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out so as to be unable to proceed with the whole train, and the two rear cars were left on the track; Graves and I remained with these cars, expecting the engine would return from Shelbyville and take this part of the train also. We remained here till night came on and then went to the house of a Mr. Phillips, where we stayed all night. A careful inspection of arms and accoutrements took place. Company I left early this morning to guard a bridge in the direction of Tullahoma.

22. Returning to the train, we were run back to Wartrace by an engine from that direction. We again started for Shelbyville where we arrived in due time. Stopped at Fowler's boarding house for the night.

23. Our object in coming here is to repair a wheel of the portable bakery belonging to Colonel Mitchell and Lieutenant Colonel Warner, and though it is Sunday, we are at work in a shop which some man has vacated.

24. Have been sick for a day or two, unable to work, and so I left Graves to complete the work, and I returned to Wartrace on the noon train. The railroad connecting these places is only a branch, twelve miles long, and is badly out of repair and poorly equipped. Slept with Brigham in the commissary department. The nights are very cool, and a woolen blanket is essential to comfort.

28. I returned to Wartrace to-day from a trip with a supply train to Murfreesboro, via Shelbyville. On my way between this and S., having four teams and empty wagons with me, I loaded the wagons with green corn in the field of J. H. Roane, giving Mr. R. a receipt for the same.

29. Several days ago a train jumped the track two miles from this station toward Nashville, and a vast quantity of sacked corn was unloaded and abandoned. To-day I hauled one thousand and twentynine sacks of it to our camp. Lieutenant Swisher will go to Shelby

ville to-morrow for cattle. That means that we are to have beef. Our rations are generally good and plentiful, but we do not hesitate to visit corn fields, orchards, vegetable patches and the like, for variety. We have not lost our appetites for honey and other delicacies.

30. Lieutenant Swisher has returned with his drove. It consists of six head of cattle and three sheep. The cattle are assorted sizes, and their condition is such that we will kill them at once to keep them from dying a natural death. The sheep are a rare variety, but as the wool has peeled off of them, we shall not be troubled to shear them. The cars which are in use on this road are made at Dayton, Ohio.

SEPTEMBER, 1863.

1. Doak and I took the train this morning, and went south as far as Anderson, distance forty-eight miles, to visit some friends of the 2d O. V. I. We reached our destination late in the evening, and were cordially received by the boys of the Second.

2. The Second marched early this morning, terminating our pleasant visit.

Our return to Wartrace was without incident of note. complain of being ill.

Both of us

I was sent to

Wm. J. Minton, Co. D, died in camp this morning. Shelbyville for a coffin, but failing to find one, I returned late at night. 4. The Chaplain of the 98th O. V. I. held services over the remains of Comrade Minton; the discourse was one of rare ability.

5. Charles Swazey, of the 98th O. V. I., went with me to the country, taking four teams for forage. We were not successful, and returned to camp empty. Chatfield and I planned to make a trip of the same kind in the direction of Flat Creek, but the plan was cut short by an order to prepare to march. A good part of the night was spent in preparations for moving.

6. We marched from Wartrace at nine o'clock in the direction of Tullahoma, which place we reached in the evening, distant seventeen miles. A wagon of the regimental train gave down within four miles of Tullahoma, and we proceeded without it. After night came on I returned for the wagon, and with proper assistance brought it to camp. This took me nearly all night, and I was fatigued beyond description. Company B, which has been on guard duty at Normandy for five days past, joined the regiment this evening.

7. The column resumed the march at eight o'clock, reaching Decherd at sundown. Before the train moved, Colonel Warner ordered the baggage with which it was loaded to be overhauled, and all cumbrous and useless stuff to be abandoned. It turned out that the Colonel's baggage needed overhauling worse than any other, but all shared a similar fate. The order was impartially enforced, and the plunder left on the ground was surprising in quantity and variety. From Tullahoma to Decherd is sixteen miles. The march was without unusual incident. A wheel of Leaf's wagon gave out after proceeding four miles, delaying the train several hours. Crossed Elk River six miles from Decherd. The weather is very dry and the road dusty.

8. The regiment marched early, passing through Cowan, a small

town at the foot of the mountain. Here Colonel Mitchell joined the regiment, having been absent sick at hospital since the latter part of June. The ascent of the mountain began at eight o'clock, and, after a hard day's march, the regiment having reached the summit, descended to the valley below and camped. The train made the ascent with great difficulty and with many mishaps. The near hind wheel of Leaf's wagon broke down half a mile up the mountain side. I returned to the valley, procured two wheels of a pontoon train, and after much vexatious delay reached the disabled wagon. The train failed to reach camp, but halted on the mountain's summit and spent the night. The duties of the day had been very laborious to me, and I realized that the position of Wagon Master was one of great responsibility and labor. During the afternoon the front wheel of Sam Hoover's wagon gave out, and this caused some delay. It was a lucky thing for us that I got two front wheels in the valley yesterday instead of one.

The portable bakery, which was in charge of a poor horse and two colored servants, Dad and Henry, was abandoned on the mountain.

9. The regiment moved southward at 7 A. M.; reached and crossed the line into Alabama at noon. Marched fifteen miles and went into camp. Dry and dusty. The whole army seems to be moving in the direction of Chattanooga. The train descended the mountain and reached the valley during the forenoon. Two of our wagons became disabled in the valley, causing delay and annoyance. We passed the little town of Anderson during the evening. Henry Leaf's near hind wheel gave way, and Henry used some profane expletives.

10. At daylight we again marched southward, reached Stevenson, Alabama, about eight o'clock, and, after a march of fifteen miles, went into camp at Bridgeport, on the right bank of the Tennessee River. The men complain of the dust and sore feet. They have plenty to eat and are in good spirits. The regimental train came up to the regiment late in the evening.

II. Remained camped, and the troops enjoyed and appreciated the needed rest. Some are repairing the wagons, some are shoeing the mules, swimming in the river, writing letters, or sleeping in their shelter tents. One lad is torturing music from a violin. This is more an exhibition of muscle than of skill.

12. The brigade crossed the Tennessee at 5 P. M., and camped on the left bank. The river is spanned by pontoon boats, the rebels

We are thirty-one miles

having burned the bridges some time ago. from Chattanooga.

Swisher's horse died last night. The train crossed the river long after dark, and it required great care to keep the animals from crowding off into the water. The men belonging with the train were up nearly all night. Some of the baggage was, unloaded, and four of the wagons were sent back to Bridgeport for forage.

13. Sunday. We marched at daylight, passed through the corner of the State of Georgia, (we are told) and, after a march of fourteen miles, went into camp in the mountain (Raccoon?) During the day we passed a long wagon train, with which were five hundred prisoners from Bragg's army. Our train moved with great difficulty, and did not come up with the command. A barrel of mean whisky had been loaded too handy to the end gate of the wagon, and several of the train men, including Dad, the cook, got shot.

14. The column moved about midnight, halting at suprise to take breakfast. Crossed Lookout Mountain, with Chattanooga in sight on our left, and camped in the valley five miles nearly south of Chattanooga, and in Walker county, Georgia. Company E is put on picket. The men are short of food, and everything like meat is being sacrificed. The country is almost destitute of anything eatable, and destitution is the fate of the people.

The route from Cowan to this place has led us over mountains, valleys, gorges, ravines, rocks and jungles. No description can do justice to the scenery we have seen, especially as we rounded the side of old Lookout and beheld the valley, the city and the river at our feet. What an imposing sight it would have been to view our column of blue-coated heroes, the long line of artillery, the miles of wagon train, the detachments of cavalry, and all the attendants of a great army, as it wound around the mountain, above the clouds, and then descended into the valley beyond.

15. Colonel John G. Mitchell takes command of the brigade. Quartermaster Swisher went to Chattanooga and stored some desks, boxes and other plunder. Brigham and I rode out toward the foot of Lookout, and procured some apples.

17. The brigade and two additional regiments moved out early, and marched in a southerly direction. A detachment of cavalry and six pieces of artillery accompanied us. About four o'clock in the afternoon three of the advance regiments deployed as skirmishers, and, advancing, were met by a force of the enemy, who showed some resistance, and then fell back beyond the little town of Ringgold.

The other regiments were put in line on and under cover of a hill, those on top of the hill moving in the direction of town, and at the same time two pieces of our artillery opened fire upon the enemy for a time. After a time the enemy threw a few shots, but made no other show of fight. The object of a reconnoissance having been accomplished, we retired in the direction of our former camp, near Rossville. After marching six miles we halted for the night. We were weary, and lying down, we were soon in dreamland. About ten o'clock we were awakened by a shower of shot and shell, the enemy reminding us that we had neglected to put out our fires. There was a scramble for traps of all kinds, and the fires were soon extinguished. We shifted to a new position, and spent the rest of the night resting

on our arms.

18. The command returned to the camp from which we moved yesterday morning. A quantity of whisky was issued to the men. In the evening we were ordered to march to guard a position a few miles south. We reached our post of duty at ten o'clock, made the necessary disposition of the force, (two brigades) and slept without fires, though it was disagreeably cold. A strong force of the enemy was within a mile of us, but we were unmolested. We are near Reed's Bridge.

19. We breakfasted without water, and then returned to our former camp by one o'clock in the afternoon. We found the wagons loaded, and all things packed as if some movement of importance was on the program. We drew rations, and while the beef boiled we made other plans looking towards active work. At five o'clock, the 2d and 3d brigades moved out three miles to a position near a church (McAfee). Heavy fighting has been going on at times during the day, but we do not know the results. We rested in our position during the night, suffering much from cold.

CHICKAMAUGA.

The following account of the battle of September 20th, 1863, is not a history of that bloody event, but only the record of a man who stood in the ranks and bore his share of the trials of the day. The account may be defective, and in some respects erroneous, but it is preferred to any other for the reason that it treats of the minor details which have been overlooked by the more pretending historian.

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