Columbia, Ky., April 30th, 1863.
At the date of my
last entry—the 26th inst.—I had seen no indication of a move. We retired that
night at the usual hour, and just as I was dropping off to sleep the order
came: "Be ready to march tomorrow morning at five o'clock with two days'
rations." It came like a "clap of thunder from a cloudless sky,"
surprising both officers and men. Our officers had formed numerous and pleasant
associations with Kentucky's fair daughters, and it was with many regrets they
were compelled to leave their agreeable society for the stern duties of the
field. But military orders are inexorable as fate, and at precisely a quarter
to five the bugle sounded "fall in," and at five we were on the move,
bound for Columbia, forty miles away.
The weather is warm
and pleasant now, but the burning heat of a Southern summer is close upon us. A
forced march was before us, with no teams to carry our luggage. We could not
carry all our winter clothing, therefore hundreds of good blankets and
overcoats were thrown away. When we had marched three or four miles many of the
men found they still had too much load, and then the work of lightening up
began in earnest. For miles the road was strewn with blankets, dress coats,
blouses, pants, drawers and shirts. In fact enough clothing was thrown away for
Rebels to pick up to supply a whole brigade. No wonder so many Rebel regiments
are dressed in our uniforms. As for myself, I was determined to stay by my
goods, if I could not carry them. As a matter of fact I carried load enough
that day to down a mule, and feel none the worse for it. We marched to
Campbellville, twenty miles, and camped for the night. We were expected to
cover the entire distance in two days, but fully one-half of the brigade were
so utterly used up it was found to be impossible. We only made nine miles the
second day, and camped at Green River. Here the Eighth Michigan and Seventy-ninth
New York were ordered to remain; the Seventeenth was ordered to Columbia and
the Twentieth to the Cumberland, forty miles beyond.
Lieutenant Colonel
Luce is Provost Marshal of this district, and we are detailed to do provost
duty. Colonel Luce's orders are: "Protect government property, keep good
order in the town, arrest all disloyal citizens and report to headquarters
every day." This part of the state has been much infested by guerillas,
and we expect lively times.
SOURCE: David Lane,
A Soldier's Diary: The Story of a Volunteer, 1862-1865, p. 41-3
