miles. Camped on ground of Major Ellis’ fathers. Went out with forage detail. Got plenty of hay and then let the boys go for oats. Got some peaches. Report that 20,000 rebels are at [...]

30th. Reveille at 2:45. Moved out at 4. Made the best march for several days. Advance of Brigade. Came up with teams and had a slow time getting by. Gave way for Burnside, Carter and Shackleford. Reached Montgomery at 3 P. M. Occupied the ground of Rebels. Drew rations and forage. Infantry came up by [...]

29th. Aroused at daylight. Saddled and waited two hours for “forward.” Hornets’ nest by road. Bees after Gen. Shackleford and others, occasioned considerable fun. Moved 5 miles and stopped for breakfast and to feed horses. More big hills. Air cool and bracing. Nice day for marching. 30 miles from Montgomery, where we camp. Four companies [...]

28th. Was mustered soon after breakfast (as 2nd Lieutenant). Ordered to march. Boys got in about 5, then started. Saddled several hours in the rain. Moved half a mile, teams fast. Stopped till 10 P. M., unsaddled and got lunch, just asleep. Wrote to Lucy Randall. Spencer ordered back to Camp Nelson, leaving me in [...]

27th. Breakfasted and moved out at 7. Passed the 44th, 104th, 103rd, 57th and 12th Ky. Watered and went into camp. Forage party detailed and started and then ordered back. Roads still among the hills, through woods. Pioneer corps finds work. Went on 1 ½ miles and camped with orders to muster. Boys returned with [...]

26th. Crossed Jellico Mountain. Quite steep and long. Cool and very pleasant marching. Marched 10 miles over hilly road and camped for dinner. Ate with Chamberlain. Homeliest girls–least intelligent looking I ever saw. Went on to Chitwoods and camped. Cold night. Thought much of home and friends this commencement day. At 5:35 P. M. crossed [...]

(Kentucky) 25th. Was aroused at midnight to draw rations. Abbey away. Went to town and was told to come next morning. Rained slowly during night. Many out with no blankets. Train blocked. Wrote Sarah Felton and F. D. Allen. Still a chilly rain falls. Saddled at two and waited till five for rations. Marched three [...]

24th. Aroused at 4. Got breakfast and off between 5 and 6. Good many boys didn’t wake in time to get their breakfast finished. Quite a time with 2nd Tenn.–passing and repassing. Moved along at very good pace. Crossed the Cumberland about 9 and camped near Williamsburg. Went out for forage. Rained some. Chilly. Wrote [...]

23rd. Boys got started for forage, but orders came to march. Reached London at 9 A. M. Went into camp and boys went for forage. I stayed in. Got some corn and had good dinner. Boys got oats and fed till 5 P. M., then moved on as far as the Laurel River. Camped about [...]

22nd. Reveille at daylight and orders to march at 6 A. M. Rear guard. Hastened breakfast and led out. Went down to the road to an orchard and dismounted. Remained there till noon, idling, joking and eating apples. Read Independent. How thankful I am that I can have something to read. Loitered along the road, [...]

Thursday, 20th. After breakfast, went out for forage with the company. Found some hay out three miles over a rough stony hill. Got some corn for roasting. During the day read some in “Barnaby Rudge.” Had a quiet visit with Henry Drake. In the evening went down to the brook and had a good bath. [...]

19th. Orders came to march at 8. Got my mare shod and prepared for the march, never moved more slowly, kept stopping to rest. Reached Mt. Vernon at 4 P. M. Have enjoyed the day first rate. Began to feel at home. Boys have treated me very respectfully and I like them. Hope to succeed [...]

18th. Teams returned during night. Early in the morning, breakfasted and packed up the wagons. Off at 9. Went over to the 19th and saw Byerley and Ed. Cobb. Reached Crab Orchard at noon and got dinner at a private house. Ordered to report to Co. C for duty. Went over to roll call but [...]

Monday, 17th. Reveille at daylight. Division moved to Crab Orchard at 8 A. M. I was left in charge of men behind with baggage. Stopped with A. B. Good time. R. M. Haskell’s Division of Infantry came in, also three Batteries of Artillery, 19th Shield’s, 2nd 1ll. and 1st R. I. Went over and saw [...]

16th. After a breakfast of boiled corn, bread and bacon, boys went after horses and I, in company with Eggleston, started for Stanford. Several thunder showers. Stopped at a farmer’s for dinner. Reached camp near 4 P. M. Stopped at my old stand, the Commissary. Saw Nettleton and other officers. Made application for discharge from [...]

15th. After morning duties went with wagon and three men to Camp Nelson for rations. Had returned to within half a mile of the place when we met the boys in wagons. Turned back again. Camped near the 86th Ohio. Saw Capt. Lindsley and Lieut. Steele of our old regiment. Drew some horses. Had the [...]

14th. Boys came down and got saddles, etc., and at the depot in time for the 6:30 o’clock train. Horses remained behind. Reached Nicholasville at noon. Tried to find rations, failed. Found a private house to board at, Mrs. Fletcher’s. Plenty of negroes to wait on you. Wrote a letter home, read a little. Husband [...]

13th. After breakfast and reading morning papers went over to City Library and read some in Quarterlies and Magazines. Mr. Brown came in. Saw Barnitz. After dinner took a stroll about the city in search of a lovely, honest, satisfied countenance, a person who seemed perfectly happy with self, world and God. A few happy [...]

Wednesday, 12th. Took breakfast at Loveland. Reached Cincinnati at 9:30. Went to Gibson House. Room with Eggleston. Got my horse. Rode to Gen. Cox’s and hospital, Covington, to see about Homer Johnson. Successful, I guess. Supper at Gibson. Saw Al Bushnell. Forgot letter from Ellen. Evening wrote to Dr. Johnson and Fannie.

11th. Went to Capt. Burr’s office and stable. Found my horse almost blind. Did some trading and did errand with Gov. Tod for Dr. Johnson. Over the State House with Ampt. Thunder shower. Took the freight train at 9:45. Got into a caboose and rested nicely. A Mo. Captain aboard. One fright. Brakes whistled down–all [...]

10th. Went to Minnie’s at 7 and saw the folks off for the lake. Ed., Frankie, Phoebe, M., E. J. and Terrell’s people. At 9:30 called on Fannie. Supposed I had gone. Interchanged sentiment, and agreeably. Happiest day of my life. Most fortunate boy. God grant it may cause no regret to either of us. [...]

Sunday, 9th. Thede and I went to S. S. together. Visited the infant school. So pleasant. Enjoyed being back again. Bless God for these occasional home visits. Heard Mr. Finney in the morning. Good but queer sermon. Sat in gallery. P. M. heard Prof. Morgan, very warm. Girls and John at home. Evening Ed Williams [...]

8th. Read some during the morning. At 11 went to Daguerrian Gallery and had likeness taken. New coat. Met Mr. Austin and wife, Miss Smith formerly. Helen and Aunt came. Charlie Fairchild treated boys to ice cream, lemonade, etc. Sorry can not stay in O. till after Com. too. In the evening went to N. [...]

7th. Spent the morning reading and doing chores. In the afternoon made an hour’s call on Fannie. Engaged Mr. Turner’s horse and rode from 7:30 till 9 with Thede and Minnie. Very pleasant time. Went to George Fairchild’s room and read class letters. Borrowed one from Burrell.