London, Ky. We
broke camp last Thursday morning, the tenth of September, bound for Cumberland
Gap, ninety miles distant. The first day we marched eleven miles over a rough,
broken country, and encamped for the night. The next morning we started at 5
o'clock and made eighteen miles; yesterday, nine miles — thirty-eight miles in
three days, with eight days' rations and our accoutrements. The second day we
marched rapidly, making few halts, our business being urgent, for Burnside's
left was threatened, and we were hastening to the rescue. But, thanks to a kind
Providence, a messenger met us at this place with the intelligence that the
Rebels had suddenly left East Tennessee to join Bragg's army at Lafayette, and
the Gap was already in possession of our forces. There being no cause for
haste, our commander decided to spend the Sabbath here, and give the poor,
tired mules a chance to rest. We will probably resume our march in the morning
and proceed leisurely to the Gap—perhaps to Knoxville. We have borne the
fatigue thus far better than I expected.
It is a long time
since I carried a knapsack, but the more I have to do, the more strength I have
to do it with.
SOURCE: David Lane, A Soldier's Diary: The Story of
a Volunteer, 1862-1865, pp. 90-1
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