Diary of Colonel John Beatty, February 15, 1862

This morning we were called out at daylight to cross the river and take possession of the town; a sorrier, hungrier lot of fellows never rolled out of warm blankets into the icy wind. It was impossible for many of them to get their wet and frozen shoes on, but we hurried down to the river, and were there halted until it was ascertained that our presence on the opposite side was not required, when we went back to our old quarters.

SOURCE: John Beatty, The Citizen-soldier: Or, Memoirs of a Volunteer, p. 107