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drafted men, who occupy a part of the camp, are charged with it. 13. We have been rebuilding our quarters and are again pretty well re-established. The losses sustained by the enlisted men of several of the companies prove to be great. Many a pack of cards, several violins and some other outfits of amusement will have to be replaced. At squad drill this afternoon Lieutenant Colonel Mitchell, in giving me some instructions in warding off a blow aimed at the head, told me to strike at him. I obeyed literally, bringing my Enfield down with force, while he placed his rifle in position to arrest the blow. Instead of the gun barrel, his finger received the blow, and he retired to quarters for repairs. I regretted this very much, as I ought to have motioned instead of striking. Mrs. Mitchell, being in camp, gave the damaged finger of her husband proper attention. A woman is a handy piece of furniture, even in camp.

17. The weather is cool and bracing. We have completed our new quarters, and, as the tools we have been using will be needed when we go elsewhere, they were carefully stowed away where the most diligent search will not bring them to light. This theft is charged to Company A, but they aver that no member of that company was ever caught stealing. The tools will turn up in due time. 25. One day has succeeded another and the monotony of camp life begins to be somewhat oppressive, but we have at length become so soldierly that the restraints and discipline of this kind of a life do not vex us as formerly. Have made the acquaintance of Captain Munson; the Captain is more social than military in his make-up, and is a matchless story teller. His yarns are always pointed and witty. We came here with only seven companies; the eighth company is being recruited and will be commanded by Captain Sullivant, who is a very young man.

27. This is Thanksgiving Day. Nearly the entire command went to Zanesville. A few worshipped at the churches, others feasted with acquaintances, others filled up with liquid hilarity. The conduct of the average soldier on the march returning to camp in the evening, was decidedly untactical, but then he was patriotic and seemed to wish that the Governor would make a thanksgiving day of every Thursday. Colonel Wilcox is much pleased at our good behavior and says he feels proud of us.

DECEMBER, 1862.

1. The measles prevail in camp, and a dozen or more have been sent to the hospital with that disease. Of these one or two are having the disease in a dangerous form, but are being well cared for by the surgeon, assisted by an efficient corps of nurses. Doctors Black and Harlow are men of acknowledged medical skill.

13. Have been enjoying a ten-day furlough at home, and returning to camp this evening I find all in good shape. Those who had the measles have nearly all recovered.

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14. While on duty as guard to-day I made the acquaintance of Corporal Mason, Captain Nichols and Captain Wells. men of intelligence and good social qualities.

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15. We saw the last of Camp Zanesville this morning. spent fifty days here, some of them very pleasant ones. marched to Zanesville early in the forenoon, and after some time spent in loading an immense amount of baggage, we took the cars for Camp Dennison, passing through Newark, Columbus, West Jefferson, London, South Charleston, Xenia, and Loveland, reaching our destination late in the evening. We are quartered in building No. 27. While at Camp Zanesville Company H was recruited and added to the seven companies composing the command. Our object in coming to Camp Dennison is to add another company, (I) making nine companies in all.

The regiment remained at Camp Dennison thirteen days, during which time no important event occurred. The time was spent in perfecting the men in a knowledge of company and battalion drills and such other duties as pertain to camp life. This camp seemed to be much less attractive than either of our former ones, and when the order to leave was received there was general rejoicing. The ninth company, which was added to us during our stay at this camp, was recruited for another regiment, the 109th perhaps, but as that organization was never completed, the men were consolidated with the 113th.

Company I is composed principally of Germans, and was recruited in the vicinity of Dayton.

28. Sunday. Early this morning orders were received to move. We were placed on a train and a brief run of little over an hour found us in Cincinnati, destined for Louisville, Ky. The people of Cincinnati greeted our arrival with some demonstrations of patriotism, for, though it was Sunday, there was some shouting, throwing of hats and waving of handkerchiefs.

Disembarking from the cars we marched to the river, boarded the steamer "Superior," and were soon moving down stream. We suffered not a little discomfort by our crowded condition on the boat, and the common soldier noticed that the commissioned officers fared better than himself. The sixty staterooms of the boat were occupied principally by the officers, and I presume they paid extra for them. Night came on but quite a number of the soldiers kept awake nearly all night, compelling those who would have slept to share their wakefulness. I tried to sleep on the upper deck, but I found it like sleeping on the back of a huge turtle, and at ten o'clock I went below and tried it with somewhat better success. At 2 A. M. Captain Taylor woke me and told me of a good place in the engine room, to which I went and for the remainder of the night slept well.

29. We reached Louisville at daylight. At 8 A. M. we left the boat, and marching through the city to the western suburbs, the regiment stacked arms on a vacant lot to the right of the pike, but being without tents we suffered considerably from the piercing wind. Tents were furnished late in the day. A trio of strolling musicians, father and two daughters, visited our camp, furnished some good music, took up a fat collection and departed.

31. Lieutenant Bowersock, Sergeant McCrea, privates Gardner, Rock, Fudge and Hallan, arrive in camp from home, bringing for several of us many a token of good-will from mother, sister and wife.

JANUARY, 1863.

1. At ten o'clock last night the camp was alarmed by a hurried command to fall in line and stand ready to march. Much confusion ensued, but coolness at length followed, and we were standing to arms when the city clock struck the midnight hour, announcing the death of the old year and the birth of the new. We were at length sent to quarters with instructions to hold ourselves in readiness to move at short notice. I think the affair was created to train us to put on our breeches and other harness in the night. It was a success.

This is a fine day. We had general inspection at 10 A. M. 4. This camp is called "Camp Laura" in compliment to the wife of our Lieutenant Colonel. Don't know that Mrs. Mitchell will be pleased or displeased at this intended civility. Women are so curious. An order was received this afternoon to get ready to march immediately. We obeyed, but the order was countermanded, and after

the requisite amount of raw profanity was indulged in, the men returned to quarters. Soldiers "as they run" are not excessively pious. The arrival of a mail from Ohio adds to make the sunshine of the day more genial and bright.

5. This is Monday. I know this by knowing that yesterday was a busy day. We blacked our bootees, washed, scrubbed, cleaned house, and if the weather had been fine we would have gone visiting We bade farewell to "Camp Laura" at 8.15 this morning, and at 9.40 our train moved out of the city toward Nashville, a southerly direction. Our destination is "Big Run Trestle" or Muldraugh's Hill. Crossed Salt River at Shepherdsville, and halting at Colesburg the horses of the regiment were unloaded, after which the train moved on two miles further to our destination. During the unloading of the animals I found a chance to get a good meal at a house near the track, and while eating it the train moved on without me. I am fond of my feed. Coming up to the command I found the site of our future camp had been chosen, and camping preparations were going on. James L. Edmiston had cared for my effects during my absence, but he was a little disappointed that I had not brought him something to eat. The rest of the day was spent in completing our camp and in assisting Quartermaster Scarritt to unload supplies of various kinds. While a number of soldiers were thus engaged one of them lost his hold on a barrel of sugar and it rolled down a steep hill, bursting as it went. Scarritt indulged in a few expletives; the rest of us indulged in the sugar.

6. Previous to our coming here the place was held by a regiment of Illinois troops. These were captured a few days ago by John Morgan's command, who, after burning two large trestles of the railroad track, moved on and left the place unoccupied. A force of mechanics will be put to work at once repairing the road, and our business is to see that they are not molested. This road is an important link in the great chain of supplies that must sustain our armies further south.

The country hereabouts is wild, rocky, and rough to a degree that is indescribable, and suggests the idea that the Great Architect finished his work here by the consolidation of scraps and fragments. The people seem to be the poorest of the poor, rude and illiterate. We have a better idea now of the meaning of the term, "poor white trash," than ever before.

9. A part of the regiment was sent to-day to the upper trestle,

where they will camp and remain. Last evening we had dress parade, the first since leaving Camp Dennison. We call this "Camp Lucy." It may be that Colonel Wilcox has a grudge against some Buckeye Lucy and wants to avenge himself in this way. This is in Hardin County, thirty-six miles southwest of Louisville.

10. Major Warner returned from Louisville, bringing a mail, the first we have had for several days.

II. It has been raining for several days and the gorges of these hills are on a high.

12. Captain Taylor with twenty-five men was sent out to strengthen our pickets, there being rumors of an attack by the enemy. 15. Snow began to fall last night and has continued all day and now is about thirty inches deep. As the soldiers wade about doing picket and other out-of-camp duties the snow runs into the pockets of the shortest of them. Several hogs, which took refuge in a log house in the valley, met a fate somewhat similar though more fatal than befell the man who journeyed between Jerusalem and Jericho. Swine cannot be too cautious in coming into a camp like this. This deep snow may possibly have provoked this deed of blood and tenderloins.

Last night I stood picket in a dark gloomy section of country a mile from camp. James S. Ports of Company D was one of my partners. Before night came on we cut an old dry stub of a tree, set fire to it and burned it to coals; this melted the snow and dried the ground. Spreading our bedding on the warm, dry ground, we slept comfortably, otherwise we must have suffered. Years ago while camping in northern Ohio, I had learned this of my father, who is a practical hunter. A squad was sent out some distance to-day for a load of straw. They report that they saw a-school house. Now, what use would a school-house be in this land, I would like to know? 18. A member of Company I froze to death last night.

20. Continued exposure in this inclement weather has resulted in much sickness, and during the past few days two deaths have occurred in Company A, namely, James S. Harvey and George T. Reno. Their homes are at London, Ohio.

22. A squad of half a dozen men visited Colesburg last night, bent on adventure. Finding the door of a freight car ajar, one of them entered to explore, while the others awaited orders on the outside. The car contained sutler's supplies, destined for Nashville and the front. A barrel of luscious apples and a monster cheese escaped from the car, and were carried by the hungry outsiders to a safe dis

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