Diary of Private Daniel L. Ambrose: Thursday, April 30, 1863

Five o'clock A. M., the command is moving. We march hard all day. Many men are barefooted; more soldiers are limping, but on they go with an unyielding determination to follow where the flag goes to night. We reach Bear River towards evening and find it very high; so high that it is evident that we will be detained. The pioneers are soon put to work to construct a raft. A regiment is called for to cross the river, stand 'picket, and guard the pioneers, but none being found the General sends back for the Seventh. After moving forward the General says to the Colonel, "Can your men swim?" Dick replies, "General, I would not have a man that could not swim.” Sure enough, we find that there is no other chance to cross but to swim, and that too against a swift current. But the Seventh having never hesitated before don't hesitate now, and off they strip, placing their clothes, guns and accoutrements on a small raft, and into the river they plunge, and soon the regiment is on the opposite bank safe and sound, though one man belonging to Company H, (we will not name him) came very near drowning. Not being a good swimmer he was urged not to venture, but remembering the reply of Colonel Rowett to the General, he resolved to try it that he might not be discarded and considered unworthy his membership in the Seventh, and into the river he goes. He struggles for life but makes no headway, drifting down to the raft rope, by which he, with the aid of two of his comrades, succeeds in saving himself; and the Colonel, notwithstanding his reply to the General, concludes not to banish him, inasmuch as he had the courage to try. As soon at the regiment is over and dressed we go into camp a short distance from the river. The teams are ferried across on the constructed raft, and when we get our supper we lie down to rest. The Pioneer Corps are kept busy all night, crossing teams, troops, wagons, &c.

SOURCE: Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry, p. 157-8