Diary of Private Jenkin Lloyd Jones: Friday, November 28, 1862

Moscow. Awoke before daylight with orders     Started to prepare to march. All was ready by 6:30 A. M. at about 7:30, fell in rear of the column and marched toward Holly Springs; traveled all day with the exception of the necessary halts in the train. Passed through Early Grove 4 P. M., Hudsonville 7 P. M. Traveled until 9 P. M. Encamped near Coldwater River for the night. The country was all woodland except the cleared plantations; after dark the air was illumined, the raging fire caused by the dry leaves and fences, running for miles, it being set out by the advance. Came into park in a grove, made a "shebang" of shakes and laid down about 11:30 Р. М.

SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, p. 15

Diary of Private Jenkin Lloyd Jones: Saturday, November 29, 1862

Holly Springs, Miss. The bugle's notes awoke me in the same position as that I fell asleep in three hours before. Prepared for march and started with the sun, in advance of the artillery; passed through Holly Springs about 11 A. M.; passed through the streets where twenty-four hours before the last of the rebels skedaddled. Holly Springs passed my expectations in size and beauty, being the largest place I have seen in Secession.

We traveled on in a southward course towards Waterford. General Hamilton and troupe passed us about 4 miles beyond Holly Springs. Two miles farther on we heard two guns discharged and heard rumors of a battle ahead. On the brow of a hill we were shown the grounds where the cavalry were engaged in the morning with the Rebs' pickets, killing a Michigan boy and three Rebs. Ascended the hill which overlooked Waterford, consisting of a mill and a small creek, branch of Coldwater River. Here the enemy opened fire on our troops in the morning with two pieces which were taken. We forded the stream about 5 P. M., went into camp on the banks, got some flour from the mills (ground by the secesh for supper), and laid down under the gun on soil twenty-four hours ago occupied by Rebs, seven miles south of Holly Springs.

SOURCE: Jenkin Lloyd Jones, An Artilleryman's Diary, pp. 15-6

Diary of Major Joseph Stockton, March 18, 1863

Reached the Coldwater River today and disembarked the troops for the purpose of cleaning the boat and giving the men an opportunity of cleaning themselves and washing their clothes. I had quite an adventure:—Got our horses off to exercise them a little, and while riding along the bank of the river I wanted to give my horse a drink; the water came over the banks, but I did not know it, and the horse having more sense than I had hesitated about going deeper in the water than he was, but I gave him the spur, and over he went into the river. We went down, but came up again, and I turned his head for the shore and tried to make him mount the bank, but it was too steep. I threw the reins over his head, threw myself off and swam ashore. I then tried to get him up on shore, but he could not get a foothold. I thought he would drown, when General Quimby came along in a yawl, and by his assistance and with ropes I got him out. It was a narrow escape for both, as the water was very swift and we were liable to get entangled in the brush.

SOURCE: Joseph Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph Stockton, p. 10