COLUMBUS, KENTUCKY. Last Tuesday we received marching orders from
Paducah. Wednesday morning about 4 o'clock Co. A with some fifty sick men were
placed on board the steamer "Rob Roy," the balance of the regiment
being on the steamer "Diamond." Rained hard; of course, we were all
soaked. Fifteen miles below Paducah we got aground and stuck there until the
steamer "May Duke" came along and took us off. I pitied the poor sick
soldiers but could do nothing for them but let them see I was willing if I had
the power. We arrived at Cairo and were transferred again to the steamer
"Eugene," left Cairo about 9 o'clock and got here at 12. Left three
of Co. A in the hospital at Paducah. We are encamped on a bluff some two
hundred and fifty feet above the Mississippi river and overlooking the battle
ground of Belmont, General Grant's first battle. We are encamped on what was
the rebel drill grounds and right below us is the water battery. They have a
steam engine to pump water up on the bluff. Nelson Towner is stationed here, on
General Quimby's [sic] staff, which
makes it pleasant for me.
SOURCE: Joseph Stockton,
War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier
General Joseph Stockton, p. 2
No comments:
Post a Comment