We left our bivouac with the wagon train at an early hour
and moved on quite rapidly, expecting to be attacked at any moment. We passed
the place on the road where the train just ahead of us was attacked by the
rebel cavalry, which captured and burned fifteen of the wagons, taking with
them the mules and carrying off the drivers and guards as prisoners. This was a
terribly hard day for us. We were not allowed to climb the wagons, but were
ordered to keep up with them, and with muskets loaded and bayonets fixed, be
ready to fight at the drop of a hat. Then, too, the weather was awfully hot,
and the dust kicked up by the mules was stifling; besides this, we were almost
famished, the little water we could find being unfit for use because of its
sickly odor. But late in the afternoon we arrived at Clinton, where we were
relieved by another regiment and went into camp with our brigade which was
stationed here.
Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B.,
Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 129-30
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