Marched at 8 o'clock
in the morning. General Grant passed us at about 10 o'clock; arrived at Holly
Springs at about 11 o'clock; halted an hour, marched to Lumpkins Mills where we
encamped for the night. Had to take off our pants, etc., to wade a stream to
reach our camping grounds—found a splendid pond of water which was made good
use of. Firing in the distance. I saw one of the grandest sights tonight. I had
occasion to ride up on a high hill and in the valley below there were some 40
or 50 thousand troops encamped and going into camp the thousands of camp fires,
the cheers of the men as they were going into camp, the tattoo of the regiments
which had already gone into camp, some with bands of music, others with only
the bugle, others with drums, all together made up a scene long to be
remembered. I would not have missed seeing it for hundreds of other scenes at
home. I staid on the hill for some time and at midnight not a sound was heard,
all was as still as could be and the only things to be seen were groups of
soldiers either lying or sitting around the camp fires.
SOURCE: Joseph
Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph
Stockton, p. 4-5
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