Diary of Private Daniel L. Ambrose: Tuesday, January 27, 1863

This morning the fires are made to burn more brilliantly by an addition of boards. The boys hasten to make their coffee and eat their breakfast, that they may be ready to move with the train, which is now loaded, and headed towards Corinth. The train soon commences to move out. It is the Seventh's lot as usual to follow in the rear. Oh ! what a time — mud, mud, no end to mud, slash, slash, go the wagons, and down go the mules in the mud over their ears. The Seventh extricate them; it is very fatiguing to follow in the rear. The men soon become tired, but on they go determined to see Corinth to-night. Night overtakes us five miles from camp. The Regiment scatters, every man for himself. The teams are left in the mud, and as the demoralized Seventh went lunging on their way they could hear for miles back the high keyed notes from the M. D's., whose curses and epithets were falling thick and the poor meek long-eared race. Oh! what untiring energy! Ungenerous would be the one who would speak disparagingly of the services of this race in this struggle. We imagine that in the future the faithful chroniclers will say, "here's to the mule that with patience and fortitude performed well its part in the war for the Union.” The Seventh arrive in camp between the hours of 7 and 10 o'clock P. M., every one looking most lovely.

SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 134-5