Still at Jackson's plantation; duty heavy; daily patroling and scouting continued along the river. This evening a detachment is sent to Pulaski with dispatches; return to the detachment with a large mail, which seems to instil new life into the men. The little “billets" bring sunshine to the soldiers.
SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 231
Negroes by the hundreds are flocking to our camp; all sizes and ages, ranging from one year to one hundred years old. Poor deluded beings, how extravagant have been their conceptions relative to the Yankees. An order from headquarters at Baily Springs this evening informs us that Colonel Rowett has fought himself away from Camp Butler and returned to the command of the regiment. Remaining in camp at Jackson's until the fifteenth, we leave and report to regimental headquarters. Immediately Captain Ring receives orders to proceed with the detachment to Center Star, where we arrive in the evening and go into camp, after which patrols are sent out to Bainbridge and Lamb's Ferry. This detachment will long remember their camp and stay at the Jackson plantation; how Captain R, Sergeants N. and A. made journeys across the Blue Water, and how the Captain when coming in contact with one of the South's fair literary stars, discoursed so freely upon the American and English poets—especially upon the merits of the Bard of Avon.
SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 231-2
To-day we move camp
to the widow Jackson's plantation. This evening Captain Knowlton, with Company
F, arrives from Cheatam's Landing and reports to Captain Ring. The detachment
now consists of Companies F, H and K. We are now eight miles from the headquarters
at Baily Springs, and eight miles from the Tennessee river. Orders are issued
this evening to move at two o'clock in the morning.
Three o'clock, A.
M., we move out on the Florence road; rebels reported crossing the river. At
day-light we charge into Florence and intercept two rebels in the act of
crossing the river to their command. Remaining in Florence a short time, we
move out on the military road; proceeding a short distance a squad is sent to
the residence of Dr. Riles, a rebel aider and abetter, whom they arrest, and
with him and the two rebels captured at Florence, the squad is sent to
regimental headquarters. In the evening the detachment returns to camp on the
Jackson plantation.
SOURCE: Daniel Leib
Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry,
p. 231
