Diary of Private Daniel L. Ambrose: Monday, July 11, 1864

This morning the regiment receives orders to build barracks, and we are told that we will remain here during the summer.

SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 247

Diary of Private Daniel L. Ambrose: July 14, 1864

Our barracks are finished and the regiment cosily quartered therein. The picket line is now affording considerable attraction. The citizens are making daily pilgrimages thither with produce of every kind to trade to the soldiers, and now and then some one becomes victimized by some shrewd trader.

SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 247

Diary of Private Daniel L. Ambrose: August 1, 1864

On the 1st day of August Major Estabrook, with Lieut. Pool of Company B, Captain Lawyer of Company C, Captain McGuire of Company A, Captain Clark of Company D, Lieutenant McEvoy of Company D, Captain Knowlton of Company F, Captain Yeager of Company G, Lieutenant Sayles of Company G, Captain Ring of Company H, Lieutenant Pegram of Company H, Lieutenant Fisher of Company I, Lieutenant Judy of Company E, and the non-veterans of the different companies, leave for the north for muster-out and final discharge from the service; their term of service having expired on the 25th of July, 1864. We all regret to see these officers and men leave the regiment; for we remember that in dark days they stood with us: that when the flag trembled and brave men were dying, they were never found wanting. They have now finished their contract-have performed their part, and performed it well. Some bear upon their persons honorable scars, which tell a silent story. Farewell, gallant men.

SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 248

Diary of Private Daniel L. Ambrose: August 15, 1864

To-day Colonel Rowett assumes command of the Third Brigade, consisting of the Seventh, Fiftieth and Fifty-seventh Illinois Infantry, and the Thirty-ninth Iowa Infantry, with head-quarters in Rome.

SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 245

Diary of Private Daniel L. Ambrose: August 19, 1864

Up to this morning nothing has transpired to disturb the quiet of our camp near Rome; but this afternoon a little excitement is created in camp by the attacking of a foraging party sent out in the morning under the command of acting-Lieutenant Billington of Company C, which resulted in the killing by the guerrillas of acting Lieutenant Billington of Company C, and the wounding of privates William Ross and Frits of company D, and Dr. Felty of the hospital department, and the loss of all the mules belonging to the teams. Companies H and K are despatched at once to the scene of death and robbery, but no guerrillas are to be found, all having fled in great haste. The fray happened at a noted rebel's house, to which we apply the torch, and return to camp.

SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 248-9

Diary of Private Daniel L. Ambrose: Sunday Afternoon, August 21, 1864

Six companies of the Seventh, and six companies of the Fiftieth Illinois Infantry, under the command of Colonel Rowett, leave Rome on a scout. We march about nine miles out on the Kingston road and go into camp for the night. Hogs, chickens, roasting-ears and fruit abound in abundance. We live high to-night. After all is quiet in camp, scouts are sent out to see if they cannot discover something hostile said to be threatening these parts.

SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 249

Diary of Private Daniel L. Ambrose: Monday Morning, August 22, 1864

The scouts return to camp reporting nothing threatening in the country, whereupon we return to camp, thus ending another "wild goose chase."

SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 249

Diary of Private Daniel L. Ambrose: September 8, 1864

The regiment moves camp across the Etawah, north of Rome, where they are again ordered to build barracks. The boys are fast becoming apt workmen in architecture. After building quarters and remaining in them a few days we are again ordered back across the Etawah, and the third time we build barracks since our arrival at Rome; but in these we remained quietly until Hood commenced his movement northward. For awhile we will leave Rome, and invite the reader to go with us to the Allatoona Pass.

The regiment is now armed with the Henry repeating rifle (sixteen shooter,) which were obtained by the men at their own expense. These examples of self-sacrifice are worthy of loyal commendation.

SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 249-50

Diary of Private Daniel L. Ambrose: Tuesday, May 17, 1864

To-day one company of the Ninth Ohio Cavalry reports to Captain Ring. The remainder of Rowett's command is now deployed along the Tennessee River to intercept squads of rebels on the north side of the river, seeking to cross to their commands. Late in the evening Rowett arrives with his force at Center Star. Our rations are now out and in consequence the soldiers are making heavy requisitions upon the citizens, who no doubt before morning will come to the conclusion that they have not gained much by inviting Roddy and Johnson across the Tennessee to drive Dick Rowett and his troopers from North Alabama. How true it is "that every dog has his day." At ten o'clock P. M., we receive orders to report immediately to Athens, Alabama. We are soon in the saddle and on the road. We travel all night and cross Elk River early in the morning, and arrive and go into camp at Athens nine o'clock A. M.

SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 242

Diary of Private Daniel L. Ambrose: May 22, 1864

To-day Lieutenants Sullivan and Rowett are sent with a flag of truce into North Alabama, to negotiate an exchange for our men who were captured on the seventh. Upon promise that our men would be sent to Decatur the following day, Lieutenant Sullivan surrenders up to Colonel Johnson the rebel prisoners captured by us in North Alabama, and returns to Athens.

SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 242

Diary of Private Daniel L. Ambrose: May 23, 1864

Instead of sending our men as per promise, Colonel Johnson, C. S. A., sends a squad of Federal soldiers belonging to other regiments whose term of service would soon expire, thus breaking his

pledge of faith. Most honorable man; a true type of chivalry. Thou art worthy a medal.

SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 242-3

Diary of Private Daniel L. Ambrose: June 1, 1864

We receive orders to turn over to the Division A. Q. M., our long eared friends, which causes us all to give a sigh, for they have been faithful in many things. Troops are now daily passing through Athens on their way South. From day to day we look for orders that will tell us to move. On the fourteenth they come. Our faces will soon be turned towards the far sunny South, where the angry passions of men run high, and ere long we anticipate days of fiery strife—days that will be marked with fearful sacrifice. May God be with us.

SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 243

Diary of Private Daniel L. Ambrose: June 16, 1864

On the evening of the 15th we take the cars for Chattanooga. All are in fine spirits, and as we move from Athens we are wont to say, farewell mules! farewell North Alabama! Arriving at Stephenson the train stops until morning, when it again moves on its way southward. We are now approaching Chattanooga. Lookout Mountain is seen looming up in the dim distance—it presents to the eye of the soldier an impressive grandeur, impressive because on its highest pinnacle, a flag honored and loved by earth's struggling people is flying as it were in the atmosphere of heaven. Arriving at Chattanooga we leave the train and march outside the city limits and go into camp for the night.

SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 244

Diary of Private Daniel L. Ambrose: June 17, 1864

It is said we will remain here for a few days. All is quiet this morning. Our camp is at the foot of Lookout Mountain, in the Chattanooga valley. As we look around we are reminded that blood has flowed and noble men died here. Uncoffined graves dot the valley and the mountain side, and here these hallowed mounds will ever appear as landmarks to guide those who have for long weary years sighed for human freedom.

To-day the Seventh boys wend their way up Lookout Mountain; it is a wearisome task; up and up we climb. Soon we are above the clouds where Hooker's bayonets clashed in midnight darkness, when the mountain was wrapped in one grand sheet of battle flame. We are now on Point Lookout looking down in the valley. Lowering clouds hide from our view the landscape; presently the clouds vanish and we now behold Chattanooga and her fortifications beneath our feet; the winding Tennessee, the current of which is moving on towards the father of waters to tell its silent story of blood, and Mission Ridge where warriors moved in the grand pageantry of battle, flinging to the wind a hundred union battle flags. We now turn our eyes towards the Chicamauga [sic], the river of death. As our eyes fall there we remember how General George H. Thomas mastered Longstreet and saved the army of the Cumberland from defeat. As we stand here looking down to where he stood that fearful day, we imagine we see him or them watching the dust as it rose from the feet of Gordon Granger's command. That was a moment of suspense, and we know that General Thomas's heart leaped with joy when Captain Thomas dashed from that cloud of dust to his side with the compliments of General Gordon Granger.

We now descend the mountain side over the rugged cliffs and rocks that have been stained with human gore. Brave men sleep beneath these rocks, but Lookout Mountain will ever stand as a monument to their memory, and through the eventful years to come will guard this fearful silence from tempest and storm.

SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 244-6

Diary of Private Daniel L. Ambrose: Monday, June 20, 1864

We receive orders this morning to move, which are hailed with cheers from the Seventh. We proceed to the Chattanooga depot where we take the cars and are soon moving towards Atlanta. We are all expecting that ere it is night we will be away down in Georgia, but alas we are disappointed. The train stops at Griggsville and the regiment is ordered off. Many rumors are now flying about the railroad being cut. About Wheeler's demonstration, all seems dark and mysterious to the soldier.

SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 246

Diary of Private Daniel L. Ambrose: Tuesday, June 21, 1864

We are now camped upon the banks of Chicamauga, a name that has gone to history inscribed with deeds of blood. This evening companies D, H and I receive marching orders, and under the command of Lieutenant Sullivan of company I, (the captains of companies having been left back at Athens to settle their mule accounts with the A. Q. M,) we now move down the railroad. We stop and draw rations at Ringgold, after which we move on about two miles and go into camp for the night. The country every where along the railroad is all desolated. Trains pass up this evening from Atlanta loaded with wounded soldiers from Sherman's army, which tell us that there has been a fearful work of blood down there.

SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 246

Diary of Private Daniel L. Ambrose: Wednesday, June 22, 1864

This morning Co. H move on to Tunnel Hill and go into camp in a brick church. It seems that the regiment is being deployed along the railroad to do guard duty, and in consequence the boys are not in a very good humor.

SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 246-7

Diary of Private Daniel L. Ambrose: Thursday, June 23, 1864

This morning the regiment with the exception of Companies D, H and I, pass down on the train to Tilton, leaving orders for these three remaining companies to follow.

SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 247

Diary of Private Daniel L. Ambrose: Friday, June 24, 1864

To-day companies D, H and I, leave Tunnel Hill on the cars for Tilton, where we arrive late in the night. We remain here guarding the railroad, scouting and running after guerrillas until July 8th, when we take the cars for Rome, Georgia, to join our division and brigade stationed there. Arriving at Kingston we change cars for Rome, where we arrive on the evening of the 9th. We immediately cross the Etawah river and go into camp one-half mile from the city.

SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 247

Diary of Private Daniel L. Ambrose: May 5, 1864

Up to this time there has been quiet along the Tennessee; no hostile demonstrations apparent.

SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 234