Diary of Private Adam S. Johnston, May 8, 1863

In the morning cloudy and cold; looks for rain; I am out on picket with the regiment on the Bradysville pike, station No. 1; reserve two miles off; a march of 2 miles.

SOURCE: Adam S. Johnston, The Soldier Boy's Diary Book, p. 34

Diary of Private Adam S. Johnston, May 14, 1863

A very wet morning. Our Lieut. Col. Miles got his leg broken below the knee, by his horse stumbling and falling; he had visited the 77th Penna. regiment, and it was on his return to our camp that he met with this accident. I carried coffee out to No. 3 station and No. 1 post in the evening, making a march there and back again of 4 miles.

SOURCE: Adam S. Johnston, The Soldier Boy's Diary Book, pp. 34-5

Diary of Private Adam S. Johnston, May 15, 1863

A fine warm morning ; took coffee out to No. 3 station and No. 1 post, making a march out and back again of 4 miles.

SOURCE: Adam S. Johnston, The Soldier Boy's Diary Book, p. 35

Diary of Private Adam S. Johnston, May 16, 1863

A fine mornings drilled until breakfast time, and then reported to the Adjutant, fully armed and equipped, to go outside the picket line to cut cedar brush to make summer shades for our officers; regimental drill in the evening; making a march outside of our picket line of 6 miles.

SOURCE: Adam S. Johnston, The Soldier Boy's Diary Book, p. 35

Diary of Private Adam S. Johnston, May 19, 1863

A fine warm day; went on a visit to see David Johnston and Cornelius Clifford and others of the 42d Ind. regiment; all quiet in camp this day; making a march of 4 miles.

SOURCE: Adam S. Johnston, The Soldier Boy's Diary Book, p. 35

Diary of Private Adam S. Johnston, May 20, 1863

A nice warm day, and am on water committee for cooking and detailed to help clean streets ; orders came to be ready to march at a moment's warning; took tea out to our men on picket on the Bradysville pike, making a march there and back again of 5 miles.

SOURCE: Adam S. Johnston, The Soldier Boy's Diary Book, p. 35

Diary of Private Adam S. Johnston, May 21, 1863

A warm, nice day; took coffee out to our men on picket on the Bradysville pike to No. 2 station: our videttes were fired on by the rebels in the night, who then skedaddled; all quiet in the morning ; so I returned again to camp, going and coming making a march of 5 miles.

SOURCE: Adam S. Johnston, The Soldier Boy's Diary Book, pp. 35-6

Diary of Private Adam S. Johnston, May 26, 1863

A very fine day. On out-post picket on the Bradysville pike, No. 1 station, No. 1 post; all quiet at sundown; the Assistant Adjutant General from headquarters came out to inspect our line of pickets this evening; a march of 4 miles.

SOURCE: Adam S. Johnston, The Soldier Boy's Diary Book, p. 36

Diary of Private Adam S. Johnston, May 27, 1863

Returned off picket, being relieved, after being twenty-four hours on post. Presentation of a nice sword to' our Colonel, H. A. Hambright, by the members of the 79th regiment of Pa. Vol. Inf in the evening. Making a march of 4 miles.

SOURCE: Adam S. Johnston, The Soldier Boy's Diary Book, p. 36

Diary of Lieutenant-Colonel John Beatty, February 10, 1862

We left Bacon creek at noon. There were ten thousand men in advance of us, with immense baggage trains. The roads bad, and our march slow, tedious, and disagreeable. Many of the officers imbibed freely, and the senior surgeon, an educated gentleman, and very popular with the boys, became gloriously elevated. He kept his eye pealed for secesh, and before reaching Munfordsville found a citizen twice as big as himself in possession of a doublebarreled shot-gun. Taking it for granted that he was an enemy, the Doctor drew a revolver and bade him surrender unconditionally. The boys said the Doctor was as tight as a little bull. What phase of inebriety this remark indicated I am unable to say; but certain it is that he did not for a moment lose sight of his gigantic prisoner, nor give him the slightest opportunity to escape. He was quite triumphant in his bearing; directed the movements of the captive in a loud and imperious tone, and favored him with much patriotic advice.

A wagon with six unbroken mules attached is an uncertain conveyance. If the mules are desired to stop suddenly, they are certain not to do so, and if commanded to start suddenly, they are just as sure not to obey. If, after an immense amount of whipping and many fervent asseverations on the part of the driver that all mules should be in Tophet, they conclude to start at all, they go as if determined to reach the place indicated without unnecessary delay. If a mudhole, ditch, tree, or any other obstacle lies in the way, and the driver cries whoa, the mules redouble their speed, and rush forward as if they did not in the slightest degree consider themselves responsible either for the driver's neck or the traps with which the wagon is laden.

It was about eight o'clock in the evening when we crossed the bridge over Green river. The moon had around it a halo, in which appeared very distinctly all the colors of the National flag-red, white, and blue-and the boys said it was a good omen; that they were Union people up there, and had hung out the Stars and Stripes.

SOURCE: John Beatty, The Citizen-soldier: Or, Memoirs of a Volunteer, p. 103-5

Diary of Colonel John Beatty, February 12, 1862

To-morrow we start for Bowling Green, our division in the lead. Before night we shall overtake the rebels, and before the next evening will doubtless fight a battle.

SOURCE: John Beatty, The Citizen-soldier: Or, Memoirs of a Volunteer, p. 105

Diary of Colonel John Beatty, February 13, 1862

Long before sunrise the whole division was astir, and at seven o'clock moved forward, our brigade in the center. Far as the eye could reach, both in front and rear, the road was crowded with men. A score of bands filled the air with martial strains, while the morning sun brightened the muskets, and made the flags look more cheerful and brilliant. The day was warm and pleasant. The country before us was, in a military sense, unexplored, and every ear was open to catch the sound of the first gun. The conviction that a battle was imminent kept the men steady and prevented straggling. We passed many fine houses, and extensive, well improved farms. But few white people were seen. The negroes appeared to have entire possession.

Six miles from Green river a young and very pretty girl stood in the doorway of a handsome farm-house and waved the flag of the Union. Cheer after cheer arose along the line; officers saluted, soldiers waved their hats, and the bands played "Yankee Doodle" and "Dixie." That loyal girl captured a thousand hearts, and I trust some gallant soldier who shall win honorable scars in battle may return in good time to crown her his Queen of Love and Beauty.

From this on for fifteen miles we found neither springs nor streams. The country is cavernous, and the only water is that of the ponds. In all of these we discovered dead and decaying horses, mules, and dogs. The rebels in this way had sought to deprive us of water; but while their action in this regard occasioned a vast deal of profanity among the boys, it did not in the least retard the column. We were, however, delayed somewhat by the felled trees with which they had obstructed miles of the road. At sunset we halted and pitched our tents in a large field, near what is known as Bell's Tavern, on the Louisville and Nashville Railroad. We had marched eighteen miles.

The water used in the preparation of the evening meal was that of the ponds. The thought of the rotting dogs, horses, and mules, could not be banished, and when the Major sipped his coffee in a doubtful way and remarked that it tasted soupy, my stomach quivered on the turning point, and, hungry as I was, the supper gave me no further enjoyment.

SOURCE: John Beatty, The Citizen-soldier: Or, Memoirs of a Volunteer, pp. 105-6

Diary of Colonel John Beatty, February 14, 1862

Resumed the march at daylight. Snow fell last night. The day was exceedingly cold, and the wind pierced through us like needles of ice. I think I never experienced so sudden and extreme a change in the weather. It was too cold to ride, and I dismounted and walked twelve miles. We were certain of a fight, and so pushed on with rapid pace. A regiment of cavalry and Loomis' battery were in advance. When within ten miles of Bowling Green the guns opened in our front. Leaving the regiment in charge of the Major, I rode ahead rapidly as I could, and reached the river bank opposite Bowling Green in time to see a detachment of rebel cavalry fire the buildings which contained their army stores. The town was ablaze in twenty different places. They had destroyed the bridge over Barren river in the morning, and now, having finished the work of destruction, went galloping over the hills. When the regiment arrived, it was quartered in a camp but recently evacuated by the enemy. The night was bitter cold; but the boys soon had a hundred fires blazing, and made themselves very comfortable.

SOURCE: John Beatty, The Citizen-soldier: Or, Memoirs of a Volunteer, pp. 106-7

Diary of Colonel John Beatty, February 22, 1862

Moved at seven in the morning toward Nashville without wagons, tents or camp equipage. Marched twenty miles in the rain and were drenched completely. The boys found some sort of shelter during the night in tobacco houses, barns, and straw piles.

SOURCE: John Beatty, The Citizen-soldier: Or, Memoirs of a Volunteer, p. 109

Diary of Colonel John Beatty, February 23, 1862

The day pleasant and sunshiny. The feet of the men badly blistered, and the regiment limps along in wretched style; made fifteen miles.

SOURCE: John Beatty, The Citizen-soldier: Or, Memoirs of a Volunteer, p. 109

Diary of Colonel John Beatty, February 24, 1862

Routed out at daylight and ordered to make Nashville, a distance of thirty-two miles. Many of the boys have no shoes, and the feet of many are still very sore. The journey seems long, but we are at the head of the column, and that stimulates us somewhat. Have sent my horse to the rear to help along the very lame, and am making the march on foot.

The martial band of the regiment is doing its utmost to keep the boys in good spirits; the base drum sounds like distant thunder, and the wind of Hughes, the fifer, is inexhaustible; he can blow five miles at a stretch. The members of the band are in good pluck, and when not playing, either sing, tell stories, or indulge in reminiscences of a personal character. Russia has been badgering William Heney, a drummer. He says that while at Elkwater Heney sparked one of Esquire Stalnaker's daughters, and that the lady's little sister going into the room quite suddenly one evening called back to the father, "Dad, dad, William Heney has got his arm around Susan Jane!" Heney affirms that the story is untrue. Lochey favors us with a song, which is known as the warble.

Thou, thou reignest in this bosom,

    There, there hast thou thy throne;

Thou, thou knowest that I love thee;

    Am I not fondly thine own?

 

Ya-ya-ya-ya.

Am I not fondly thine own?

 

CHORUS.

 

Das unda claus ish mein,

Das unda claus ish mein,

Cants do nic mock un do.

 

On the banks of the Ohio river,

    In a cot lives my Rosa so fair;

She is called Jim Johnson's darky,

    And has nice curly black hair.

Tre alo, tre alo, tre ola, ti.

 

O come with me to the dear little spot,

    And I'll show you the place I was born,

In a little log hut by a clear running brook,

    Where blossom the wild plum and thorn.

Tre ola, tre ola, treo la ti.

 

Mein fadter, mein modter, mein sister, mein frau,

    Undt swi glass of beer for meinself,

Undt dey call mein wife one blacksmit shop;

    Such dings I never did see in my life.

Tre ola, tre ola, tre ola ti.

SOURCE: John Beatty, The Citizen-soldier: Or, Memoirs of a Volunteer, pp. 109-11

Diary of 2nd Sergeant Richard R. Hancock, Thursday, July 3, 1862

Promptly in the saddle by seven Colonel Barteau moved his regiment about fifteen miles in the direction of Iuka (on the Memphis and Charleston Railroad), thence about five miles on the Russellville (Alabama) road, where he bivouacked for the night.

SOURCE: Richard R. Hancock, Hancock's Diary: Or, A History of the Second Tennessee Confederate Cavalry, p. 201

Diary of 2nd Sergeant Richard R. Hancock, Friday, July 4, 1862

Returning to the Iuka road, thence about four miles in the direction of Iuka, we bivouacked within a few miles of the enemy's picket.

SOURCE: Richard R. Hancock, Hancock's Diary: Or, A History of the Second Tennessee Confederate Cavalry, pp. 201-2

Diary of 2nd Sergeant Richard R. Hancock, Friday, July 11, 1862

We took up the line of march, wagons and all, except a few sick that were not able to go. After a march of about thirteen miles on the Iuka road we encamped for the night.

SOURCE: Richard R. Hancock, Hancock's Diary: Or, A History of the Second Tennessee Confederate Cavalry, p. 202

Diary of 2nd Sergeant Richard R. Hancock, Saturday, July 12, 1862

After a short march of about six miles we encamped at Bay Springs, where the regiment remained for several days.*

_______________

* It had been ordered that the man whose arms were in the best condition should have a furlough for eight days. On inspection day (July 13th) the inspector decided in my favor, so I was furloughed for eight days. J. W. Kennedy and I went partly on a pleasure trip and partly after clothing and horses—to Franklin County, Alabama; and after spending about five days very pleasantly with our relatives and friends near Russellville, we returned to camps at Bay Springs, July 21st.

SOURCE: Richard R. Hancock, Hancock's Diary: Or, A History of the Second Tennessee Confederate Cavalry, p. 202