r 
 

EXTRACTS FROM 
 LETTERS 
 
 TO 
 
 A. B. T. 
 
 FROM 
 
 EDWARD P. WILLIAMS 
 
 DURING HIS SERVICE IN THE CIVIL WAR 
 1862-1864 
 
 NEW YORK 
 
 FOR PRIVATE DISTRIBUTION 
 1903 
 
V- 
 
INTRODUCTORY NOTE. 
 
 About three years ago I had occasion to 
 examine some boxes of old papers. In one of 
 them I found several packages of my own let 
 ters, written during my term of army-service. 
 Up to that time I was not aware of their 
 preservation. After the birth of my son, 
 Richard Everard, in January, 1902, it oc 
 curred to me that I ought to print, for his 
 benefit, some extracts from these letters, so 
 that, in later years, he might learn from them 
 something of the part, insignificant though 
 it was, I had taken in the Civil War, nearly 
 forty years before he was born. This little 
 book is the result. 
 
 E. P. W. 
 
 New York, November, 1903. 
 
 JVJ198606 
 
FORT WAYNE, IND., AUG. 29, 1862. 
 Yesterday I received a dispatch from In 
 dianapolis saying that Governor Morton had 
 appointed me first lieutenant and adjutant of the 
 One-hundredth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. 
 My commission will come in a few days. The 
 (adjutancy is a very good position, and I am 
 better qualified for it than for anything else. 
 No colonel has yet been appointed. 
 
 FORT WAYNE, IND., SEPT. 1, 1862. 
 Have been in camp three days attending to 
 duties. My commission came last Saturday. 
 I am the only officer of the regiment yet ap 
 pointed and commissioned. No one knows 
 who is to be our colonel. 
 
 FORT WAYNE, IND., SEPT. 6, 1862. 
 I understand Governor Morton has deter 
 mined to send no more troops out of the State 
 
 5 
 
until they are well drilled. If this is true, our 
 regiment may be in the State some time yet. 
 We may go to Indianapolis Saturday night, to 
 be drilled, clothed and armed. We have only 
 six hundred men now in camp. Have no idea 
 who will be our field officers. 
 
 FORT WAYNE, IND., SEPT. 7, 1862. 
 A dispatch, received to-day, says we must 
 be in Indianapolis by daylight to-morrow. 
 We leave to-night. Have only six hundred 
 men, however. Whether they will give us 
 time there to recruit a full regiment, or consoli 
 date us with others, I do not know. Brother 
 Henry s battery (Eleventh Indiana) has re 
 turned to Nashville. 
 
 CAMP MORTON, INDIANAPOLIS, 
 
 SEPT. 10, 1862. 
 
 Wrote you on Sunday before leaving home. 
 Have had no time since to write, being so ex 
 ceedingly busy in arranging our camp and get 
 ting things in order. We are in the old camp 
 ground of the Confederate prisoners, which 
 they left in a very filthy condition, and we 
 have, therefore, lots of work to do to set 
 things right. 
 
 No more officers appointed, except the quar- 
 6 
 
termaster, A. M. Tucker, from Elkhart 
 county, a very gentlemanly and clever young 
 man, who will make good company. Since 
 coming here I have virtually been in command 
 of our camp. 
 
 We are to be mustered in to-morrow, and 
 Captain Hough of the Regular Army has been 
 appointed to take charge of, and drill, us be 
 fore going into the field. There is no telling 
 how soon we may be ordered away. We are 
 trying hard to remain until we are well drilled, 
 and until the other four companies are recruit 
 ed, but I am afraid the exigency of the times 
 will not permit us to stay so long. So far, I 
 like the life very well, notwithstanding we left 
 Fort Wayne in a terribly disheartening rain. 
 Have very cold nights, and in the confusion of 
 moving camp, none too much to eat. Still I 
 get along first-rate. Am kept quite busy. 
 
 Have seen none of my friends in Indian 
 apolis yet. We are fully two miles from the 
 business part of the city. Have been in two or 
 three times, but only on business for the regi 
 ment. 
 
 Saw my cousin John Ball yesterday. He is 
 just from Kentucky. Was Col. Topping s or 
 derly, fought at Richmond, Ky., was taken 
 
prisoner and paroled. Was here yesterday on 
 his way home (Terre Haute). 
 
 CAMP MORTON, INDIANAPOLIS, 
 
 SEPT. 12, 1862. 
 
 I am rushed with business, having the work 
 of several officers to do, and we are much 
 cramped for quarters four of us in a very 
 small and leaky shanty. We are doing finely 
 in camp, all happy and contented the best lot 
 of men I ever saw together. They govern 
 themselves and need but little watching. No 
 more officers appointed since my last letter. 
 There is every prospect of our being here an 
 other week. Governor Morton and most of 
 our military men are now in Cincinnati, look 
 ing after matters there. 
 
 Have been in the city every day, but on busi 
 ness only. To-day, for the first time, took oc 
 casion to call upon the Hears and the Sheets 
 families. 
 
 Took a severe cold the first night I spent in 
 this camp, the blankets sent out to us being a 
 little bit damp. Am getting over it now. 
 
 Father, when here, looked at several horses 
 for me, but none suited. He went night before 
 last to Goshen to buy a horse, which has been 
 
 8 
 
very highly recommended. May possibly have 
 it to-morrow. I need a horse very much, hav 
 ing- to take in my report (two miles) every 
 day. 
 
 Nothing later from Col. Link. He was se 
 verely wounded and taken prisoner at Rich 
 mond, Ky., and is at the house of a wealthy 
 Union man. We are expecting in a day or 
 two, in our camp, about fifteen hundred of our 
 men, paroled prisoners, from the Richmond 
 fight, a great many of Col. Link s men among 
 them. I suppose you know that Captain 
 George Nelson and Adjutant Jared Bond are 
 safe. 
 
 CAMP MORTON, INDIANAPOLIS, 
 
 .SEPT. 25, 1862. 
 
 We have now lively times in camp, having 
 over three thousand troops, among whom is 
 the remnant of the Twelfth Indiana (Col. 
 Link s). Adjutant Bond, Captain Nelson, and 
 Lieutenant Godown are here. Since the Louis 
 ville scare has passed, we have a good prospect 
 of being here two weeks longer. Day before 
 yesterday had another company mustered into 
 our regiment, making now seven full com 
 panies. We are expecting every day to be 
 9 
 
filled up with odd companies, and that our 
 field officers will then be appointed. 
 
 Col. Link s funeral took place yesterday in 
 Fort Wayne. 
 
 CAMP MORTON, INDIANAPOLIS, 
 
 OCT. 3, 1862. 
 
 Three companies were assigned to our regi 
 ment to-day, which makes us full, but our offi 
 cers have not yet been appointed, and will not 
 be until the return of Governor Morton, who 
 left last night for Washington. Will return 
 in about ten days. 
 
 I enclose a newspaper account of our review 
 last Wednesday. Everything passed off ad 
 mirably, but I assure you I was very tired. 
 Was in the saddle two hours in the morning, 
 and from one o clock until half after six in the 
 afternoon a pretty good ride for one not ac 
 customed to it. I was out in my full dress suit, 
 the first occasion I had to make use of it. My 
 horse took cold from being overheated, and 
 was quite sick yesterday. Is much better to 
 day. 
 
 CAMP MORTON, INDIANAPOLIS, 
 
 OCT. 5, 1862. 
 
 Nothing new in the regiment. Have now 
 ten companies, numbering nine hundred and 
 10 
 
fourteen men, and they are about equipped with 
 every thing necessary for a march, except field 
 officers. 
 
 There was preaching this evening, but none 
 during the day, the men having been kept busy 
 cleaning up the grounds. The whole camp 
 (thirty acres) was swept thoroughly. I do not 
 approve of making the men work so much on 
 Sunday. Have not been to church for two 
 weeks, nor been out of camp since Thursday. 
 
 My horse is entirely well. Dr. McKinney, 
 the former owner, was here Saturday. He 
 says the horse s name is "Bill." 
 
 CAMP MORTON, INDIANAPOLIS, 
 
 Nov. 2, 1862. 
 
 On Friday all the troops about here were 
 mustered for pay. When we shall receive the 
 pay is another matter. We hope to have it 
 soon, before we move. There has been some 
 talk about moving us this week, but there is 
 no certainty in regard to it. We are all getting 
 tired of Camp Morton duty, which is now prin 
 cipally holding in check the rebellious among 
 the paroled prisoners, three thousand of whom 
 have lately come into our camp. We are anx- 
 11 
 
ious too to join our four companies now in 
 Kentucky, so that we may drill together. 
 
 Mr. Case, you probably know, has declined 
 his appointment (colonel). 
 
 Mr. Peter P. Bailey was down to see us yes 
 terday. Sarah Mears and her brother drove 
 down and made me a call on Wednesday. 
 
 I am fast making a reputation for sobriety 
 and reliability by my oft repeated refusals to 
 drink. I make no boast of my teetotalism and 
 no effort to make my sentiments known, yet 
 my friends are learning that it is of little use 
 to urge me to "take something." Not a game 
 of cards have I played, nor drank a glass of 
 liquor since coming into camp. 
 
 CAMP MORTON, INDIANAPOLIS, 
 
 Nov. 9, 1862. 
 
 We were all paid off yesterday, and had our 
 guns exchanged for splendid Enfield rifles, the 
 best gun I ever saw. 
 
 To-day the four river companies moved out 
 side in tents. As soon as we receive the full 
 complement of tents for the regiment, we shall 
 be ready to leave. 
 
 Rev. Mr. Munn has been appointed Chap 
 lain, and will be with us on Tuesday. Am 
 12 
 
sorry to say we know no Sunday here. It is 
 hard work every day. Never in all my life 
 has time passed so rapidly as here. I am busy 
 with something pertaining to the regiment all 
 the time. 
 
 When father was here we called upon Gen 
 eral Morris. He was then undecided as to ac 
 cepting the commission of major-general. He 
 promised me a staff appointment in case he ac 
 cepted. Since then, as you have seen in the 
 newspapers, he has declined the promotion to 
 major-general. 
 
 Saw General Buell on the street yesterday. 
 
 My pay for two months and five days, to 
 Oct. 31, was two hundred and fifty-eight dol 
 lars. 
 
 Enclosed is a copy of letter, received yester 
 day, from Major-General Love. It was unso 
 licited and entirely unexpected. 
 
 HEADQUARTERS, INDIANAPOLIS, 
 
 Nov. 8, 1862. 
 Lieut. E. P. Williams, 
 
 Adjt. looth Reg. Incl. Vols. 
 Sir, 
 
 As your regiment is about to take the field, 
 it is due to you to say, and I take pleasure in 
 saying it, that for the two months you have 
 13 
 
been in camp here, under by immediate su 
 pervision, you have discharged the duties of 
 your office faithfully and efficiently ; that those 
 duties have been more than usually responsible, 
 growing out of the fact that for the greater 
 part of the time, since the organization of your 
 regiment, there has been no field officer on 
 duty. With every wish for your success, 
 I am Very respectfully 
 
 JOHN LOVE, 
 MAJ. GENL. IND. LEGION. 
 
 CAIRO, ILLS., Nov. 13, 1862. 
 
 ON BOARD STEAMER IOWA. 
 
 Left Indianapolis Tuesday night at 8 o clock. 
 Came through to this place without change of 
 cars, arriving at 3 o clock this morning. All 
 baggage is loaded, and we are off for Mem 
 phis in an hour. Are to report there to Major 
 General McClernand. Expect to be in Mem 
 phis Saturday morning. Father and mother 
 were in Indianapolis to see me, for two days 
 just prior to the regiment s departure. 
 
 MEMPHIS, TENN., Nov. 17, 1862. 
 I dropped you a few lines from Cairo, and then 
 expected to reach this place Saturday morning. 
 Did not arrive, however, until Sunday morn 
 ing at 9 o clock. The day was taken up with 
 
 14 
 
moving, preparing the ground, and pitching 
 our tents. Nor was our work finished many 
 hours too soon, as it began to rain about dark, 
 and has continued, at intervals, until now, with 
 every prospect of another wet day to-morrow. 
 Our camp-ground, on a clay bluff, about a half 
 mile below the steamboat landing, is now 
 ankle-deep in mud. 
 
 The weather was delightful during our 
 whole trip. There were no accidents and ev 
 erything passed off pleasantly. Owing to the 
 very low stage of water, we were obliged to 
 proceed cautiously and tie up at night. Three 
 nights were thus spent upon the river. Several 
 times we ran aground, and at one shoal place 
 (Saturday morning) were obliged to disem 
 bark the regiment on the Arkansas shore, and 
 march it some two miles down the river, and 
 there wait for the boat to worry its way 
 through. At this point we left the Continental, 
 a large side-wheel steamer, drawing much 
 more water than our boat. It had on board the 
 Thirty-first Iowa, and had been more than two 
 weeks making its way from Davenport. In 
 some places there was barely five feet of water 
 in the channel. 
 
 Troops are pouring in fast. Two regiments 
 15 
 
carne just before us, one just after, and an 
 other to-day. General McClernand is not here. 
 I went with Lieutenant-Colonel Heath, im 
 mediately upon our arrival, to report to Gen 
 eral Sherman. He assigned us at once to the 
 Second Brigade, Colonel McDowell, Sixth 
 Iowa, commanding, in General Denver s divi 
 sion. Our brigade is made up of the Sixth 
 Iowa, Fortieth Illinois, Forty-sixth Ohio, Thir 
 teenth Regulars, and One-hundredth Indiana. 
 Our regiment is the largest, the others averag 
 ing between five and six hundred only. 
 
 Our destination is Vicksburg, overland 
 route, I suppose, as we can hardly afford to 
 await a rise in the river sufficient for trans 
 porting us. The river is falling at the rate of 
 six inches per day. When we move, we will 
 be allowed but seven wagons to the whole regi 
 ment. The men must leave their tents and 
 knapsacks. Only four wall-tents for field 
 and staff officers will be allowed. The au 
 thorities are determined that we shall move 
 fact, and not be encumbered with long bag 
 gage-trains. 
 
 Memphis is a pretty place, but everything is 
 held at four prices, except negroes, who com 
 mand no price whatever. 
 
 16 
 
Lieutenant-Colonel Heath is highly pleased 
 with our Chaplain, Mr. Munn, and compli 
 ments him highly. He (Munn) is becoming 
 a great favorite with the men, owing to his 
 constant attention to the sick upon the steam 
 er. The captain and clerk of the Iowa told 
 Colonel Heath that he was the best chaplain 
 they had ever seen. 
 
 Before leaving Indianapolis, General Mor 
 ris gave me a very flattering letter to General 
 Reynolds, as did also Mr. Jackson, a friend of 
 General Reynolds. Genl. Love, a copy .of 
 whose letter I sent you, is quite intimate with 
 General Reynolds, and it is possible he may 
 speak a good word for me. 
 
 MEMPHIS, TENN., Nov. 25, 1862. 
 
 We are all very busy to-day, having received 
 marching orders for to-morrow at 8 o clock 
 A. M. We go south to Grenada, thence on to 
 Jackson, Miss. The plan is to take Vicksburg 
 by taking Jackson and cutting off supplies, in 
 the same way that Columbus, Ky. was taken 
 by the fall of Fort Donelson and Nashville. 
 The whole force is under marching orders. 
 With General Grant s army at Grand Junction, 
 ours here, and another large force at Helena, 
 17 
 
it is expected that we shall be able to sweep ev 
 erything before us to the Gulf, literally clear 
 ing out the Mississippi valley. We leave all 
 our sick behind, and those who are likely to 
 drop by the way. Take only shelter tents, 
 though there is word this morning that we 
 cannot be furnished with even these, and that 
 at night we will occupy the houses, barns, cot 
 ton-sheds and tobacco warehouses, which we 
 may find along the way. The wagons will 
 carry only cooking utensils and provisions. 
 The rest must be taken upon the backs of the 
 men. 
 
 The Twelfth Indiana (Captain Nelson s 
 regiment), our neighbors at Camp Morton, ar 
 rived last night, and are under marching or 
 ders similar to ours. Five more regiments at 
 Camp Morton are also destined for Grenada. 
 
 Our sick list now reaches one hundred and 
 ten. Three of our men have died since com 
 ing here. Change of climate and the heavy 
 rains are probably the causes. I am well, and 
 said to be getting stout. 
 
 Took a ride around Memphis last Sunday. 
 A quite pretty place with many fine busi 
 ness houses. Business is mostly done by He 
 brews, who have come here since the Federal 
 
 18 
 
occupation of the city. Business is more brisk 
 than I expected to see it. Sales of one Hebrew 
 house, last week, were twenty-seven thousand 
 dollars. 
 
 Father has gone to Nashville to see Henry. 
 
 I had an opportunity to go on the staff of 
 Colonel McDowell commanding brigade, as an 
 aide-de-camp, but would not accept the place, 
 because the position is not permanent. The 
 colonel may, at any time, be deprived of his 
 command, and his staff be returned to their 
 several regiments. 
 
 No colonel appointed yet for us, so far as 
 we know. 
 
 On Sunday saw George McCagg, Lieutenant 
 of Company A, Chicago Light Artillery. His 
 battery has been here since last July. 
 
 There are certainly a few good Union ladies 
 here, as their faithful attendance on our sick 
 in the hospital will testify. 
 
 We have a house set apart for our sick. One 
 lady drives there daily, sends her carriage 
 home, and goes to work in earnest. As we 
 came here without surgeons or hospital stores, 
 and as there was some trouble in being fur 
 nished here, she told us that our sick must be 
 attended to, and went herself to the medical 
 
 19 
 
director, and gave him a good talking-to. 
 Also, she told Colonel Heath that her income 
 was five hundred dollars more than sufficient 
 for her support, and that amount we should 
 have for the comfort of our sick. Pretty good 
 for a Southern lady ! Northern women seldom 
 do better. This, however, is an exceptional 
 case. Most of the people are bitter secession 
 ists. Another instance I had almost forgotten. 
 When our quartermaster and I were riding in 
 the suburbs on Sunday we met, in a buggy, a 
 gentleman, about sixty years of age, and his 
 daughter. As we approached they saluted us 
 with their sweetest smiles, merely, I suppose, 
 because they recognized us as Union officers. 
 This exhibition of good-will was indeed re 
 freshing, after meeting so many glum-looking 
 people in the streets of Memphis. 
 
 CHULAHOMA, Miss., DEC. 1, 1862. 
 Just one week ago to-morrow I wrote you 
 from Memphis. As indicated in that letter, 
 we marched out of Memphis on Wednesday, 
 Nov. 26. Our whole army was under General 
 Sherman, and moved out upon three roads. 
 The other divisions joined ours the next day, 
 about ten miles out. Our first night was spent 
 20 
 
in the open air ; not even the colonel s tent was 
 pitched, our baggage train having been de 
 layed. Our camp was in the woods and we 
 slept upon leaves with our feet to the fire. I 
 took my saddle for a pillow, wrapped my over 
 coat and blanket around me, and turned in. I 
 assure you I have seldom slept warmer, or bet 
 ter, notwithstanding it was clear and cold 
 cold enough to make ice. 
 
 Our first day s march was but seven miles, 
 the second seventeen miles, a rather hard one 
 for our green regiment. Saw on this day, for 
 the first time in my life, cotton growing in the 
 field. Vast quantities are going to waste for 
 the want of hands to pick it. In some places 
 we saw where large piles of cotton had been 
 burned by the Confederates. In others, where 
 the cotton was all ready for firing, but the 
 Confederates had not had time to finish their 
 work. As I mentioned before, on the second 
 day we were joined by the other divisions, 
 Smith s and Lauman s. The Twelfth Indiana 
 is in Lauman s division. Saw Adjutant Bond 
 and Lieutenant Godown. Captain Nelson had 
 been left in Indianapolis on business. Water 
 we found scarce and very poor. At our sec 
 ond camping place (Cold water), however, we 
 21 
 
found plenty and very good. This night, as 
 the previous one, was spent in the open air, 
 and with the same good effect. Next day 
 marched fifteen miles to Red Sand Bank 
 Creek. Roads good and weather splendid. 
 This day our division was in advance of the 
 army. Our brigade was second in division 
 and our regiment in advance of brigade. At 
 Red Sand Bank Creek found first-rate water 
 and plenty of it. Spent Saturday there, rest 
 ing. Buried one of our men who died from 
 eating raw turnips. 
 
 Yesterday moved eight miles to this village. 
 Chulahoma is southwest from Holly Springs, 
 and is farther south than our land forces have 
 ever been on this side of the Mississippi River. 
 We are moving to join General Grant on the 
 Tallahatchie River, where, it is said, we will 
 find the enemy. We are now ten or twelve 
 miles from the river. General Sherman s army 
 is about twenty thousand strong, and General 
 Grant has, according to report, forty thousand. 
 General Steele, from Helena, on the Missis 
 sippi River, will also join us with twenty or 
 thirty thousand men. We are expecting to 
 hear from him every day. The Confederate 
 pickets retreat before as we advance. Only 
 22 
 
yesterday morning five hundred of the enemy s 
 cavalry were here, and as we approached 
 Chulahoma our advance cavalry chased sev 
 eral of them across the creek. 
 
 We are subsisting on the enemy as we go. 
 Horses, wagons, mules, corn, fodder, cattle, 
 in short, all things we need, are impressed into 
 service. Our quartermasters give receipts, 
 which will be paid by the Government upon 
 proof of the loyalty of the owners something 
 they cannot very easily furnish. Our men con 
 fiscate some things upon their own hook, such 
 as pigs, chickens, turkeys, honey, sugar, mo 
 lasses, sweet potatoes, and occasionally a calf, 
 or a sheep. We are "living gay," I assure you. 
 Remember too that this is the land of persim 
 mons, which are just now ripe. 
 
 Negroes are "sticking" to us daily. Left 
 Memphis with none. Now have sixty, or sev 
 enty, in the regiment. The colored people are 
 delighted to see us, and even the secessionists 
 treat us civilly. 
 
 The people of Chulahoma have almost en 
 tirely deserted the place. Two abandoned 
 drug-stores and one grocery have been taken 
 possession of by our troops. In one of the 
 drug-stores, to-day, I picked up a diploma 
 23 
 
which had been issued by the Medical College 
 of Louisville, Ky., to Jacob L. Mabry, in the 
 year 1841.* Also found a plot of survey for 
 the Chulahoma Seminary grounds. These 
 documents I enclosed in letter to mother to 
 day. 
 
 Had a heavy storm last night with much 
 wind. Came near having our tent blown 
 down and ourselves drowned out. 
 
 Six thousand of our troops were sent out 
 to-day to make a reconnaissance. Have not 
 learned the result. We are encamped in a 
 
 *The following letter was published in The South, 
 Holly Springs, Marshall Co., Miss., November 20, 1902. 
 Chulahoma is also in Marshall County, but has no 
 newspaper. 
 
 Nov. 12TH, 1902. 
 To the Editor of The South : 
 
 Sir: When General Sherman s troops entered Chu 
 lahoma, November 30th, 1862, among them was the 
 100th Indiana Infantry, of which I was an officer. 
 The next day when strolling about the town, I entered 
 an abandoned drug-store and picked up from the floor 
 a medical diploma, which I mailed to my home in 
 Indiana. Lateh , in looking through a box of old 
 papers, I came across this diploma. It was issued by 
 the Aledical College of Louisville, Kentucky, in the year 
 1841, to Jacob L. Mabry. I should like very much to 
 
 24 
 
very strong position and are ready for the 
 enemy from any direction. 
 
 It is uncertain whether we shall march in 
 the morning or not. To-morrow a wagon- 
 train will leave for Holly Springs, ten miles 
 distant. The mail goes by this train, the first 
 opportunity for sending letters since leaving 
 Memphis. From Holly Springs there is rail 
 road communication direct to Columbus, Ky. 
 
 Frank Sturgis, son of Solomon Sturgis, of 
 Chicago, is with the Division-quartermaster. 
 Is buying cotton. 
 
 it to some member of his family, or to some relative, 
 should any such desire to have it. 
 
 EDWARD P. WILLIAMS, 
 
 524 Fifth Avenue, 
 
 New York City. 
 
 In reply to the above communication, a letter was 
 received from Miss Katherine A. Walker, Galena, Mar 
 shall County, Miss., stating that Doctor Mabry was 
 dead, and suggesting that the diploma be sent to his 
 daughter, Miss Lizzie Lee Mabry, Senatobia, Tate 
 County, Miss. (Tate County adjoins Marshall County). 
 The diploma was sent by registered mail, November 
 25, 1902, and in due time a letter of acknowledge 
 ment was received from Miss Mabry, expressing her 
 thankfulness and her joy over the recovery of her 
 father s long lost diploma. And so, at last, the diploma 
 was restored to the family of Doctor Mabry after 
 being in the possession of a stranger for forty years. 
 
 25 
 
We know nothing of what is going on in 
 the North. Have seen no newspaper since 
 leaving Memphis. 
 
 Weather and roads have been all we could 
 wish. 
 
 Some of our troops have behaved very bad 
 ly, burning fences, corn, houses, and even 
 churches have not been spared. Our line of 
 march from Memphis is marked for years to 
 come. I hope I may never live on the line of 
 march of any army. Where an army en 
 camps, everything for miles around is literally 
 swept away. 
 
 IN THE FIELD, MISSISSIPPI, 
 
 TUESDAY, DEC. 2, 1862. 
 
 Left Chulahoma this morning at eight 
 o clock, and, after a march of nine miles, en 
 camped about half a mile from the Talla- 
 hatchie River, soon after noon. Rained nearly 
 the whole day, and the roads are getting bad. 
 It is quite cold and very disagreeable. Our 
 men stood the march well, and have made for 
 themselves shelter tents with their rubber 
 blankets. Are learning fast to accommodate 
 themselves to circumstances. 
 
 We are on the Ferry road, several miles be 
 low the railroad-bridge. The Confederates 
 26 
 
skedaddled from here last Sunday, after burn 
 ing the railroad-bridge and cutting in two the 
 ferryboat. Heard cannonading this after 
 noon. Afterwards learned that General Grant 
 has crossed the river near the railroad-bridge, 
 and was pursuing the enemy near Abbeville, 
 six or seven miles from us. The firing was 
 there. Our troops are busy building a bridge 
 at this point. We are to push on, and join 
 General Grant as soon as possible. 
 
 WEDNESDAY, DEC. 3. 
 
 Are still here. Rain stopped and sun shin 
 ing splendidly. Roads drying up. Went over 
 this afternoon with our colonel to visit the 
 Twelfth Indiana, which is just half a mile 
 back of us. Saw Lieutenant Godown and Ad 
 jutant Bond. Captain Nelson has not yet 
 joined the regiment. Bridge will be finished 
 about midnight, and we shall probably move 
 again in the morning. Four of our companies 
 were out to-day on a foraging expedition. 
 
 THURSDAY, DEC. 4. 
 
 Still in camp. Weather changed. Slow, 
 steady rain all day. Bridge completed. Gen 
 eral Sherman went over to-day to consult with 
 27 
 
General Grant, and returned late this evening 
 with marching orders for his army at 7.30 
 A. M. to-morrow. Confederate General Price is 
 reported near us with eighty thousand men. 
 
 FRIDAY, DEC. 5. 
 
 Rained all night, and the storm closed with 
 a sprinkling of snow. Hard night on sol 
 diers. Marched to-day nine miles through 
 terribly muddy roads to College Hill, which we 
 reached about 2.30 p. M. The country about 
 here is much better than any we have seen 
 since entering the State. Have passed several 
 very substantial and comfortable looking resi 
 dences. College Hill contains but a few 
 houses, and is quite pretty. Four and a half 
 miles from here is Oxford, on the railroad. 
 General Grant s army, or rather his advance 
 guard, is there. It is expected that the rail 
 road will be finished and running to that point 
 shortly. Shall then .have direct railroad com 
 munication with the North. All are getting 
 anxious to see a newspaper. Everything at 
 home may be all right, or the reverse, but it is 
 all the same to us. We are in blissful ignor 
 ance of the doings of the world. 
 
 28 
 
About two miles this side of the river we 
 passed unfinished earthworks, which the Con 
 federates had thrown* up only last week. They 
 had impressed all the negroes throughout the 
 country for that purpose. 
 
 SATURDAY, DEC. G. 
 
 Have been at College Hill all day. Are out 
 of hard-bread, and must wait until the wagon- 
 train arrives from Holly Springs. 
 
 Heard to-day that General Steele had 
 marched from Helena and taken Granada, 
 driving out General Van Dorn s forces, and 
 capturing the General s private baggage. Gen 
 eral Price is therefore between Steele and us. 
 Bread-train came to-night. 
 
 SUNDAY, DEC. 7. 
 
 Clear and cold. The ground froze very hard 
 last night. Were all reviewed to-day by Gen 
 eral Grant. Mr. Munn preached to us in camp 
 this afternoon. There was also preaching last 
 night and to-night in the village church. Our 
 camp is on the College grounds. The men are 
 making sad havoc, cutting down the beautiful 
 grove for fire-wood. The College is now rep 
 resented by a small brick school-house about 
 twenty by forty feet. 
 
 29 
 
Our mess is living first-rate just at present. 
 Have corn-bread, fresh beef and fresh pork, 
 tea, coffee, sugar, molasses, honey, sweet and 
 Irish potatoes, dried peaches, etc. Our great 
 want here is good water. 
 
 Learned to-night that the mail will leave to 
 morrow morning for Holly Springs. Have no 
 news from the North since leaving Memphis. 
 Don t know when we shall leave, or where we 
 are going. Some think we will march across 
 the country to the Mississippi and take boats 
 for Vicksburg, while General Grant, with a 
 portion of his forces, moves upon Jackson. 
 
 Am perfectly well, and have been all the 
 time. My horse is all right. Saw Ed. Morri 
 son of Fort Wayne to-day. Is in our brigade, 
 a private in Forty-sixth Ohio. 
 
 IN THE FIELD, MISSISSIPPI, 
 
 MONDAY, DEC. 8, 1862. 
 
 Another day at College Hill. Our Generals 
 do not seem to know where the enemy has 
 gone, and are at a loss to know what to do. 
 Weather beautiful. 
 
 TUESDAY, DEC. 9. 
 
 General Sherman returned to-day to Mem 
 phis with General Morgan L. Smith s divi 
 sion. There, I suppose, he will take boats for 
 
 30 
 
Vicksburg. The Thirteenth Regulars were de 
 tached from our brigade and added to General 
 Sherman s force. General Denver has now 
 command of this corps, composed of his own 
 and Lauman s divisions, and Colonel Mc 
 Dowell, lately commanding our brigade, 
 now commands the division. General Sher 
 man gave us a parting review at two o clock 
 this afternoon. 
 
 The quartermaster and I rode to Oxford to 
 visit some of our Indiana regiments. Oxford 
 is a quite pretty place, though very hilly and 
 broken. Is about the size of Oxford, Ohio. 
 The railroad is now running to Holly Springs, 
 and will soon be finished to Oxford. The mail 
 and the Chicago newspapers are received daily 
 at Oxford, only four days old. We obtained 
 Chicago Tribune and Cincinnati Commercial 
 of the 5th a great treat, I assure you. The 
 only papers seen since leaving Memphis. 
 
 It is understood that our corps will march 
 straight across the country for the mouth of 
 the Yazoo River. 
 
 WEDNESDAY, DEC. 10. 
 
 Another day spent in inactivity, and our fine 
 roads and beautiful weather are not being im 
 proved. Our colonel went over to Oxford and 
 31 
 
brought us the Chicago Tribune of the 6th, but 
 no mail. 
 
 Have marching orders at last. Leave to 
 morrow morning at nine o clock. We all like 
 our new commander, General Denver, very 
 much, and think he will push us through fast. 
 We go probably to mouth of Yazoo River. 
 You need not, therefore, expect another letter 
 from me until we reach that point, as there 
 will be no opportunity to write sooner. You 
 must pay the postage on this, as I have no 
 stamps. 
 
 CAMP NEAR RAILROAD, ONE MILE NORTH OF 
 
 TALLAHATCHIE RIVER, DEC. 26, 1862. 
 
 My last letter to you was dated a week and 
 a half ago at camp Yocknapatalfa, and was 
 sent north with a lieutenant of the Sixth 
 Iowa. * 
 
 Everything remained quiet there until 
 last Monday morning, when we were ordered 
 to make the north bank of the Tallahatchie 
 River by Tuesday night. We moved at 7 A. 
 M. and camped on Tobytuby Creek (eighteen 
 miles) at 3 P. M. We had been ordered to 
 
 * This letter never reached its destination. See letter 
 dated Jan. 25, 1863. 
 
 32 
 
cross the Tallahatchie at Wyatt, where we had 
 built a bridge on our way down, but on reach 
 ing Tobytuby Creek a courier from General 
 McPherson met us with orders to bear to the 
 east, and cross the river at Abbeville, the 
 bridge at Wyatt having been burned. Were 
 off at daylight, passed through College Hill, 
 leaving Oxford on our right, and reached our 
 present camp (fifteen miles) by 2 p. M. This 
 two days march was very severe on our men, 
 owing to the hilly roads, and their having been 
 so many days idle at Yocknapatalfa. All our 
 regiments straggled considerably. 
 
 Our division (General Denver s) was far 
 ther south than any other, being sixteen miles 
 south of Oxford. The railroad was finished 
 to within a few miles of us and we had already 
 heard the whistle of the engine, when the 
 news came of the shameful disaster at Holly 
 Springs and the destruction of all our stores. 
 At this juncture, our forces were ordered to 
 fall back beyond the Tallahatchie. On Mon 
 day, Tuesday, and Wednesday, there was a 
 continual stream of soldiers and wagons, from 
 daylight until eight o clock at night, crossing 
 the river at this point. The troops are now all 
 over. All the cotton has been brought up 
 
 33 
 
from Oxford, and all the railroad-bridges 
 have been destroyed as far up as Abbeville, 
 which is three miles south of the river. The 
 trestle-work, built by our troops across the 
 river, is one-eighth of a mile in length. This 
 too will probably be destroyed by us as soon as 
 the cotton can be carried away. 
 
 The Confederate fortifications are very 
 strong, and principally on the south bank of 
 the river, covering the bridge and touching the 
 railroad track on its west side. On the north 
 bank, guarding the approach to the bridge, are 
 strong earthworks for one battery. North of 
 river, for a half-mile, is a low wet bottom with 
 very dense woods. On the first high ground, 
 three-quarters of a mile from river, were two 
 batteries connected by rifle pits. None of the 
 fortifications mentioned had been entirely fin 
 ished. The reason the Confederates abandoned 
 them was not from any want of strength, but 
 because General Sherman s army from Mem 
 phis was about to cross the river at Wyatt, ten 
 miles west, thus turning their left flank and 
 getting in their rear. It would have required 
 very hard work to force them back by a move 
 ment directly in front. 
 
 A railroad-train passes us three or four times 
 
 34 
 
a day. It does our boys good to see it, having 
 had no such sight since we left Cairo. 
 
 Just on the other side of the river, guarding 
 the railroad-bridge, we saw the Twelfth In 
 diana, which was separated from us at Wyatt, 
 as we went down. They are entirely isolated, 
 belonging to no division, or brigade. General 
 Denver has requested General Grant to assign 
 them to his division. We have every hope 
 that this request will be granted. 
 
 Colonel Reub. Williams of the Twelfth In 
 diana and his quartermaster were in Holly 
 Springs on business at the time of the "sur 
 prise," and were taken prisoners and paroled. 
 This is the third time for Colonel Williams, 
 and it annoys him immensely. Our sutler was 
 also there, but fortunately without any goods, 
 and with only eighty dollars in money. This 
 was taken from him and also eleven hundred 
 dollars left with him by a cotton-buyer to pay 
 for cotton. The Confederates even paroled our 
 sutler, which, of course, amounts to nothing, 
 except to prevent him from enlisting, of which 
 there was never any danger. Since we have 
 been here, he has been down to see us and gave 
 an interesting account of the way everything 
 went at Holly Springs. Value of cotton de- 
 35 
 
stroyed three million four hundred thousand 
 dollars, all belonging to speculators, from 
 whom was also taken one hundred and fifty 
 thousand dollars in money. The Confederate 
 force was about eight thousand cavalry and 
 mounted infantry. The garrison at Holly 
 Springs was small, but ample to at least have 
 held the enemy in check until reinforcements 
 could come up, had any precautions whatever 
 been taken by the colonel commanding the 
 place. The colonel s name is Murphy, from 
 Wisconsin, and he was taken prisoner in his 
 bed. We are now cut off from supplies, and 
 are on half rations. Cannot tell when our com 
 munication will be reopened. 
 
 To-day a train of three hundred wagons 
 guarded by five thousand men, started from 
 Holly Springs (fifteen miles distant), for 
 Memphis, for provisions. Our quartermaster 
 went with them. He had started to Memphis, 
 while we were yet at Yocknapatalfa, to get 
 our tents, but went no farther than Oxford, 
 being stopped by the dash on Holly Springs. 
 
 Our division has received no mail since leav 
 ing Memphis. Nor has the Twelfth Indiana. 
 It is rumored that a mail for us was destroyed 
 by the Confederates at Holly Springs. 
 
 36 
 
The weather has been quite warm and de 
 lightful scarcely any need of fire. The roads 
 are splendid. It is raining hard to-day, however. 
 Last evening (Christmas) I took tea with Cap 
 tain George Nelson and Lieutenant Godown. 
 It was warm enough to set our table out of 
 doors. I have made the Twelfth Indiana sev 
 eral visits, and Captain Nelson and Adjutant 
 Bond have been over to see us. The boys of 
 the Twelfth from Fort Wayne are all well 
 and hearty. 
 
 All the plans for our campaign are to be 
 changed, and there is no knowing what will be 
 done with us. For the present, until communi 
 cation with the world is opened, we shall re 
 main here. 
 
 This is the fifth letter I have written you 
 since leaving Memphis (one month to-day). 
 Do not know when, or how, this will leave 
 here. 
 
 Dr. McGee, our second-assistant-surgeon, 
 has joined us and brought with him his wife. 
 He is a lately married widower, which accounts 
 for his bringing his wife into the field. 
 
 SATURDAY, DEC. 27. 
 
 The Twelfth Indiana has been assigned to 
 our division by General Grant. We are all 
 37 
 
delighted with the prospect of having the 
 Twelfth so near us, as it is made up, principally, 
 of Fort Wayne boys. 
 
 We expect to leave here to-morrow, or next 
 day, for Lafayette or Moscow, on the railroad 
 between Memphis and Grand Junction. Mili 
 tary authorities have determined to open and 
 repair this railroad, over which to receive sup 
 plies, and will probably abandon the other 
 road to Columbus, Ky. One brigade of our di 
 vision will go to Lafayette, thirty-one miles 
 from Memphis, the other to Moscow, thirty- 
 nine miles from the same city. We do not 
 know certainly to which point we will be as 
 signed. Will probably build log-huts and go 
 into winter quarters until the wet season is 
 over. We are pleased with the prospect of 
 getting so near Memphis and to a place where 
 we can have a daily mail and daily newspapers. 
 
 HOLLY SPRINGS, Miss. 
 WEDNESDAY, DEC. 31, 1862. 
 
 On Sunday afternoon, just as we were get 
 ting ready to attend divine service, we were 
 ordered to break camp and move. Marched 
 seven miles, and camped at Lumpkin s Mills a 
 little after 7 p. M. It was a clear, cold, bright 
 38 
 
moonlight night. The Lieutenant Colonel and 
 I did not pitch our tent, but made our beds out 
 of doors between the ridges of a corn-field, not 
 yet dry from the heavy rains received a day or 
 two before. I must say that I never slept bet 
 ter, or warmer, in my life. We had one bed- 
 tick filled with cotton, and another with corn- 
 shucks, and with plenty of blankets, we bid de 
 fiance to the heavy frost which that night whit 
 ened everything around us. 
 
 Moved at daylight, and reached Holly 
 Springs (seven miles) at 10 A. M. Intended 
 going six miles farther, but General Grant 
 changed the order, sending General McAr- 
 thur s division to guard railroad at Moscow and 
 Lafayette, and ordering General Denver to re 
 main here. Here we are on a very pleasant 
 camp-ground. The men have made themselves 
 comfortable little houses, like dog kennels, with 
 their rubber blankets and what lumber they 
 found on the ground. There is one wall-tent 
 to every three officers (one to a company). 
 Two small houses within the camp limits are 
 used for hospital purposes. Some think we 
 shall remain here all winter. But as there is 
 nothing certain in war, I make no predictions. 
 
 The most pleasing event to all of us, since 
 39 
 
our campaign began, was the receiving of our 
 first mail from the North, which we found 
 here on our arrival. Four letters were re 
 ceived from you, two from father, one from 
 mother, and one from brother Meade. Father 
 writes that Henry is now an aide on General 
 Van Cleve s staff. 
 
 One of our captains (Rhodes of Auburn), 
 left sick in Memphis, died there on December 
 loth. 
 
 At our last camp we came very near losing 
 four of our saddle-horses, mine among the 
 number. They had pulled up the stakes, to 
 which they were tied, and had strayed off. 
 One was the colonel s, one the major s, one the 
 quartermaster s, and the other mine. When 
 the regiment was ready to move the horses 
 had not been found. So the sergeant-major, 
 four of the boys, and I, remained behind to con 
 tinue the search. The sergeant-major and I 
 took a road leading west and soon found the 
 major s horse, but the others could not be seen. 
 The major s horse was sent back, while we 
 continued on and on, for about four miles until 
 we struck another road leading to Holly 
 Springs, six miles distant. The horses were 
 given up as lost, and we turned our faces 
 
 40 
 
toward Holly Springs, which we reached about 
 12 o clock (noon). We had not been in camp 
 long, however, before all were brought safely 
 in by an artillery man, who, in looking for some 
 of his own horses, had found ours. They had 
 gone several miles across the railroad in exact 
 ly the opposite direction to that which I had 
 taken. The quartermaster s horse had lost his 
 halter. All else was safe, and we congratulat 
 ed ourselves upon our good fortune. The 
 tramp of ten miles was of much benefit. 
 
 To-day all the troops were mustered for pay, 
 as is the custom at the end of every two months. 
 We think it probable that the paymaster will 
 visit us soon after railroad communication is 
 established, as this army has not been paid for 
 six months. 
 
 The Twelfth Indiana is camped quite near 
 us, and we see Captain Nelson and the rest fre 
 quently. 
 
 I am increasing in weight, and have not been 
 sick a day since I received my commission. 
 
 FRIDAY, JAN. 2, 1863. 
 
 New Year s day was not much observed in 
 the army. It was quiet, and all the officers 
 were busy making out their pay-rolls and 
 
 41 
 
monthly returns. Though always kept pretty 
 close to my office, I think I had more business 
 than usual yesterday. 
 
 Have not yet been up town to see what 
 Holly Springs looks like. Should judge, how 
 ever, it is quite a pretty place of about four 
 thousand people. The country around about 
 is hilly. 
 
 It is thought the railroad will soon be fin 
 ished to Memphis, and that the first mail will 
 leave here on Monday next. 
 
 This letter goes by private conveyance early 
 in the morning. 
 
 Have just received notice that I am to be 
 detailed to-morrow as an aide on the staff of 
 Colonel John A. McDowell, commanding our 
 brigade. Not much of a position, but a good 
 place to make acquaintances, and it will prob 
 ably be a stepping-stone to something better. 
 
 WOLF CREEK, SOUTHEAST OF 
 
 GRAND JUNCTION, JAN. 7, 1863. 
 Have time to write only a few lines to send 
 by a captain of the Sixth Iowa, who goes to 
 Memphis in the morning. This is my sixth 
 letter. The last was quite lengthy, from Holly 
 Springs, carried north by Parson Goodwin of 
 Indianapolis. 
 
 42 
 
On Sunday last received an order detailing 
 me as aide-de-camp on Colonel McDowell s 
 staff the detail to date back to Jan. ist. 
 Moved over same day order was received. 
 Like the position very much. Colonel McDow 
 ell is from Keokuk, Iowa, and is a brother of 
 General Irvin McDowell now in Virginia. 
 
 Left Holly Springs yesterday morning and 
 moved fifteen miles northeast to Salem. To 
 day marched nine miles north to this creek. 
 Will probably be here a day or two. It is 
 thought we will go to Corinth, Tenn. 
 
 Have heard some of the details of fight at 
 Vicksburg. General Morgan L. Smith, severe 
 ly wounded, was with us until General Sher 
 man turned back from College Hill. The only 
 time I ever saw General Smith, he was superin 
 tending the bridge-building at Wyatt. Was a 
 fine man and a good general. 
 
 At Holly Springs, the night before we left, 
 I saw, for a few hours, my cousin Arthur Men- 
 denhall, in the Fourteenth Illinois. We had 
 not met for tw r elve years. 
 
 HEADQUARTERS SECOND BRIGADE, 
 GRAND JUNCTION, TENN., JAN. 13, 1863. 
 
 On Sunday last it was my good fortune to 
 receive seven letters two from home and five 
 
 43 
 
from you. My last letter to you was from our 
 last camp, five and a half miles southeast of this 
 place. 
 
 We arrived here last Friday. Four regi 
 ments and one battery of our brigade are here. 
 The remaining regiment and the other battery 
 are at Davies Mills, six miles south, on the 
 railroad to Holly Springs. The other brigade 
 is at Lagrange, three and a half miles west, on 
 the railroad to Memphis. General Denver s 
 headquarters are at Lagrange. 
 
 We are now once more in communication 
 with the world. The railroads to Memphis 
 and Columbus are both in operation, and a mail 
 is received every day. 
 
 Our business, for some time to come, will 
 probably be to guard the railroad, and yet we 
 may be ordered away in a week so uncertain 
 are the movements of an army. 
 
 The army in the southwest has lately been 
 reorganized, but the One-hundredth Indiana 
 still holds the same place, McDowell s brigade, 
 Denver s division. General Denver, I under 
 stand, is to have another brigade given him. 
 
 General Denver visited our headquarters the 
 
 44 
 
other day and took dinner with us. He is one 
 of the pleasantest gentlemen I have ever met. 
 
 I see by the newspapers that General Van 
 Cleve was wounded in General Rosecrans 
 great battle. Henry was on his staff, and I am 
 anxious to learn how he fared. 
 
 My new position on Colonel McDowell s 
 staff is a very pleasant one, so far as personal 
 comfort is concerned. I have a good wall-tent 
 all to myself, in which I can be as retired and 
 quiet as I choose. 
 
 I still keep well, and weigh one hundred and 
 forty-seven pounds, two pounds more than 
 ever before. 
 
 The quartermaster of the One-hundredth In 
 diana met us here bringing with him, from 
 Memphis, tents for the regiment, so that now 
 the boys are pretty well fixed. Colonel Stough- 
 ton, appointed to the colonelcy of the regi 
 ment, has not yet made his appearance, nor has 
 he written a word to the regiment. 
 
 The contrabands here are more numerous 
 than the soldiers. They flock-in from every 
 direction, and move off daily, by hundreds, on 
 the cars going to Memphis men, women and 
 children, of all ages. Poor creatures! 1 pity 
 45 
 
their condition, and wonder what will become 
 of them. They have a very indistinct idea of 
 a "Land of Jubiloh," to which they are tending, 
 but where it is, and when the "Jubiloh" will 
 begin, they cannot even conjecture. They be 
 lieve that by this war their condition is, some 
 how, to be improved. I saw the other day an 
 old man and an old woman, so infirm that they 
 could scarcely hobble along, trying to find a 
 place on top of bales of cotton on the cars. 
 They were pushing on with the rest to the 
 "Land of Jubiloh." When told that they 
 would not live a year after going north, and that 
 they had better stay at home, the old man re 
 plied that if he lived only one day there he 
 w r ould live that day a free man. 
 
 Another incident worth mentioning. I saw 
 yesterday, among the negroes about the rail 
 road station, a white woman of over fifty years 
 of age. Her hair was gray and her face 
 wrinkled, but she bore traces of having once 
 been quite good-looking. I wondered how she 
 came to be in the crowd of contrabands, and I 
 asked her the question. She said her children 
 had all left home to go to Memphis, and that 
 she wished to go along to look after them. 
 46 
 
This reply served only still more to excite my 
 curiosity, and I remarked that I did not know 
 that any of the white people were leaving their 
 homes and going north. She smiled and said, 
 although she was white, she was a slave. That 
 her ^father was a white man, but her mother 
 had a little negro blood in her veins, sufficient 
 to make her children slaves. I never before 
 saw such an instance. Her lips were thin, her 
 eyes clear, her nose thin, and no stranger would 
 pronounce her other than a white woman. 
 
 This morning I saw a slave whose hair and 
 whiskers were as straight as mine, and whose 
 complexion was as light. Our colonel took 
 him for a white man, and so we all did. 
 
 Weather here is as delightful as it is with 
 you in September. 
 
 HEADQUARTERS SECOND BRIGADE, 
 GRAND JUNCTION, TENN., JAN., 25, 1863. 
 
 Colonel Stoughton of the One-hundredth 
 Indiana arrived a few days since, bringing 
 with him a letter from mother, besides several 
 newspapers and the Atlantic magazine for Jan 
 uary. I assure you the latter were very accept 
 able and were greedily devoured. I have plenty 
 of time for reading now. 
 47 
 
Henry arrived home on the I4th on a short 
 visit. General Van Cleve (wounded) had 
 gone to Cincinnati to recover, thus giving 
 Henry a fine chance to see his friends. 
 
 Chauncey Oakley, mother writes, has re 
 signed his commission in the Eighty-eighth on 
 account of poor health, and is now at home. 
 
 Father has sent me two letters of introduc 
 tion to General Denver, and one to General 
 Sherman from his brother the Senator. Think 
 father will be down to see me about the first of 
 March. 
 
 The letter I wrote you from Yocknapatalfa, 
 together with one to mother, were not carried 
 north, as I had supposed, by private convey 
 ance, but were mailed in the ordinary way, and 
 probably captured and destroyed by the Con 
 federates in their raid on Holly Springs. 
 
 General Denver has gone north on a leave of 
 absence for thirty days. This seems to make 
 it a fact that we are fixed for the winter upon 
 this railroad, and are to have no share in the 
 fight at Vicksburg, unless perhaps we may be 
 called upon to reinforce the army already on 
 the way there. This latter, however, will hard 
 ly happen, as General Grant, with his seventy 
 
 48 
 
thousand men and the co-operation of General 
 Banks, will be able to do the work. 
 
 GRAND JUNCTION, TENN. 
 
 FEB. 23, 1863. 
 
 General Denver has returned, and I have pre 
 sented my letters of introduction. I don t know 
 what it will all amount to. He told me that, 
 when in Ohio lately, some of my friends had 
 spoken to him of me. 
 
 The troops at Corinth, Jackson, Grand 
 Junction and Lagrange are now under the 
 command of General Hamilton, and as he has 
 done nothing but guard the railroad for a long 
 time past, it looks as though that would be our 
 business for several months to come. It is my 
 opinion that we shall have nothing at all to do 
 with the taking of Vicksburg. 
 
 Last Thursday night, about 9 o clock, a ne 
 gro came in and informed us that Sol. Street, a 
 noted guerrilla in this country, with fifty men, 
 was then at his master s (McClellan s) house, 
 six miles southeast of this place. Six compa 
 nies, under command of Major Miller of the 
 Sixth Iowa, were sent out to trap the old fel 
 low. I went with them. The night was very 
 dark, and when about half way out, Major Mil- 
 
 49 
 
ler and the negro guide having pushed on so 
 far in advance of the column as to be out of 
 sight, we mistook the road and turned off to the 
 left. We followed this road about a mile before 
 we discovered our mistake. This mishap de 
 layed us nearly two hours, and it was 3 o clock 
 in the morning before we reached McClellan s. 
 The house was cautiously surrounded, but we 
 were too late. The birds had flown about an 
 hour before. Street is around enforcing the 
 Conscription Act. He carried off McClellan and 
 his son, and passed on to Saulsbury. Street is 
 very bold and shrewd, and hitherto has defied 
 all attempts to ensnare him. He makes it a 
 point never to remain all of the night in the 
 same place. We have no cavalry at Grand 
 Junction. If we had two companies of cavalry 
 I am confident we could catch him. We could 
 have followed him the other night had our 
 force been cavalry instead of infantry. The 
 negroes bring us word every day or two, of Sol. 
 Street s whereabouts-. 
 
 GRAND JUNCTION, TENN. 
 
 MARCH 1, 1863. 
 
 Mother writes that General Van Cleve will 
 not be fit for duty for thirty days, and Henry, 
 50 
 
therefore, has another leave of absence. He has 
 gone to join father at Boston, and intends vis 
 iting you, and will visit Princeton also. I wish 
 I might have the privilege of visiting my 
 friends. Perhaps I may have, when I have 
 been in the service as long as Henry. 
 
 Captain Harland, General Denver s adju 
 tant-general, was here Friday evening and told 
 me that General Denver wished me on his staff 
 as aide-de-camp. Colonel McDowell also said 
 that the General had spoken to him of the mat 
 ter. I expect the order to-day. This position 
 will take me entirely out of my regiment. My 
 rank will continue the same, but if the General 
 should be promoted to major-general, it will 
 probably be raised to that of captain. I am 
 gradually rising, and have no reason to com 
 plain. 
 
 Colonel McDowell returned from Memphis 
 on Friday, but has not resumed command of the 
 brigade. His resignation papers have not yet 
 returned from General Grant s headquarters, 
 but he has no doubt that they will, in due time, 
 be accepted. 
 
 The cars now run through to Columbus, Ky. 
 The train leaving there at 6 o clock A. M. ar 
 rives here at 3 o clock in the afternoon. 
 
 51 
 
HEADQUARTERS FIRST DIVISION, SIXTEENTH CORPS, 
 LAGRANGE, TENN., MARCH 4, 1863. 
 
 I wrote you in my last of my expected ap 
 pointment upon General Denver s staff. On 
 that same day (March ist) the order came. 
 The next morning (Monday) I moved up, and 
 here I am "as snug as a bug in a rug." Our 
 headquarters are in a large two-story frame 
 house. Captain Harland and I occupy one 
 room together. 
 
 To-morrow afternoon there will be a review 
 of the troops in Lagrange by Generals Denver 
 and Hamilton. 
 
 No more troops are to be taken from this 
 line of railroad to reinforce General Grant. 
 
 The paymaster will be here in a few days, 
 but will pay only to October 3 1 st. The Twelfth 
 and One-hundredth Indiana regiments were 
 paid up to this time before leaving Indianapolis, 
 and therefore will not receive any pay now. 
 
 LAGRANGE, TENN. 
 
 MARCH 8, 1863. 
 
 Do you want me to obtain a leave of absence 
 to visit you? I would love to dearly, but it is 
 next to impossible to get home now, unless 1 
 am very sick and the surgeon should recom- 
 
 52 
 
mend it. Perhaps some time next summer I 
 might possibly get away. 
 
 Since I wrote you last (March 4th) several 
 changes have taken place in the position of our 
 division. A new brigade has been formed, 
 named the First, in which is the One-hundredth 
 Indiana, and Colonel Loomis, of the Twenty- 
 sixth Illinois, is the commander. The Twelfth 
 Indiana still belongs to the Second Brigade. 
 General Lauman s division having moved near 
 er Memphis, our division has been strung out 
 from Grand Junction to Collierville. The One- 
 hundredth is somewhere near the latter place. 
 The Twelfth Indiana and Fifteenth Michigan 
 remain at Grand Junction. The Sixth Iowa 
 and Forty-sixth Ohio are here. Our headquar 
 ters continue as before, at Lagrange. 
 
 My friend Tucker, quartermaster of the One- 
 hundredth, is now quartermaster of the First 
 Brigade. This is a sort of promotion, analo 
 gous to my place with Colonel McDowell. 
 
 Ed. Taylor of Columbus, Ohio, a schoolmate 
 at Oxford, is now in Memphis, a captain in the 
 Ninety-fifth Ohio. I hope to be able to visit 
 him soon. 
 
 I trust father will come to see me. I shall 
 look for him now every day. 
 53 
 
Enclosed is a profile view of my humble self 
 drawn by our topographical engineer, a young 
 German. I think it a good likeness. 
 
 LAGRANGE, TENN. 
 MARCH 20, 1863. 
 
 From what I learn this morning there is to 
 be quite a change here at headquarters, and I 
 shall probably return to my regiment. General 
 Denver has resigned and is going home. Gen 
 eral Wm. Sooy Smith, from General Rose- 
 crans army, I believe, is to succeed him. If 
 General Smith does not bring with him a full 
 staff I may get a position with him. When I 
 wrote you some time ago that my position here 
 was one that took me entirely out of my regi 
 ment, I was mistaken. It was merely a detail, 
 the same as when I was on the staff of Colonel 
 McDowell, still holding my place as adjutant of 
 the One-hundredth Indiana. General Denver s 
 other aide-de-camp, Lieutenant Williamson of 
 the Seventy-second Ohio, is in the same pre 
 dicament, although he has been with the gen 
 eral for nine or ten months. I cannot now go 
 back to my old place in the Second Brigade for 
 my regiment does not any longer belong to the 
 Second Brigade, but to the First, and on the 
 
 54 
 
First Brigade staff there are already two lieu 
 tenants from the One-hundredth. 
 
 Should there be no place for me with Gen 
 eral Smith, I shall go back contentedly to my 
 regiment, and wait for something to turn up. 
 
 No one outside of the staff knows anything 
 of General Denver s resignation, and probably 
 will not for a day or two. Nor do I know yet 
 upon what grounds he made his application. 
 
 HEADQUARTERS FIRST DIVISION, SIXTEENTH CORPS, 
 LAGRANGE, TENN., MARCH 23, 1863. 
 
 Saturday s mail brought me a lot one let 
 ter from father, four from you, and two news 
 papers from father. 
 
 General Smith arrived on Friday and Gen 
 eral Denver left this morning (Monday). Gen 
 eral Smith brought with him an adjutant-gen 
 eral and a quartermaster. He wishes, however, 
 to retain the old staff of General Denver. His 
 adjutant-general had some time since sent in 
 his resignation and is only waiting to hear from 
 it. Captain Harland, General Denver s adju 
 tant, will therefore continue here and take the 
 place of the other adjutant if his resignation is 
 accepted. 
 
 General Smith is a very pleasant gentleman 
 
 55 
 
and I think I shall like him. Is a graduate of 
 West Point, and was colonel of the Thirteenth 
 Ohio. Commanded General Nelson s old divi 
 sion in General Rosecrans army. 
 
 I shall continue here as aide-de-camp, and 
 just now there is every prospect of our remain 
 ing here all Summer. 
 
 Father writes that he will be down to see me 
 about the first of April. 
 
 Next Sunday (29th) I shall be twenty-five 
 years of age. 
 
 LAGRANGE, TENN. 
 MARCH 27, 1863. 
 
 Your good letter of the i8th I found await 
 ing me on my return last evening from Collier- 
 ville, where I had gone on the morning train to 
 visit my old regiment, the One-hundredth. I 
 found the boys on good camping ground, in 
 fine health and spirits. Collierville is about 
 twenty-five miles west of here, and half way 
 between this place and Memphis. 
 
 The more I see of our new General the more 
 I like him. Though a West Point graduate he 
 puts on no airs. Is kind and friendly in 
 his manners, and has a great deal of good hard 
 sense. Is thirty-three years of age, but looks 
 
 56 
 
much younger. He continues me in the same 
 duties I had under General Denver, viz; ex 
 amining the records of the cases as they come 
 from the court-martial, and making up the or 
 ders thereon. 
 
 My belief in the power of our Government 
 and its ability to crush out this rebellion is 
 stronger to-day that ever it has been since the 
 war began. I believe also that this year will not 
 close before the war is finished. Everything 
 seems to be favorable to such a result. 
 
 Yesterday, a young lady, attired in black, 
 who lives near Holly Springs, Miss., came to 
 Lagrange, and claiming to have had some 
 mules stolen from her by our men, wished to 
 recover them. General Smith was very accom 
 modating and polite, and had his quartermaster 
 running about for half the day, hunting up the 
 mules. I saw her this morning in the general s 
 room and was much struck with her beauty. 
 About an hour after she left here she was 
 brought back by one of our picket guards. As 
 she was passing out of the lines, the sentinel 
 suspected that she had something under her 
 dress which ought not to be there, and upon ex 
 amination, found tied to her crinoline a pair of 
 men s boots. You may be assured the beautiful 
 57 
 
young lady was exceedingly mortified on con 
 fronting the general, who had shown her so 
 much kindness. 
 
 LAGRANGE, TENN. 
 
 APRIL 5 1863. 
 
 Have had a bilious-ague attack during the 
 past week, which has unfitted me for business, 
 though I have not been confined to my bed. 
 Am much better to-day, and think that I am 
 now fairly over it. This is my only illness 
 since that at your home, nearly two years ago. 
 
 General Smith s wife, whom he lately mar 
 ried at Bowling Green, Ky., arrived here on 
 Friday. She is tall, handsome and stylish. 
 The general and his wife, and a lieutenant 
 and his wife, have taken a house in another 
 part of the town. There is some talk that I am 
 to live with them, so as to be near the general 
 should anything need immediate attention. 
 
 LAGRANGE, TENN. 
 
 APRIL 14, 1863. 
 
 The responsibility in this court-martial busi 
 ness is more than I like to assume. Neither 
 General Smith nor his adjutant-general has any 
 knowledge of law, and they dislike the very 
 mention of court-martial business. And even 
 
 58 
 
of such questions of custom and usage in the 
 army, as their long service ought certainly to 
 qualify them to decide, they seem to know noth 
 ing, but throw it all upon me, who have been in 
 the service but a few months. This makes my 
 present position very embarrassing, and I have 
 frequently wished myself back with my regi 
 ment. For, if I make a mistake, I thereby com 
 promise the general. This was not the state of 
 things when General Denver was here. 
 
 When I wrote you last I thought I had quite 
 recovered from the ague, but I was mistaken. 
 Last evening I had another hard chill. You 
 have no idea how terribly blue these chills make 
 me. 
 
 LAGRANGE, TENN. 
 APRIL 19, 1863. 
 
 On Thursday I was ordered to Memphis to 
 attend to some business. Spent one day there 
 and returned Saturday morning. I met in 
 Memphis an old friend, Ewing Mears of In 
 dianapolis, who was there on business for a 
 house in St. Louis. 
 
 On my return to Lagrange I found that an 
 expedition against a party of Confederates col 
 lected south of the Tallahatchie River, had 
 started the day before. The force consisted of 
 
 59 
 
infantry, artillery and cavalry. All moved 
 light, without baggage, and with but five days 
 rations. General Smith commanded in person, 
 and took with him his adjutant-general, aide- 
 de-camp Williamson, and the topographical en 
 gineer. The quartermaster, commissary, Cap 
 tain Harland and myself were left behind. 
 Colonel Loomis, commanding the First Brigade, 
 is now in command of the division, Captain 
 Harland acting as assistant-adjutant-general. 
 Have heard nothing yet from the expedition, 
 and probably shall not until it returns. Wheth 
 er successful, or not, it will not bear materially 
 upon the result of the war. 
 
 LAGRANGE, TENN. 
 TUESDAY, APRIL 28, 1863. 
 
 Yours of the i8th received on Saturday, but 
 I have been too busy to reply until now. On 
 Sunday I frequently work as hard as on other 
 days. This is a very serious objection to one s 
 being in the army there is no Sunday, and no 
 church. 
 
 Do not give yourself any uneasiness in re 
 gard to my health. I think I can safely say that 
 I am rid of the ague, not having had a chill for 
 nearly two weeks. 
 
 60 
 
General Smith s expedition returned last Fri 
 day night, having been absent eight days, and 
 travelled one hundred and fifty miles. There 
 was no fighting, the enemy having scattered 
 and effected their escape. They brought in, 
 however, about three hundred mules and 
 horses. 
 
 Captain Atkinson (adjutant-general who 
 came here with General Smith) has received 
 word from the department that his resignation 
 has been accepted. He is still with us, but will 
 leave soon. He proposes to live on a farm near 
 Chicago, and engage largely in horse-raising. 
 
 Our aide-de-camp, Lieutenant Williamson of 
 the Seventy-second Ohio, which is now in the 
 Fifteenth Army Corps (General Sherman) on 
 the Mississippi River, has been ordered to the 
 regiment by his colonel. He will probably re 
 ceive the captaincy of his company, there being 
 a vacancy. Another aide, to take his place, has 
 already been detailed, Lieutenant Nelson of the 
 Seventieth Ohio Infantry. 
 
 Lieutenant-Colonel Heath, of the One-hun 
 dredth Indiana, has sent forward his resigna 
 tion ; reasons given, the poor health of his wife, 
 and the confusion of his business. I have my 
 doubts as to its acceptance. 
 61 
 
Yesterday morning, about day-break, my 
 horse and a roan mare belonging to Captain At 
 kinson got loose in the stable, and, the bars be 
 ing down, they put out. I hunted for them all 
 day, and finally, about five o clock in the after 
 noon, in the rain, took ten cavalrymen and 
 started out on the Bolivar road. At sun-down 
 we came to the house of Mr. Jones, a large 
 planter living five miles out. There we found 
 the horses, which had been caught and tied up 
 by the negroes about nine o clock in the morn 
 ing. Found also two other horses, which had 
 strayed away from Lagrange in the same way. 
 This is the second time I have almost lost my 
 horse. And what is singular is that every time 
 he gets loose, he breaks straight for the country 
 as fast as he can go, and always takes a new 
 road, one that he never saw before. 
 
 LAGRANGE, TENN. 
 
 MAY 1, 1863. 
 
 Lieutenant Nelson, Seventieth Ohio, lately 
 detailed as an aide, remained only a few days, 
 and was relieved at his own request. Lieuten 
 ant Williamson is about leaving for his regi 
 ment, and I shall be the only aide left. I heard 
 an intimation this morning that General Smith 
 
 62 
 
was about to reorganize his staff, and that I too 
 would be relieved. This would not surprise 
 me. The General, I imagine, entertains no 
 special fancy for me. I was thrown upon his 
 hands by General Denver, and I have no claim 
 whatever, upon his favor. If I do not suit him 
 I have no right to expect that I shall be re 
 tained. I have several times wished myself 
 back in my regiment, and now I am soon to be 
 gratified. 
 
 The One-hundredth Indiana was paid the 
 other day. I went to Collierville and received 
 my pay to February 28th (four months) four 
 hundred and sixty-five dollars. 
 
 COLLIERVILLE, TENN. 
 FRIDAY. MAY 7, 1863. 
 
 As anticipated in my last letter, I have been 
 relieved from duty at General Smith s head 
 quarters. Lieutenant Williamson and I were 
 relieved by the same order last Saturday. As 
 yet, there is but one aide-de-camp there to take 
 our places, Lieutenant Campbell of the Seven 
 tieth Ohio, who has been, for some time past, 
 provost marshal of Lagrange. 
 
 I returned to my regiment on Monday, and 
 the same day father arrived unexpectedly to 
 make me a visit. He left yesterday afternoon, 
 63 
 
and will probably go up the river to-night. 
 Father said he would endeavor to have me ap 
 pointed a commissary of subsistence with rank 
 of captain. This is a business position, not a 
 fighting one. I would not be on the staff, strict 
 ly speaking, but my place would be (if not as 
 signed to a post) at the headquarters of the 
 general, and my name announced in the orders 
 as one of the staff. The commissary is some 
 what independent of the general, and is as 
 signed to a division, or post, by the chief-com 
 missary of the department, or army corps. 
 
 For the present I am removed from my regi 
 ment, being detailed as judge-advocate of a 
 court-martial for our brigade, just about con 
 vening in this place. I am probably well suited 
 for this position, having been engaged, for the 
 last two months, in reviewing court-martial 
 cases. This court will likely continue two 
 months at least, if we do not move from here. 
 At the end of that time I hope father will have 
 secured for me the appointment of commissary 
 of subsistence. 
 
 The One-hundredth was out last week on a 
 scout, and the acting adjutant, Lieutenant Fast, 
 received a musket ball in the hip. It was only 
 a flesh wound, and he will soon recover. 
 
 64 
 
Captain George Nelson of the Twelfth is ap 
 plying for leave of absence for twenty days, to 
 visit his home. 
 
 I was paid to first of May on staff-roll be 
 fore leaving Lagrange. After retaining suf 
 ficient to supply my needs for some time, I sent 
 home, by father, four hundred and thirty dol 
 lars. 
 
 On Wednesday and Thursday the weather 
 here was cold enough for an overcoat. This is 
 unusual for this month in this latitude. 
 
 COLLIERVILLE, TfiNN. 
 
 TUESDAY, MAY 19, 1863. 
 
 I found your letter of the 8th here, on my re 
 turn from Memphis, where our court-martial 
 had been to take the testimony of a sick cap 
 tain of the One-hundredth Indiana. We went 
 on Saturday, and returned yesterday afternoon. 
 
 Colonel Reub. Williams of the Twelfth In 
 diana, taken prisoner at Holly Springs and late 
 ly exchanged, returned to his regiment on Sat 
 urday. Stephen Bond came down with him 
 and returned home to-day. 
 
 We had quite a scare yesterday and last 
 night. General Chalmers is south of us, nine 
 or ten miles away, with six thousand men 
 65 
 
(mounted). We feared a raid upon the rail 
 road, but could not tell exactly where it would 
 be made. We were all up and ready before 
 daybreak this morning, but were not disturbed. 
 The enemy is still hovering near, but I hardly 
 think he is willing to risk much of a fight. 
 Most of his men are conscripts. 
 
 Lieutenant-Colonel Heath s resignation, 
 founded upon private reasons, went through to 
 General Grant and was refused. 
 
 My health is now first-rate. No more ague. 
 
 ONE MILE FROM MEMPHIS, TENN. 
 MONDAY MORNING, JUNE 8, 1863. 
 
 Left Collierville yesterday at 5 A. M. and 
 reached here in the afternoon, having marched 
 with all the trains and baggage twenty-three 
 miles. This we call a splendid day s work, 
 when we consider that the brigade is out of 
 practice, and has done but little marching for 
 the past five months. The division is now all 
 in and around Memphis. They say the steam 
 boats are ready to take us down the river to 
 Vicksburg. We are waiting for orders to 
 march on board. It is possible we may not get 
 away until to-morrow. 
 
 Colonel Stoughton of the One-hundredth In- 
 
 66 
 
diana is still quite sick, and has applied for* a 
 leave of absence. 
 
 Our friends in the Twelfth Indiana are all 
 well, and the troops generally are in good 
 spirits. 
 
 My health continues excellent. 
 
 ON BOARD STEAMER BELLE MEMPHIS, 
 
 WEDNESDAY NIGHT, JUNE 10, 1863. 
 
 I wrote you last Monday morning from our 
 camp near Memphis. During the same day our 
 brigade was loaded onto the boats, and on Tues 
 day morning at 10 o clock we moved off. We 
 occupy four boats as follows; One-hundredth 
 Indiana on the B. J. Adams, Twenty-sixth Illi 
 nois on the Diana, Ninetieth Illinois on the 
 Belle Memphis. On the latter boat are Colonel 
 Loomis and his staff. Our brigade was the 
 first of the division to leave Memphis. Owing 
 to a severe storm last night, we tied up, and by 
 morning several of the fleet had caught up with 
 us, so that nearly all day we had ten steamers 
 in sight. About three o clock this afternoon the 
 Belle Memphis pushed ahead, and we soon lost 
 sight of the rest of the fleet. If nothing hap 
 pens, we shall reach Young s Point by mid- 
 67 
 
night. Shall probably land to-morrow at some 
 point up the Yazoo River. 
 
 Our boat is one of the best and fastest now 
 running on the river. We are not at all crowd 
 ed, and thus far the trip has been very com 
 fortable and pleasant. 
 
 We passed Helena yesterday afternoon at 
 half past four o clock. I saw there, for the 
 first time, a regiment of negroes. 
 
 We are now having heavy rains. Had a se 
 vere storm on Monday while in camp, and dur 
 ing Monday night, yesterday, and to-day, 
 storm has followed storm, accompanied by the 
 most terrific thunder and lightning. 
 
 Colonel Stoughton of the One-hundredth 
 was left sick in Memphis, and has a leave of 
 absence. Lieutenant Fast, who was wounded 
 some time since, has a leave of absence for 
 twenty days. 
 
 Lieutenant Jones, of Company E, One-hun 
 dredth Indiana, has been appointed major of 
 the Third Battalion of First Tennessee (Ne 
 gro) Artillery. 
 
 Perhaps you remember a German boy 
 named August Hitzfield, who used to live in 
 our family in Fort Wayne many years ago. 
 He learned to speak English with us, and 
 
 68 
 
mother taught him to read and write English. 
 He is now in Memphis, one of the firm of Mil 
 ler & Hitzfield, Wholesale Grocers and Com 
 mission Merchants, 95 Front Row. I heard 
 Monday evening that he was in Memphis, and 
 had been inquiring for me. I went immediate 
 ly to his place of business, but found it closed. 
 The next morning it rained so hard that I did 
 not leave the boat. I regret very much that I 
 did not see him. 
 
 STEAMER BELLE MEMPHIS, 
 
 JUNE 11, 1863. 
 
 Arrived at the place on the Yazoo River, 
 where supplies are landed for General Grant s 
 army, about 7 o clock this morning. Stopped 
 there some time. The G. W. Graham is with 
 us, but the other boats have not yet come up. 
 We are on our way to Haines Bluff, where 
 we will unload. 
 
 I shall send this by Colonel Lucas, Six 
 teenth Indiana, who goes north to-day. 
 
 SNYDER S BLUFF, YAZOO RIVER, Miss. 
 
 SATURDAY, JUNE 13, 1863. 
 
 I wrote you on the loth, and added a line 
 on the nth. In that letter I said we were go- 
 69 
 
ing to Haines Bluff. This was a mistake. 
 We landed at Snyder s Bluff, three miles be 
 low. Our fleet consisted of sixteen transports, 
 heavily loaded, containing at least ten thou 
 sand men. 
 
 These bluffs are very strong by nature, and 
 the Confederates had expended a great deal 
 of labor here, making them next to impreg 
 nable. You will recollect that they were not 
 taken by assault, but were evacuated by the 
 Confederates, who feared they would be cut 
 off from Vicksburg. 
 
 We are camped near the top of the ridge, 
 and have a fine view of the country and the 
 Yazoo River. Are about eighteen miles from 
 the Mississippi at the mouth of the Yazoo. 
 We can easily see, across the country, the 
 smoke of the steamers going up the Mississippi. 
 
 On the day we arrived here, there was con 
 siderable fighting in the rear of Vicksburg, as 
 we could plainly hear the artillery and mus 
 ketry of the land forces, and the shelling from 
 the mortar-boats. This continued, at inter 
 vals, during the whole day. There was firing 
 again last night. 
 
 General Grant s headquarters are in the rear 
 of Vicksburg, about the centre of his line. He 
 
 70 
 
has telegraphic communication along the 
 whole line encircling the city, and also with 
 Haines and Snyder s Bluffs, and with Chick- 
 asaw Bayou Landing, three or four miles be 
 low us. 
 
 The weather is warm, but we have a good 
 breeze and several springs of good water. My 
 impression is that this is a healthful place. 
 General Grant s army is reported very healthy. 
 
 Your letter of June ist and one from mother 
 of the 3d received yesterday. This mail was 
 brought from Memphis on General Smith s 
 boat, New Kentucky. 
 
 Lieutenant Williamson, who was with me 
 as aide to General Smith, was severely wound 
 ed in the leg, on May 3ist, in the rear of Vicks- 
 burg. Was then on General Buckland s staff. 
 He was in a sitting position, when a musket 
 ball entered the knee of the left leg and came 
 out at the hip a very dangerous wound. I 
 understand he has been sent north. 
 
 My friend Tucker has had a lift. Has been 
 detailed on General Smith s staff as division 
 quartermaster. 
 
 Our court-martial has been dissolved, and 
 I am now once more with my regiment. 
 
 Our brigade has one thousand men a day 
 71 
 
at work on the fortifications looking east. 
 With a little work we can make these bluffs 
 impregnable. We are wonderfully well pro 
 tected by steep hills and deep ravines. 
 
 Three divisions of General Hurlburt s army 
 corps are now here. The entire corps is com 
 ing to this point. We shall remain here un 
 til Vicksburg surrenders, and perhaps some 
 time after. 
 
 General Johnson cannot raise the siege 
 without first taking these bluffs, for if he goes 
 by us and attacks the besieging army, we are 
 in a fine flanking position and can close in be 
 hind him. 
 
 TREMONT HOUSE, CHICAGO, ILLS. 
 
 SUNDAY, JUNE 21, 1863. 
 
 You will wonder why I am here. On Sat 
 urday, (the 1 3th) I received notice of my ap 
 pointment by President Lincoln to the position 
 of commissary of subsistence, U. S. Volun 
 teers, with the rank of captain, dated June ist, 
 with orders to report in person to Major-Gen 
 eral Rosecrans. I also received a letter from 
 father dated June 2d, saying that he had been 
 to Washington, urging my appointment, and 
 hoping I would receive it in the course of 
 72 
 
three or four weeks, and that when I did, it 
 would be expected that I should take time 
 enough to come home to have my bond (six 
 thousand dollars) fixed up. I left the Yazoo 
 River the next Monday on the Alice Dean,* 
 and arrived at Memphis, Wednesday, at 8 p. 
 M. Thirty-five miles below Memphis we were 
 fired into by the Confederates two hundred 
 men and two pieces of artillery. The balls 
 flew uncomfortably thick, but we were not dis 
 abled, and succeeded in running by. One man 
 (a deck-hand) was shot through by a six- 
 pound ball and killed almost instantly. An 
 other was slightly wounded. One musket 
 ball passed through my stateroom, but luckily 
 I was not there. The Confederates were at 
 a bend in the river, and to clear the bar we 
 were obliged to run quite near the shore. I 
 learn that the day before, boats were fired upon 
 between Memphis and Cairo. It is getting 
 dangerous to travel on the river. 
 
 Left Memphis Thursday evening, made 
 
 * A few weeks later the Alice Dean was captured and 
 burned on the Ohio River by the troops of General John 
 Morgan on their raid through the States of Indiana and 
 Ohio. 
 
 73 
 
Cairo Friday night, and last night arrived 
 here. 
 
 Have some business to attend to to-morrow, 
 and shall reach home to-morrow night. If 
 possible, will steal a few days to visit you. I 
 imagine father knows nothing yet of my ap 
 pointment. My arrival will be a surprise. 
 
 Do not rely too much on seeing me, but if 
 it is among the possibilities, I shall be with you. 
 
 CHICAGO, ILLS. 
 SUNDAY, JULY 5, 1863. 
 
 I arrived home safely on Saturday morn 
 ing.* The only delay was at Harrisburgh, 
 where I had to change cars in the night. 
 
 As to my clerk; the railroad ticket-agent 
 objected to having his son go, and Ainsworth 
 could not tell for a few days whether he would 
 take the position, having something else just 
 then in view. So yesterday I took the train 
 for Chicago to see a young man named Moore. 
 Since arriving here, I find that he has gone to 
 Milwaukee. Shall telegraph him to meet me 
 here. In the meantime I shall be on the look 
 out for others. Am afraid I shall have trouble 
 
 * After making the visit proposed in preceding letter. 
 74 
 
finding a suitable clerk, and that my return to 
 the army will be somewhat delayed. 
 
 INDIANAPOLIS, IND. 
 
 JULY 10, 1863. 
 
 I wrote you last from Chicago. Remained 
 there until Tuesday evening in search of a 
 clerk, and succeeded, I think, in getting a very 
 good one. He is a young man with two 
 years experience in business. Writes a beau 
 tiful and rapid hand, is quick at figures, and 
 understands book-keeping. He seems to be 
 honest and reliable, and I trust, in time, will 
 make me an excellent clerk. His name is 
 John F. Degnon, and his parents reside in 
 Cleveland, Ohio. 
 
 I left Fort Wayne yesterday morning, and 
 my clerk joined me here in the afternoon. I 
 am ready to leave, and may get away this af 
 ternoon, although General Morgan, who is in 
 Indiana with eight thousand Confederates, 
 may play the deuce with the railroads, and de 
 tain me here several days. This city is in 
 great fear of him. There are no troops in the 
 State, all having been sent, a few days since, 
 to defend Louisville, Ky. The stores were 
 closed yesterday at 3 p. M., and the people 
 75 
 
turned out to drill. All officers in the city were 
 required to report at General Wilcox s head 
 quarters, I among the rest. 
 
 We are exceedingly rejoiced at the surren 
 der of Vicksburg. 
 
 My health continues good. 
 
 INDIANAPOLIS, IND. 
 
 JULY, 12, 1863. 
 
 We are still in the midst of great excite 
 ment. A bridge was burned by the Confed 
 erates at Vienna, on the Louisville Railroad, 
 and the travel on the road stopped. I under 
 stand, however, that it is now about rebuilt. 
 Shall make an attempt to go through to-mor 
 row. Leave here at 7 A. M. Several regiments 
 of militia were sent from here yesterday and to 
 day, to head off the raiders. Have heard of 
 no engagement yet. General Morgan s force 
 keeps about thirty miles from the Ohio River, 
 and seems to be moving eastward. The militia 
 of our State has turned out with very much 
 more spirit and alacrity than that of Pennsyl 
 vania. 
 
 NASHVILLE, TENN. 
 TUESDAY, JULY 14, 1863. 
 
 Left Indianapolis yesterday morning and 
 came through to Louisville all right, the 
 76 
 
bridge having been repaired. Arrived . here 
 at 6 o clock this evening. Soon after, Gen 
 eral Rosecrans and staff came in on train from 
 the front. Seems to be merely on a visit. I 
 reported to his acljutatnt-general, Lieutenant- 
 Colonel Goddard, also to the chief-commissary, 
 Lieutenant-Colonel Simmons, who ordered me 
 to proceed to Tullahoma and await his arrival 
 there. Says I will not be placed immediately 
 on duty, but will have time to get an insight 
 into the business. Seems to be a pleasant gen 
 tleman. Leave at 6 o clock in the morning. 
 
 HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND, 
 
 TULLAHOMA, TENN., FRIDAY, JULY 17, 1863. 
 
 Arrived here Wednesday noon. Am stay 
 ing with Howard Stansbury, a lieutenant in 
 the regular army and an old schoolmate, who 
 is now here in the office of the commissary of 
 musters. Besides Stansbury, I found two 
 other schoolmates on General Rosecrans 
 staff, Captain Thorns and Lieutenant Porter. 
 Gwynne Anderson and young Fleming of Fort 
 Wayne are clerks in Stansbury s office. 
 
 General Rosecrans and Colonel Simmons 
 have not returned. Look for them tomorrow. 
 Have no idea where I shall be assigned. 
 77 
 
The Thirtieth Indiana and Simonson s Bat 
 tery (Fort Wayne) are here. Have met a 
 host of friends and acquaintances, many more 
 than I expected to see. 
 
 Have not yet seen Henry, nor Montgom 
 ery Hamilton. Henry is with his battery 
 again. The company was so short of officers 
 that it was necessary he should return. The 
 battery is in General Sheridan s division on 
 the front, about twenty-five miles distant. The 
 railroad is running only to Elk River, eight 
 miles from here. Expect bridge to be finished 
 on Sunday, when trains will probably go 
 through to Stevenson, Ala. 
 
 We need not expect any fighting very soon. 
 General Bragg s army has left the State en 
 tirely. They left here in a hurry. General 
 Rosecrans had flanked them, and, but for 
 heavy rains and bad roads, would have made 
 them fight. 
 
 The members of General Rosecrans staff 
 number about sixty. 
 
 The widow of Allan Battle,* who is an 
 
 * Joel Allan Battle, Lavergne, Term. Graduated 
 from Miami University, Oxford, Ohio, 1859. Adjutant 
 Twentieth Tennessee Infantry, C. S. A., 1861-62. Killed 
 at the Battle of Shiloh, April 7, 1862. 
 
 78 
 
uncompromising sympathizer with the .Con 
 federates, and who has been traveling all over 
 the South, was picked up near here a few 
 days since by General McCook, and has been 
 sent north to remain during the war. Her 
 father, who lives in Chillicothe, Ohio, has fre 
 quently written to her to return home, but she 
 refused, preferring to stay with her husband s 
 friends. You doubtless recollect my telling 
 you of Allan Battle, a class-mate in law-school 
 in Cincinnati, during winter of 1 860-61. 
 
 TULLAHOMA, 
 
 JULY 22, 1863. 
 
 While in Nashville yesterday I saw Colonel 
 Simmons, chief-commissary, who gave me 
 orders to report to Captain Blair, post-com 
 missary at Decherd, thirteen miles south of 
 this place. My position there is only tempor 
 ary, and merely for the purpose of learning 
 from Captain Blair the duties of a commis 
 sary. 
 
 Returned from Nashville this morning, and 
 
 stopped here for my traps and for my horse, 
 
 which I bought, the other day, from Lieuten 
 
 ant Davies, an Oxford school-mate, who has 
 
 79 
 
been ordered to Columbus, Ohio, for duty in 
 the provost marshall s office. 
 
 Shall go to Decherd in the morning. Am 
 delighted with the prospect of having a stop 
 ping-place, for I am sick of running about 
 from pillar to post. 
 
 General Rosecrans and family are still in 
 Nashville. His headquarters, which were 
 here when I left, were moved yesterday to 
 Winchester, fifteen miles south. 
 
 I am staying now at headquarters of Second 
 Brigade, Johnson s division, Colonel Dodge of 
 Thirtieth Indiana commanding. Captain 
 Ed. Edsall, Thirtieth Indiana, is the acting- 
 assistant-adjutant-general for this brigade, but 
 at present he is in Murfreesboro. 
 
 NASHVILLE, TENN. 
 
 JULY 26, 1863. 
 
 Captain Blair intends putting me to issu 
 ing supplies to detachments and making sales 
 to officers at Decherd. He supplies, from 
 Decherd, three army corps, and issues only in 
 bulk. I was sent here to procure the necessary 
 articles to transact the business, viz; desk, 
 table, scales, measures, tents, stationery, etc. 
 Shall return Tuesday. 
 
 80 
 
Have not seen Henry yet. The Eighty- 
 eighth Indiana, Colonel Humphrey, is at 
 Decherd. Saw the boys yesterday. General 
 Thomas headquarters are there, and Gen 
 eral Negley s division also. Major Lowrie, 
 General Negley s adjutant-general, is a neph 
 ew of the Rev. Dr. Lowrie, of Fort Wayne. 
 Am meeting more and more old friends every 
 day. Yesterday, at Decherd, met an Oxford 
 class-mate, who is lieutenant-colonel of the 
 Fifteenth Kentucky. 
 
 Generals Crittenden and McCook have gone 
 home. Generals Rosecrans and Rousseau are 
 here. 
 
 DECHERD, TENN. 
 
 JULY 28, 1863. 
 
 I succeeded in getting in Nashville nearly 
 everything I wanted, except platform scales, 
 without which I cannot work at all. Will go 
 over in the morning to Winchester to see 
 Colonel Simmons in regard to getting them 
 for me. Shall hardly get into business before 
 the first of August. 
 
 Henry reached Nashville while I was there, 
 having been sent up after horses for his bat 
 tery. He looks well. 
 
 81 
 
Montgomery Hamilton has been sick, and 
 started home to-day on a visit. 
 
 DECHERD, TEXN. 
 
 JULY 31, 1863. 
 
 I have not yet started in business at this 
 post, and shall not, as I have to-day been or 
 dered to the Third Brigade, Fourth Division, 
 Fourteenth Army Corps. General Turchin 
 commands the brigade, General Reynolds the 
 division, and General Thomas the corps. 
 General Turchin is a Russian by birth, and 
 was formerly Colonel of the General-Staff, in 
 the Imperial Guards of Russia. I am ac 
 quainted with General Reynolds, commanding 
 the division. He is an old friend of father s. 
 Montgomery Hamilton is on his staff as volun 
 teer aide-de-camp. 
 
 The brigade moves to-morrow to a spot in 
 the mountains called University Place, about 
 twelve miles south, and a little way off the 
 railroad. It is said to be a pleasant, cool place, 
 with plenty of good water. My clerk is still 
 with me, of course, and bids fair to make a 
 very good one. 
 
 Went over to Winchester, General Rose- 
 
 82 
 
crans headquarters, to-day, and was there 
 paid up to the first of August. 
 
 Have not seen Henry since I left him in 
 Nashville. 
 
 HEADQUARTERS THIRD BRIGADE, FOURTH DIVISION, 
 FOURTEENTH CORPS, UNIVERSITY PLACE, TENN. 
 FRIDAY, AUGUST 7, 1863. 
 
 Your two letters received last Tuesday, but 
 until now I have been unable to answer them, 
 owing to the rush of business and the hard 
 work consequent upon assuming the duties of 
 my new position. Have been riding up and 
 down the mountain, fifteen to eighteen miles, 
 every day since I came up here. I joined the 
 brigade on Sunday, returned to Decherd on 
 Monday, up again on Tuesday, down on 
 Wednesday, and returned on Thursday. We 
 are encamped upon the top of the Cumberland 
 Mountains. The Second Brigade, on the site 
 of the grand Southern University that was to 
 have been, and our brigade about one and a 
 quarter miles farther south. From Decherd 
 to the foot of the mountain is four miles, up 
 the mountain two miles, and four more to the 
 University. There is also a road to Cowan, 
 seven miles. This is one of the best camping- 
 
 83 
 
grounds I know of. Near our quarters is a 
 very large spring of the clearest and finest 
 water I ever drank. The only drawback is 
 the difficulty of hauling supplies up the moun 
 tain. However, if we remain here long, they 
 will be brought to us by the railroad, which 
 runs up the mountain from Cowan to the coal 
 mines at Tracy City. General Reynolds 
 headquarters and the First Brigade (Colonel 
 Wilder) are still near Decherd. 
 
 This place is so delightful and cool that T 
 had hoped we might be permitted to spend the 
 whole summer here, but I fear it is not our 
 lot to enjoy such a luxury, as orders were re 
 ceived to-night to supply and pack ten days 
 rations for the men, and make preparations 
 for a move. This order comes from General 
 Rosecrans, and applies, I suppose, to most of 
 the army. Where we go I do not know, but 
 conjecture to the Tennessee River along the 
 line of the Memphis-and-Charleston Railroad, 
 near Stevenson, Ala. We do not expect any 
 fight nearer than Atlanta, Ga. The Confed 
 erate forces are wasting fast. Deserters from 
 their army are coming in every day. Sixteen 
 came into our camp to-day. 
 
 The commissary business was rather tough 
 
 84 
 
for me at first, owing to the fact that the bri 
 gade had just changed commanders. General 
 Crook had carried off with him his entire 
 staff, and even the sergeant who was issuing- 
 clerk in the commissary department. General 
 Turchin was a stranger to the brigade, and his 
 staff all strangers to him, except his adjutant- 
 general. Add to this, the moving of the bri 
 gade to the top of a mountain, up which the 
 teams could scarcely do more than pull empty 
 wagons, yet over which road the brigade must 
 be supplied with provisions. The prospect 
 was discouraging. But, after all, it was a good 
 thing to break me in. My citizen-clerk (Deg- 
 non) took hold admirably, and for a few days 
 we worked early and late. We are straightened 
 out now, and every thing works smoothly. 
 The old issuing-sergeant has returned, and I 
 have had two others detailed to assist him. 
 My sales to officers, this week, amount to two 
 hundred and seventy-five dollars. You did 
 not know, perhaps, that I was running a re 
 tail grocery. Have not yet been able to pro 
 cure any whisky. When I do, my sales will 
 increase largely. 
 
 Henry s battery has gone on to Stevenson. 
 It may be that, as the troops push forward, our 
 
 85 
 
brigade may come within calling distance of 
 McCook s corps, and Henry and I may meet. 
 
 UNIVERSITY PLACE, TENN., 
 THURSDAY, AUG. 13, 1863. 
 
 Everything in my department is working 
 smoothly, and I have no reason to complain. 
 The whole army is moving forward, and there 
 is a prospect of our brigade s going on Sun 
 day. 
 
 Last Saturday about eighty pounds of pow 
 der, belonging to the Twenty-first Indiana 
 Battery, exploded, through some carelessness, 
 and severely injured six men, burning them 
 horribly on faces, hands, and bodies, and 
 burning their hair to a crisp. One of the num 
 ber has since died, and others are not expect 
 ed to survive. 
 
 Spent last night in Decherd with Colonel 
 Humphrey, whose regiment, the Eighty- 
 eighth Indiana, is there. 
 
 My friend Captain Blair, commissary of 
 subsistence, is about leaving for Stevenson, 
 which is now to be the depot of supplies for 
 the army. 
 
 Raining to-day. Weather has been very 
 warm, but we have cool nights, and, take it 
 altogether, I do not think we suffer any more 
 
 86 
 
from the heat than you, who live in the far 
 north. 
 
 JASPER, TENN., 
 SATURDAY, AUG. 22, 1863. 
 
 Left the mountain last Monday. Stopped 
 one day at Stevens Cove at the foot of the 
 mountain, two days at Battle Creek, and ar 
 rived here last evening. General Reynolds is 
 here. Wilder s brigade (mounted) is at 
 Tracy City on the mountain. 
 
 Weather warm. Have been half sick for 
 past ten days, though not confined to my bed. 
 Threatened with ague and a bilious attack, sim 
 ilar to that I had last spring in Lagrange. Am 
 much better now. 
 
 Have not heard from Henry since I came to 
 this brigade. 
 
 JASPER, TENN., 
 WEDNESDAY, AUG. 26, 1863. 
 
 For the past two days I have been and am 
 still, in the officers hospital, where I can have 
 quiet and rest. My appetite has returned, and 
 I rode out this morning. Think I shall speed 
 ily recover now. It is not the hot weather that 
 bothers us so much, as it is the want of proper 
 food. Have been hard up for many supplies. 
 Yesterday our brigade-baker came, and at 
 
 87 
 
same time we received a stock of flour, so that 
 hereafter we shall have soft, instead of hard 
 bread. 
 
 General Rosecrans was over here to see us 
 yesterday, and while here received a dispatch 
 that Fort Sumter had fallen and that our forces 
 were bombarding Charleston. 
 
 JASPER, TENN., 
 SATURDAY, AUG. 29, 1863. 
 
 I returned from the hospital this morning. I 
 am well, or nearly so, and yet I have no life or 
 energy to do anything, no heart for business. 
 Every little sickness I have gives me the blues, 
 and at once puts me in the notion of getting 
 out of the service. I must have perfect health, 
 or the service is intolerable. 
 
 General McCook s corps commenced crossing 
 the river at Stevenson this morning. We shall 
 probably cross here next week. Henry is in 
 McCook s corps, and will probably cross the 
 river to-day. 
 
 SHELLMOUND, TENN., 
 WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 2, 1863. 
 
 Yesterday morning we broke camp at Jas 
 per and moved forward six miles to the river, 
 crossed on small ferry-boats, rowed by the men, 
 and camped on this side. General Reynolds 
 
 88 
 
moved his quarters over to-day, and the whole 
 division is now across. Our supply-train, with 
 rations to the 25th of this month, will be over 
 by 12 o clock to-night. 
 
 General Crittenden s corps is now at Jasper, 
 our old camp, and will cross here Friday. 
 
 Shellmound is the name of a station on the 
 Nashville-and-Chattanooga Railroad, eight 
 miles from Bridgeport and twenty-two miles 
 from Chattanooga. The railroad here runs 
 close to the bank of the Tennessee, which, by 
 the way, is a much wider and deeper stream 
 than I had expected to see. 
 
 We are now in the enemy s country with only 
 a few miles between us and him. There can 
 be no retreating now, as it would be folly to 
 attempt to recross the river in a hurry. 
 
 Our forces intend rebuilding the large rail 
 road bridge at Bridgeport, burned by General 
 Bragg in his retreat. 
 
 I have about regained my health. 
 
 TRENTON, GEORGIA, 
 MONDAY, SEPT, 7, 1863. 
 
 We marched from Shellmound, Tenn. on the 
 3d, and crossed Sand Mountain, camped one 
 day at the foot, and moved on five miles to this 
 place. In the evening of the day we arrived I 
 
 89 
 
happened to be riding out and came across Gen 
 eral Sheridan s division, which had just ar 
 rived from Bridgeport. Henry is in this divi 
 sion and I immediately looked him up. He is 
 well and hearty. His division left the next 
 day (yesterday) at noon, going up the valley 
 sixteen miles to Valley Head. He belongs to 
 General McCook s corps, which is moving 
 towards Rome. 
 
 General Thomas, our corps-commander, has 
 his headquarters about two miles from here on 
 the Bridgeport road. General Rosecrans, with 
 a portion of his staff, arrived last evening. He 
 will probably establish his headquarters here 
 for a while. 
 
 Trenton is the county-seat of Bade County. 
 Has two churches, three stores, court-house, 
 mill, and blacksmith shop. It is eighteen miles 
 southwest of Chattanooga, and is connected 
 with the latter place by a good railroad, which 
 is finished only to this place, but was intended 
 to run to some point in Alabama. We cap 
 tured, at the station, one hundred bushels of 
 fine salt, belonging to the State of Georgia, and 
 intended for distribution among the families of 
 the soldiers. 
 
 This movement is a very bold one, and we 
 
 90 
 
are getting a long way from our supplies. 
 When we cross Lookout Mountain in front of 
 us, and get into the Chattanooga Valley, there 
 will be two mountains, and more than twenty 
 miles between us and Bridgeport, over which 
 we must wagon our supplies. 
 
 Our corps is up to time, but that of General 
 McCook is behind. He should have been at 
 Valley Head, Sept. 4th. His destination, as I 
 said before, is Rome. General Crittenden s 
 corps is on our left, moving along the railroad 
 to Chattanooga. Our division will probably 
 move up the valley to-morrow and cross Look 
 out Mountain at the first gap. We shall then 
 be in the rear of Chattanooga and near the rail 
 road from there to Atlanta. We are on the 
 eve of great events. 
 
 P. S. Sept. 9. Still at Trenton. Cannot 
 say when we shall move. It is supposed that 
 General Bragg s forces are evacuating Chatta 
 nooga. 
 
 IN THE FIELD, GEORGIA, 
 WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 16, 1863. 
 
 We left Trenton last Thursday. Crossed 
 Lookout Mountain on Friday. As we came 
 lown to the foot of the mountain had a skir- 
 
 91 
 
mish with the enemy. Bullets whistled freely 
 over our heads. Had one man wounded in the 
 arm. That night our pickets captured three 
 Confederate cavalrymen. 
 
 On Monday moved four miles forward to 
 this point. The Confederates hold the gaps in 
 the hills just in front of us. Our pickets and 
 theirs are not three hundred yards apart. Gen 
 eral Turchin, with infantry and artillery, went 
 out this morning to drive the enemy into the 
 gap. Have not heard from him yet. 
 
 Colonel Wilder s mounted brigade, which 
 belongs to this division, has joined us again. 
 
 General Crittenden s corps is on our left, his 
 pickets touching ours. Headquarters of Gen 
 erals Rosecrans and Thomas are four or five 
 miles back. General McCook s corps was ten 
 miles to our right, but I understand it has been 
 ordered back to join us. The other divisions of 
 our corps are immediately on the right of ours. 
 
 We are about sixteen miles from Chatta 
 nooga, a little west of south. 
 
 Some of our officers expect a heavy battle 
 with the Confederates. 
 
 As we came down Lookout Mountain, had 
 a splendid view of a fight going on between 
 General Negley s division and the Confeder- 
 92 
 
ates, in the valley, about seven miles away.- We 
 could plainly hear the cannonading, and could 
 see the flashes and the smoke from the guns. 
 It was a fine sight, especially when viewed at 
 so safe a distance. 
 
 CHATTANOOGA, TENN. 
 SUNDAY, SEPT. 27, 1863*. 
 
 I am ashamed that my last letter was dated 
 a long time ago the i6th. My excuse is that 
 we have been so unsettled that there has been 
 scarcely any opportunity to write. 
 
 I shall not attempt to describe the battle 
 (Chickamauga). The newspapers have told the 
 story better than I could. Our experiences 
 have been of the roughest kind on the march 
 from four o clock p. M. on the i8th, until the 
 next morning then a hard fight for two days, 
 and a retreat of ten miles to Chattanooga. For 
 four days and nights, I never took off my 
 clothes. The troops are now in Chattanooga 
 and have fortified the place, and I think will 
 hold it. Our trains are across the river for 
 safety. 
 
 I saw Henry with his guns in position on 
 Sunday morning, a few minutes before the sec 
 ond day s fight began. After our lines were 
 93 
 
broken and the trains were ordered to Chatta 
 nooga, I heard, through Captain Edsall, that 
 Henry was wounded in the right wrist. I 
 turned back and tried to find him, but failed. 
 Saw him here the next morning and took him to 
 the officers hospital, where his wound was 
 dressed. Telegraphed home to father that he 
 was safe, but wounded. He was sent on Tues 
 day to Bridgeport. Will probably go home as 
 soon as he is able. The wound was by musket 
 ball, and the bones of the wrist are injured. 
 Even if he does not lose his hand, his fingers 
 will probably be stiff and his hand of little use. 
 Henry had two guns under his charge, which 
 were more hotly engaged than the rest of the 
 battery. The enemy got his guns. Captain 
 Sutermeister, Eleventh Indiana Battery, says 
 Henry fought bravely and stood his ground to 
 the very last, and that it was impossible to 
 save his guns. Says the order was given to 
 withdraw, but thinks Henry did not receive it. 
 The men of the battery are warm in their praise 
 of Henry s bravery, and say he fired the guns 
 himself, after his men had left them. 
 
 General Reynolds division stood like a 
 stone wall all through both days fight. Gen 
 eral Turchin, commanding our brigade, did 
 94 
 
splendidly. Was all the time in the thickest of 
 the battle, yet so well did he handle the brigade 
 that its loss was comparatively small. Turchin 
 led in every charge, hat in hand. His men 
 are warmly attached to him since this fight. 
 He has been with them only since the first of 
 August. I understand the newspaper corre 
 spondents are giving Reynolds and Turchin 
 great praise for their fighting. They deserve 
 it. 
 
 Captain Lefevre, Eighty-eighth Indiana, 
 and Lieutenant Phelps, Thirtieth Indiana, from 
 Fort Wayne, were badly wounded, and are 
 either prisoners, or dead. All others from 
 Fort Wayne, including Calvin Anderson, are 
 safe, and so are all my acquaintances, so far as 
 heard from. 
 
 No knowing how long we shall remain here. 
 Are strongly fortified, but all our supplies have 
 to be hauled in wagons from Stevenson. The 
 railroad will not be opened until the first of 
 November. 
 
 CHATTANOOGA, TENN., 
 MONDAY, OCT. 5., 1863. 
 
 Your letters of Sept. I7th and 2ist were re 
 ceived last week and should have been an- 
 95 
 
swered sooner, but really I have been so occu 
 pied, day and night, with my reports (which I 
 had no opportunity to make out when on the 
 march), that I have had scarcely a moment s 
 time. 
 
 Have not heard from Henry since he left. 
 Suppose he is now at home. My last letter 
 from home, dated Sept. 23d, said that my tele 
 graphic dispatch sent Monday morning (2ist) 
 was received Tuesday, and up to that date, was 
 the only news received as to the welfare of any 
 one from Fort Wayne, engaged in the Chicka- 
 mauga fight. 
 
 Captain Sutermeister (Eleventh Indiana 
 Battery) says Henry was in a very hot place 
 during Sunday s fight, that ten of the horses of 
 his section were shot, and five of his six drivers 
 were wounded, that Henry sighted the last 
 three shots himself, and fired at short range, 
 with canister, lengthwise into a regiment of 
 Confederates advancing on his left, mowing 
 them down awfully, and some of the men say, 
 bringing down the colors each time. While he 
 was doing this, the enemy came upon him on 
 his right and compelled him to abandon his 
 guns. It was just after he had mounted his 
 horse to ride away that he was shot in the right 
 
 96 
 
wrist by a musket-ball, and the corporal, who 
 tied a handkerchief above the wound, was in 
 stantly killed as he turned away from him. 
 
 Our position here, at present, is a very crit 
 ical one. The Confederates have been shelling 
 us vigorously all day with long-range guns, and 
 their camp fires are plainly seen upon the hills 
 about us. The river has risen, from the late 
 rain, and washed away our trestle-bridges, and 
 our pontoon-bridge is not yet finished, though 
 we hope it will be to-morrow. The troops, 
 horses, and mules are on half rations. All our 
 surplus horses and one third the battery horses 
 have been sent to Bridgeport, where horse-feed 
 is plenty. There is not an ear of corn anywhere 
 about here, for more than twenty-five miles. All 
 our rations and forage are hauled in wagons 
 from Stevenson, forty-two miles, and over a 
 mountain. Last week the enemy s cavalry cap 
 tured and burned fifty of our wagons, between 
 here and Stevenson, loaded with corn and quar 
 termaster s stores (clothing and shoes). Our 
 railroad will not be open before the first of No 
 vember. We hope to hold the place, but if we 
 do, we must stand a great deal of shelling, and 
 go several days hungry. Our reinforcements, 
 
 97 
 
we are told, are near at hand, and we trust they 
 will be able to help us in opening up communi 
 cations and increasing the supply of food. 
 
 General Thomas, you will see by the papers, 
 was the great man in our late battle. He stands 
 very high with the army. 
 
 My impression is that we shall be able to 
 hold our position here, and will not be forced 
 to retreat across the river. 
 
 CHATTANOOGA, TENN. 
 MONDAY, OCT. 12, 1863. 
 
 Henry, I suppose, is at home, as I heard that 
 he had obtained a leave of absence for twenty 
 days, at Nashville, on the 28th September. 
 
 All is quiet here, and we manage to get 
 enough to eat. 
 
 The only thing of interest just now is the 
 entire reorganization of this army, now taking 
 place. I cannot tell you much about it, as there 
 is an order against giving such information. 
 Suffice to say, that our old division is broken 
 up, and General Reynolds is chief of staff to 
 General Rosecrans, a very prominent and re 
 sponsible position. General Turchin s brigade 
 has been enlarged by several regiments. All 
 
 98 
 
regiments of the brigade are now Ohio troops, 
 except one (Eighty-second Indiana). Ours is 
 the First Brigade, Third Division, Fourteenth 
 Army Corps. General Baird commands the di 
 vision, and General Thomas the corps. I shall 
 probably continue with General Turchin, as he 
 has requested that his staff-organization remain 
 the same. Among all the changes that have tak 
 en place, it is probable that I might have secured 
 a place with a division. But taken all in all, I 
 prefer being with the old brigade, and with 
 General Turchin, whom I like very much. 
 
 HEADQUARTERS FIRST BRIGADE, THIRD DIVISION, 
 
 FOURTEENTH CORPS, CHATTANOOGA, TENN. 
 
 OCT. 15, 1863. 
 
 I have made up my mind to retire from the 
 service some time during the winter. Learned 
 lately that the Government looks upon quarter 
 masters, commissaries, and paymasters, as citi 
 zens, rather than as soldiers, and that they have 
 rights and privileges, which soldiers have not. 
 I have no doubt at all that I can resign when 
 ever I wish, and that too, without giving a 
 reason. So about the first of January I shall 
 express my desire to retire. 
 
 99 
 
A letter from home says Henry arrived there 
 on the 2d of the month. 
 
 Received a letter yesterday from friend 
 Tucker, formerly quartermaster of my old reg 
 iment. He is now in Louisville, Ky., superin 
 tending the building of a railroad for the Gov 
 ernment. He was appointed captain and as 
 sistant-quartermaster by the President, Aug. 
 1 3th, about two and a half months after I re 
 ceived my commissary appointment. 
 
 It has rained here continuously for three 
 days and nights - - mud deep, roads bad, and 
 river rising rapidly. 
 
 Since I last wrote, I received orders assigning 
 me to a brigade in General Rousseau s division, 
 but General Turchin insisted that I should re 
 main with him, which I was glad to do, having 
 become acquainted with the officers of the bri 
 gade, and got everything into good running 
 order. My orders will therefore be changed, 
 and I shall continue with General Turchin. 
 
 We moved our headquarters to-day into a 
 large two-story brick house, lately occupied by 
 General Negley. My office is on the second 
 floor, and I have a store-room down town, from 
 which supplies are issued. 
 
 Our brigade has seven regiments, viz ; Elev- 
 100 
 
enth, Seventeenth, Thirty-first, Thirty-sixth, 
 Eighty-ninth, Ninety-second Ohio, and 
 Eighty-second Indiana. 
 
 CHATTANOOGA, TENN. 
 
 OCT. 28, 1863. 
 
 I am surprised that you believe me to have 
 been in the fight at Chickamauga. Where did 
 you get that impression? I was around as a 
 commissary of subsistence, here and there, 
 along the lines, on both days, but always a lit 
 tle in the rear, and when the bullets began to 
 whistle close to me and the shells to burst over 
 my head, I remembered that I had an engage 
 ment elsewhere. Besides, I had too much re 
 gard for my health to remain where they were 
 burning so much gunpowder. Do not fear 
 that I shall expose myself unnecessarily. My 
 bravery is not of the reckless kind. 
 
 I shall start my resignation papers in a few 
 days, but it will require nearly a month for 
 them to go to Washington and return, and then 
 ten days more to settle my accounts, so that I 
 shall probably not reach home before the mid 
 dle of December. 
 
 A letter from home says Henry s wound is 
 doing well. 
 
 101 
 
General Grant is here. General Thomas has 
 the position of General Rosecrans, and Gen 
 eral Palmer that of General Thomas (the Four 
 teenth Corps). General Hooker came in to 
 day. His army is just below here, on this side 
 of the river. All quiet. Troops on half ra 
 tions. 
 
 CHATTANOOGA, TENN. 
 
 Nov. 3, 1863. 
 
 How strange and how amusing that you 
 should continue to believe that I was in the 
 battle of Chickamauga, and more than that, 
 that I was trying to deceive you in regard to 
 the fact. Who in the world could have started 
 the story of my "bravery " and "reckless daring" 
 in the late battle ? The Meeker girls commend 
 ed my bravery, did they ? Bless their hearts ! I 
 venture to say that they, in their parlor, were 
 not in a much safer position than was I dur 
 ing the battle of Chickamauga. I almost be 
 lieve that all your talk of bravery has been in 
 irony. 
 
 General Turchin s brigade (ours) has again 
 been engaged in daring and dangerous business. 
 On the night of October 25th., Turchin s and 
 
 102 
 
Hazen s brigades crossed the river five miles 
 below here in the face of the enemy, secured 
 the hills on the other side, and threw over a 
 pontoon-bridge, which we now hold and use. 
 Our brigade returned to-day. The bridge is 
 now covered by General Hooker s army. Tur- 
 chin, by the way, as you must know, is a very 
 popular general and very much relied on at 
 headquarters. If there is any hard and dan 
 gerous work to be done, Turchin is always as 
 signed to a share of it. 
 
 Lately the high water and drift-wood swept 
 away our pontoons, but they were repaired to 
 day. The river is falling. 
 
 Our rations are now brought by steamboats 
 (two) from Bridgeport to Kelly s Ferry, eight 
 miles below here, thence to Chattanooga by 
 wagons, crossing the river twice on pontoons. 
 General Turchin s crossing, and the movement 
 by General Hooker s army opened up this new 
 route. We hope now to keep well supplied. 
 
 My reports for August and September were 
 forwarded to Washington some time since, 
 and before they were mailed, were examined 
 by Lieutenant-Colonel Paul, our corps-commis 
 sary, who pronounced them "all correct and up 
 
 103 
 
snug." Am now at work on October papers, 
 and shall have them off in about a week. 
 
 In accordance with the intention expressed in 
 my last letter, I sent forward my resignation 
 on the first day of November. When it 
 reached department-headquarters, it was re 
 ferred to Lieutenant-Colonel Simmons, chief- 
 commissary. I saw Colonel Simmons this 
 evening. He says he cannot approve it, but on 
 the contrary, he should disapprove it, insisting 
 that this army could not spare a single commis 
 sary at present. He urged me to hold on until 
 the present campaign was over, or at least un 
 til the emergency of short rations was past. I 
 agreed to remain until matters were a little 
 easier. Colonel Simmons will, therefore, hold 
 my resignation until I see him again. Thus 
 the matter rests. I concluded (wisely I think) 
 that it was better to fall in with Colonel Sim 
 mons views than to incur his displeasure by 
 insisting that he forward my resignation now. 
 His disapproval would kill it. I feel confident, 
 however, that I shall be able to get out of the 
 service between now and New Year s. 
 
 The Confederates shell us every day. The 
 shells burst above our house, and around it in 
 
 104 
 
every direction, but so far none has struck the 
 building. 
 
 CHATTANOOGA, TENN. 
 THURSDAY, Nov, 12, 1863. 
 
 Referring to my book, I find I have not writ 
 ten you since the 3d of this month. Please par 
 don this neglect. I have been extremely busy 
 getting off my papers for October. 
 
 My citizen clerk started north yesterday and 
 I am left alone. Captain Robbins, our bri 
 gade provost marshall, has been quite sick for 
 the past month and has gone home on sick- 
 leave. My clerk, who has been very home 
 sick, determined to accompany him. I am 
 sorry to lose him just now, for if my resigna 
 tion should be accepted, I might be delayed 
 somewhat in looking up a clerk to close my ac 
 counts. 
 
 Have done nothing more towards getting 
 my resignation through, but shall attend to it 
 to-morrow, or next day. I assure you I shall 
 do everything in my power to achieve success, 
 for I am very anxious to return to civil life. 
 My prospects for a good business position de 
 mand that I should be at home before the first 
 of January. 
 
 Resignations here are quite common. Many 
 
 105 
 
of my friends and acquaintances have retired. 
 Colonel Lane, Eleventh Ohio, of our brigade; 
 Colonel Humphrey, Eighty-eighth Indiana; 
 and Captain Edsall, Thirtieth Indiana; the 
 first two for business reasons, the third on ac 
 count of poor health. 
 
 The long-wished-for paymasters have ar 
 rived, and in the course of a week our troops 
 will be paid up to 3ist of October. 
 
 Our communications with the North are now 
 very good; railroad to Bridgeport, steamboat 
 to Kelly s Ferry, eight miles below here, thence 
 to Chattanooga in wagons. Boats cannot run 
 up to this place because of the enemy s bat 
 teries on Lookout Mountain. Rations are com 
 ing up very well. Our next issue will be full 
 rations. 
 
 I am sorry that I cannot accept your invita 
 tion to Thanksgiving dinner. Uncle Sam has 
 a prior claim upon my time and will insist on 
 my remaining here and dining with his happy 
 family. 
 
 CHATTANOOGA, TENN. 
 SUNDAY, Nov. 15, 1863. 
 
 Lieutenant Porter at headquarters told me 
 that Henry s resignation has been received. I 
 
 106 
 
am glad Henry has resigned, for, with a lame 
 right hand, the service would be a hard life in 
 deed. 
 
 I met on the street to-day Arthur Reed, 
 nephew to Hugh B. Reed. He has a stock of 
 goods at Nashville, and is trying to arrange to 
 ship a portion to this point for sale. 
 
 Received three months pay to-day. 
 
 If my resignation leaves here by i8th No 
 vember, I ought to get it back by 8th Decem 
 ber. I shall then be relieved from duty, and 
 eight or ten days will be required to finish up 
 my papers. I shall consider myself extremely 
 fortunate if I get away as soon as the 2Oth of 
 December. 
 
 Weather good. Troops still on three-quarter 
 rations. 
 
 Everything points to a movement of some 
 kind to-morrow. 
 
 There is a report that General Sherman s 
 army, with my old regiment, One-hundredth 
 Indiana, has reached Stevenson. 
 
 CHATTANOOGA, TENN. 
 THURSDAY, Nov. 19, 1863. 
 
 I saw Lieutenant-Colonel Simmons to-day 
 and had him approve my resignation, which I 
 
 107 
 
then took myself to department headquarters. 
 It will start for Washington in to-morrow s 
 mail. If acted on there immediately, an an 
 swer may be expected about loth December. 
 The resignation was dated Oct. 3ist, and was 
 forwarded, without comment, through the dif 
 ferent headquarters. On reaching department 
 headquarters it was referred to Lieutenant- 
 Colonel Simmons, chief-commissary. His en 
 dorsement was dated to-day, and was in these 
 words; "Respectfully forwarded, approved. I 
 have detained this paper some time, in hopes I 
 might be able to persuade Captain Williams to 
 withdraw it, but without avail." This endorse 
 ment shows that I was worth to the commis 
 sary department at least a small effort to per 
 suade me to remain. They thought at depart 
 ment headquarters that it would probably be 
 accepted at Washington. 
 
 The reasons I set forth were; 
 " First: General ill health, occasioned by fre 
 quent derangement in the action of the liver 
 and digestive organs, renders me unfit for 
 service in the field. 
 
 Second : Matters at home of a private and 
 delicate nature, which require my personal 
 attention, render it not only desirable, but 
 
 108 
 
make it an absolute duty, that I should at once 
 withdraw from the service." 
 
 CHATTANOOGA, TENN. 
 FRIDAY, Nov. 27, 1863. 
 
 The last few days have been eventful for this 
 army. On the 23d, about noon, the entire army 
 moved out to the line of our out-posts, and 
 drew the fire of the enemy s batteries on Mis 
 sionary Ridge. On the 24th all was quiet in 
 front, but on the right General Hooker 
 stormed and took Lookout Point, and General 
 Sherman crossed the river on our extreme left, 
 at the point where Missionary Ridge touches 
 it. On the 25th General Sherman opened the 
 fight on the left and kept it up until after noon. 
 At 3 o clock p. M. the Army of the Cumberland 
 moved in the centre toward the Ridge, drove 
 the Confederates from their breastworks at the 
 foot of the hills, and steadily climbed the steeps, 
 without a single halt. In one hour and a half 
 from the time they started, they were on the 
 top, completely routing the Confederates, and 
 capturing thirty-five pieces of artillery and 
 thousands of prisoners. It was the most bril 
 liant feat of arms during the war. With hun 
 dreds of other spectators I stood upon the para- 
 109 
 
pet of Fort Wood and enjoyed a magnificent 
 view of the whole battle a grand panorama. 
 The day was clear and bright, and with the aid 
 of a glass, our flags and our bayonets could be 
 seen slowly and surely climbing their way to 
 the top. I might continue in the service all my 
 life and never have such a fine view of a battle 
 again. 
 
 General Turchin and staff are safe. The bri 
 gade has now gone in pursuit of the enemy. 
 Turchin s brigade alone captured ten pieces of 
 artillery. 
 
 Our forces lost heavily in officers. I rode 
 over the battle-field yesterday, and went to the 
 extreme left where Sherman s army was en 
 gaged. My old brigade, Colonel Loomis com 
 manding, was in the fight. Did not see them, 
 for they had gone in pursuit of the enemy, but 
 in the hospital, nearby, I found many of my 
 officer-friends, lying wounded. Lieutenant- 
 Colonel Heath, wounded in the breast by a 
 shell, and one captain and three lieutenants 
 wounded, all of the One-hundredth Indiana. 
 Captain Harlan of the One-hundredth was 
 killed. Of the Twelfth Indiana, Captain Ave- 
 line and Casper Miller (brother to George Mil- 
 no 
 
ler), both of Fort Wayne, were killed. The 
 wounded were three captains, one lieutenant, 
 and Lucien Barbour of Fort Wayne. The lat 
 ter was shot in the cheek, carrying away a part 
 of the lower jaw and three teeth. The field- 
 officers and Captain Nelson, Lieutenant Go- 
 down, and Jim Bird are safe. Captain Nelson 
 is said to have behaved very bravely. I also 
 saw Adjutant Bond, who was struck on the 
 head by a splinter from a tree, and for a while 
 rendered unconscious. He will doubtless re 
 cover. I found several officers, whom I knew 
 when in General Sherman s army, viz; Brig 
 adier-General Corse, formerly Lieutenant- 
 Colonel of the Sixth Iowa, Lieutenant-Colonel 
 Gilmore, of the Twenty-sixth Illinois, and 
 Major Ennis, of the Sixth Iowa. My old bri 
 gade is in Ewing s division. 
 
 I saw Captain Aveline s grave. He was 
 killed instantly by a ball through the head. 
 
 I have not attempted any description of the 
 battle, but refer you to the newspaper accounts. 
 Our victory was complete, and the results must 
 be very important. We cannot any longer at 
 tribute General Grant s success chiefly to good 
 luck. Our prisoners number six thousand 
 five hundred, and are still coming in. 
 ill 
 
Three steamboats are now running between 
 Chattanooga and Bridgeport. 
 
 Henry s resignation was accepted on the 23d. 
 
 CHATTANOOGA, TENN. 
 TUESDAY, DEC. 8, 1863. 
 
 Stephen Bond has been here, and has taken 
 home with him his brother, Adjutant Bond, 
 who was slightly wounded, and is now doing 
 well. Mr. Barbour also came for his wounded 
 son, and Mr. Aveline for the body of his son, 
 Captain Aveline. They left, two or three days 
 ago. 
 
 The Twelfth and One-hundredth went with 
 General Sherman to the relief of General Burn- 
 side at Knoxville. 
 
 Day before yesterday General Turchin, with 
 his staff, went to the top of Lookout Mountain. 
 Splendid view. The Confederates from that 
 point could see everything we did. We saw 
 .there General Hooker, who, for the first time, 
 went up to take a view of the ground he had 
 so gallantly fought over, on the 24th Novem 
 ber. 
 
 CHATTANOOGA, TENN. 
 SUNDAY, DEC. 13, 1863. 
 
 Father writes that Henry intends to sail for 
 Europe on the 16th with Mr. Judd of Chicago, 
 112 
 
our Minister to Berlin. Henry will join Mont 
 gomery Hamilton, and they will study at some 
 German University during the winter. 
 
 Being without a clerk, I made out alone my 
 reports for last month. My business is so sys 
 tematized that I can get along fully as well now 
 without a clerk as I did formerly with one. 
 
 My friend Tucker, assistant-quartermaster, 
 is now in the Railroad department at Nashville. 
 
 Nothing new here. All quiet. 
 
 CHATTANOOGA, TENN. 
 SATURDAY, DEC. 19, 1863. 
 
 Our old brigade passed through here yester 
 day on their way from Knoxville to Bridge 
 port. These troops have seen very hard ser 
 vice, having marched almost constantly since 
 leaving Memphis, making in all, between seven 
 and eight hundred miles. The men have but 
 one blanket each, are without overcoats, and 
 many are barefooted, and this too, when the 
 weather is cold enough to freeze hard every 
 night. The march from here to Knoxville was 
 made without wagons, and the men therefore 
 had no tents to protect them, and no utensils to 
 cook with. During the last three weeks only 
 four days rations were issued to them, the bal- 
 
 113 
 
ance being taken from the country (destitute as 
 it is), through which they passed. Yet, I am 
 told, the men stood it all without a murmur. 
 Such suffering was necessary to save Burn- 
 side and Knoxville. The privations of our 
 brave men were, as we now know, not endured 
 in vain. 
 
 The officers say the most of the people be 
 tween here and Knoxville are undoubtedly 
 loyal. 
 
 Colonel Loomis, commanding brigade, Col 
 onel Williams (Twelfth), Major Johnson 
 (One-hundredth), and other officers (ten in 
 all) took dinner with me yesterday. Major 
 Johnson and five others stayed with me all 
 night. I also met Major Baldwin and Lieuten 
 ant Godown of the Twelfth, but missed seeing 
 Captain Nelson. Colonel Williams spoke in 
 the highest praise of the conduct of Captains 
 Nelson and Aveline in the late fight, and Col 
 onel Loomis commended in the warmest 
 terms the good behavior of the One-hundredth 
 during the battle. 
 
 The men look hardy and well, but are some 
 what pulled down by their severe march. 
 
 It is not known exactly where the brigade 
 114 
 
will winter. I suppose at Bridgeport, or Hunts- 
 ville. 
 
 CHATTANOOGA, TENN. 
 
 DEC. 30, 1863. 
 
 On the 23d my resignation papers were re 
 turned from Washington to General Thomas 
 with an endorsement requesting that I be re 
 lieved from duty in order that I might settle my 
 accounts. Yesterday I received General 
 Thomas order relieving me from duty. Lieu 
 tenant Donahoe, formerly acting-commissary 
 of the brigade, which was merged into ours, 
 takes my place to-morrow. After I settle my 
 accounts, which will require five or six days, I 
 shall have nothing to do but await the accept 
 ance of my resignation. I shall, therefore, 
 probably obtain a leave of absence. May go to 
 Nashville to visit my friend Tucker, captain 
 and assistant-quartermaster, and perhaps to 
 Louisville. 
 
 * 
 
 CHATTANOOGA. TENN. 
 WEDNESDAY, JAN. 6, 1864. 
 
 My successor entered upon duty on the 3ist 
 December, and since then I have been busily 
 engaged, straightening out my business. My 
 115 
 
clerk, who has been absent since Nov. loth, re 
 turned last night. He will remain with me 
 until my papers are completed. After that, he 
 will go to Captain Blair, depot commissary at 
 Bridgeport. By the loth I hope to have my 
 accounts off. Shall then ask for a leave of ab 
 sence, to await the result of my resignation. I 
 might go straight to Fort Wayne, but I have 
 two horses (one Henry s, the other mine) to 
 dispose of, either to sell or, if possible, to take 
 north. This will require some little time and 
 management. 
 
 CHATTANOOGA, TENN. 
 WEDNESDAY, JAN. 13, 1864. 
 
 My accounts were finished last night and 
 mailed to-day. I shall re-forward my resigna 
 tion, and the acceptance of it will probably 
 reach here between the 5th and loth of Feb 
 ruary, until which time I am still an officer and 
 receive pay as such. 
 
 There is nothing for me to do here, and I 
 can, if I choose, obtain a leave of absence. I 
 shall wait, however, until one of Henry s 
 horses, out at Pikeville (sixty miles), which I 
 have sent for, comes in, and has been disposed 
 of. Henry s other horse and my mare cannot 
 
 116 
 
be sold here to any advantage, and I shall there 
 fore try hard to take them north. 
 
 Railroad-trains are expected to run here in 
 a few days. 
 
 I am still staying at the headquarters of 
 General Turchin. 
 
 CHATTANOOGA, TENN. 
 TUESDAY, JAN. 19, 1864. 
 
 I have asked for a leave of absence for 
 twenty days, while awaiting the action of the 
 Secretary of War upon my resignation. 
 
 Have also applied for permission to take 
 home with me two horses, which I trust will 
 be granted. The horses will make my trip 
 home slow and tedious, as I wish to attend per 
 sonally to their shipment from point to point. 
 Hope to get away from here by Thursday. 
 
 The railroad was finished to this place on the 
 1 4th, and since then supplies have been arriv 
 ing in great abundance. Passenger-trains are 
 now running regularly between Nashville and 
 Chattanooga. There is much energy manifest 
 ed since General Grant took command. 
 
 NASHVILLE, TENN. 
 MONDAY, JAN. 25, 1864. 
 
 I obtained leave of absence for twenty days, 
 beginning on the 23d, and if notice of the ac- 
 117 
 
ceptance of my resignation does not reach Chat 
 tanooga, at the expiration of that time, I shall 
 have it extended, from time to time, until the 
 matter is definitely settled. Left Chattanooga 
 with my horses at five o clock Saturday morn 
 ing. Reached here Sunday morning. Am 
 waiting here for an opportunity to ship the 
 horses to Louisville. All the trains are run 
 ning full with veteran soldiers, going home on 
 furlough. May have to wait here a day or two 
 longer. 
 
 My friend, Captain Tucker, assistant-quar 
 termaster, is here on duty at the railroad de 
 pot. I am staying with him, which makes it 
 pleasant for me. As usual, I have run across 
 many old acquaintances. Met this morning 
 Charles De Graw, of New Jersey, now a lieu 
 tenant in the Thirteenth United States Infan 
 try. I was with him in the Edgehill school, at 
 Princeton, more than ten years ago, and had 
 never seen him from that time until now. 
 
 LOUISVILLE, KY. 
 THURSDAY, JAN. 28, 1864. 
 
 The horses were shipped from Nashville, 
 Tuesday, on steamboat America, with the Sev 
 enty-fourth Ohio. Yesterday I came here by 
 
 118 
 
train. The boat bringing the horses will hardly 
 reach here before Saturday or Sunday. 
 
 CINCINNATI, OHIO, 
 WEDNESDAY, FEB. 3, 1864. 
 
 When ill Louisville, I thought of going home 
 by way of Indianapolis. Afterwards conclud 
 ed it would be more convenient to ship the 
 horses from here, so I let them come through 
 on the same boat on which I placed them at 
 Nashville, and I followed on the mail-boat, ar 
 riving here Monday morning. Shipped horses 
 to-day to Lima, Ohio, and I shall start in the 
 morning at seven o clock. 
 
 Have put in the time pleasantly, visiting 
 friends. 
 
 FORT WAYNE, IND. 
 FRIDAY, FEB. 5, 1864. 
 
 Left Cincinnati yesterday morning, and 
 reached home at ten o clock at night (on a 
 freight train with the horses from Lima). 
 
 After being thirteen days on the way with 
 my horses, I am here all safe and sound. I 
 hope I am thankful for the good providence 
 that has attended me during the long seven 
 teen months of army life. 
 119 
 
COMPILED FROM THE RECORDS 
 
 of the 
 
 WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, 
 D. C. 
 
 Edward P. Williams entered service as First 
 Lieutenant and Adjutant of the One-hundredth 
 Indiana Volunteer Infantry, Aug. 28, 1862. 
 Regiment organized at Fort Wayne, Ind., and 
 mustered in, Sept. 10, 1862. Left State for 
 Memphis, Term., Nov. 10, 1862. Attached to 
 Second Brigade, District of Memphis, Thir 
 teenth Corps, Department of the Tennessee, 
 November and December 1862. First Brigade, 
 First Division, Right Wing, Thirteenth Corps, 
 Army of the Tennessee to January, 1863. First 
 Brigade, First Division, Sixteenth Corps, 
 Army of the Tennessee, to June, 1863. Served 
 detached as aide-de-camp to Colonel John A. 
 McDowell commanding First Brigade, Jan. i, 
 1863 to Feb. 28, 1863, and on staffs of Generals 
 J. W. Denver and W. Sooy Smith, command 
 ing First Division, Sixteenth Corps, to June, 
 1863. 
 
 SERVICE. 
 
 General Grant s Central Mississippi cam 
 paign, operations on the Mississippi-Central- 
 120 
 
Railroad to the Yocknapatalfa River, Nov. 26, 
 1862 to Jan. 10, 1863. At Collierville, Tenn. 
 and along Memphis-and-Charleston Railroad 
 until June. Movement to Vicksburg, June 
 7-17. Appointed and commissioned Captain 
 and Commissary of Subsistence, U. S. Volun 
 teers, to date from June i, 1863, and ordered 
 to report to General Rosecrans commanding 
 Department of the Cumberland. Assigned to 
 staff of General John B. Turchin, commanding 
 Third Brigade, Fourth Division, Fourteenth 
 Corps, Army of the Cumberland, to October, 
 
 1863, and First Brigade,* Third Division, 
 Fourteenth Corps to February, 1864. Partici 
 pated in the Chickamauga campaign Aug.- 
 Sept. 1863, battle of Chickamauga Sept. 18-21, 
 siege of Chattanooga Sept. 2zj.-Nov. 23, battles 
 of Lookout Mountain Nov. 20-24, Chattanooga 
 Nov. 23-25, Missionary Ridge Nov. 25. On 
 duty at Chattanooga until February, 1864. 
 Absent on leave until May. Resigned May 19, 
 
 1864, and honorably discharged from service. 
 
 * In the reorganization of the Army of the Cumber 
 land, October 1863, General Turchin s brigade was made 
 the First in the Third Division, Fourteenth Corps. 
 
 121 
 
Edward P. Williams, Captain C. S., U. S. Vols. 
 Elected a Companion of the First Class 
 
 in the 
 
 Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the 
 
 United States, through the Commandery 
 
 of the State of Ohio, 
 
 October 3, 1888. 
 
 Transferred to the Commandery of the State 
 
 of New York, November 25, 1890. 
 
 (Insignia No. 6434.) 
 
 122 
 
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