The swamps and bottoms along the Tuscumbia and the Hatchie rivers are now being thoroughly scouted. The guerrillas are finding their favorite haunts hot quarters. Go in whatever direction we may, and scouting parties from the Seventh can be seen.
This morning Captain Ring proceeds with a detachment on a scout towards the Hatchie river, but nothing hostile being discovered, he returns in the evening.
SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 198
This morning we move early. Instead of dust we now have mud. Today we cross the Hatchie, where General Hurlbut confronted the enemy on his retreat. By the roadside we see the graves of many brave Union soldiers. May the waters of the beautiful Hatchie never disturb their quiet repose; but may they mover over their winding way, and over the projecting rocks chant requiems to the memory of the noble sleepers by her side, who fell there in liberty's great struggle. We pass on through the pine forests and cross the Tuscumbia and go into camp four miles beyond. Being much worn and fatigued from hard marching, rest seems sweet to the soldiers to-night.
SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 113
This morning about three o'clock General Rosecrans comes riding up to Gen. Davies’ headquarters, (which is near the Seventh's camp,) calling out—"General ! General! It is time for reveille. Get the Second in motion as soon as possible," and on he goes dashing to the front. Long before day we are moving. All day news from the front is cheering, the rebels are abandoning everything and fleeing to the swamps and woods. Hurlbut engages them at the Hatchie river, disputing their passage by fighting a desperate battle, which throws the whipped rebels in still greater confusion, but turning they succeed in crossing six miles above the Hatchie bridge. In the afternoon we halt, make some coffee and eat our breakfast; rather late, “but better late than not at all.” After which our regiment, with a section of artillery, makes a scout in the Tuscumbia bottom. Finding nothing but a few straggling rebels we return, and on the way Colonel Rowett halts the regiment and puts it into a sweet potato patch, commanding the men to go to work or he would buck and gag them. The boys dig with a gusto and their haversacks are soon filled, when the regiment moves on and takes its position in the division, and after moving across the Tuscumbia we go into camp upon its banks, and after enjoying a bountiful supper on sweet potatoes, we lie down to rest.
SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 110-1
This morning we again move early. We cross the Hatchie to-day, entering the great Mississippi pineries. We find it a barren wilderness. All day we keep sending prisoners to the rear. Nothing but a wreck is seen on the war path. The road is lined with old, broken wagons, tents, cooking utensils and blown up caissons. The exhausted rebels fall by the way, hundreds are being picked up and are found in a pitiful condition, being half starved; but none are found who fell in love with Corinth, and by the way they don't like to talk about this subject, or at least they don't seem inclined to introduce it. About dark we go into camp the boys make a raid upon a flock of sheep close by, and the Seventh have mutton chops for supper. It is over now and they are cheerful, and many a soldier sits round the camp fires enjoying hugely his pipe and “legal tender.” We know by experience that it is an earthly heaven for a soldier and his comrade to sit by the camp fire's glimmering embers, and while from each other's pipe the spiral festoons are forming in air to talk of home and the halcyon days that have flown. And then, going to sleep, dream of glory, and wreaths, telling of fame that will not vanish, but wreaths that are as fadeless as the stars in the canopy above.
SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 111-2
