Diary of Private Daniel L. Ambrose: Sunday, April 19, 1863

Last night it rained very hard, giving everybody and everything a general wetting. The boys are now busy pulling balls and getting their guns in order. The rebel cavalry are now seen lurking along our front. Changing position, the 3d brigade are secreted in the brush for the purpose of ambushing the rebels in case of an advance by them. The pickets have been removed and a battalion of cavalry sent out to engage them and draw them down the road towards the river; but for once the rebels were too wary for the artful Yankees. In the evening we return to the camp occupied by the Seventh the day and night before. Reinforcements arrive this evening—the Ohio brigade, and the Kansas Jayhawkers. It is rumored that the command will move forward in the morning. The boys are all in fine spirits this evening in consequence of the rumor. All are anxious to follow the old flag up the Tuscumbia valley, and drive the enemy across the mountains into Georgia.

SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 148-9