Part 9 (1/2)

Sunday, March 15th.--Eighth week in our present camp. Brigade review to-day.

Sunday, March 22d. Ninth week in camp.--Weather delightful. Peach trees in bloom. Trees leaving out.

Wednesday, March 25th. Received news to-day that George D. Eldridge--a member of our company--was dead. He died in hospital, at Nashville.

Sunday, March 29th. Tenth week in camp. Last night, at 10 o'clock, we had an alarm. It was caused by our pickets, who fired on a small party of Rebel cavalry--the cavalrymen having made a dash on them, so the pickets reported. No one hurt.

Wednesday, April 1st. At 12 o'clock last night were routed out, with orders to prepare three days' rations, in haversacks, for a reconnoissance. Two hours later preparations were completed, when a start was made. All of our guns were taken, with two train wagons. The forge and Battery wagons, and all camp equipage, were left in camp. The brigade divided and took different roads. The object of this movement was to surprise and capture a force of Rebel cavalry, who were camped between Woodbury and McMinnville. A part of the third brigade came out to our camp, on guard duty, during the absence of our brigade. The expedition returned at night, having dispersed the enemy, killing and wounding a number. They also captured their entire camp equipage, several wagons, a lot of horses and mules, and about twenty prisoners.

The next morning the third brigade of our division pa.s.sed camp. Part of the Fifteenth Pennsylvania cavalry were with them. They had no camp equipage, and carried five days' rations. Were on a reconnoissance, and going towards Woodbury and McMinnville.

Sat.u.r.day, April 4th. Part of our brigade went to Readyville, as guard to General Hazen's camp.

Sunday, April 5th. Eleventh week in camp.

Tuesday, April 7th, were paid to-day up to 1st of March.

Sat.u.r.day, April 11th. At roll-call we had orders to draw three days'

rations, and be in readiness to move at daylight next morning.

Sunday, April 12th. All were ready to move, but no further order was given in regard to doing so. In the afternoon the First and Second Kentucky infantry were each presented with a beautiful flag. The weather continued fine. This was our twelfth week in present camp.

Monday, April 20th. General Reynold's division pa.s.sed our camp on another reconnoissance towards Woodbury and McMinnville.

Tuesday, April 21st. The men were this day--as well as several days previous--engaged in clearing up camp--hauling gravel and evergreens. The ground had been leveled off, and covered with gravel, and arbors and summer-houses built of evergreens, stables made for the horses, and our camp otherwise beautified. It now presented a cheerful appearance. From indications it appeared that we were to remain here for some time to come.

We were favored with fine weather--but little rain having fallen during the last month. Everything in nature looked beautiful.

Sat.u.r.day, April 25th. A teamster belonging to the brigade, while intoxicated, fell off his mule just in front of our camp. The wagon pa.s.sed over him, injuring him so severely that he died the same night. Could not learn his name, nor to what regiment he belonged.

Sunday, April 26th. Fourteen weeks this day since our arrival here.

Lieutenant Baldwin started for home, on a short furlough. Lieutenant Sypher was sent to Cleveland, on recruiting service, on the 22d inst. The teamster who was killed the day previous was buried this day.

Tuesday, April 28th. Had orders to hold ourselves ready to move at any moment. Considerable Rebel cavalry were daily seen hovering around our lines. Nothing very serious apprehended.

Thursday, April 30th. Regular two month's muster for pay. Our tents were also turned over to the Quarter-Master. We were to have what are termed ”shelter” tents, in place of our old ones. The men call them ”dog” tents, and they are rightly named. Although this was the day set apart, by President Lincoln, as a day of fasting and prayer, everything went on as usual in camp. The men said that they had done enough fasting.

Friday, May 1st. All the sick were this day sent to the hospital.

Sunday, May 3rd. Fifteen weeks this day at Cripple Creek. We were joined by two companies of the First Tennessee Cavalry. They went into camp on the flats across the creek. Regular brigade review.

Monday, May 4th. The One Hundred and Twentieth Illinois Infantry pa.s.sed our camp, going towards Murfreesboro. The regiment had been for some time in the Second brigade of General Palmer's division, but had been reduced by sickness and desertion, so that it did not then contain over one hundred and fifty effective men. The weather continued quite warm.

Tuesday, May 5th. The Twenty-Third Kentucky Infantry pa.s.sed our camp, on their way to take the place of the One Hundred and Tenth Illinois. Weather cloudy, with some rain.

Friday, May 8th. Lieutenant Baldwin returned from home, bringing numerous packages for the men, sent by their friends.

On Sunday, May 11th, J. P. Beers died, at noon. His disease was Typhoid fever. He hailed from Collamer, a few miles East of Cleveland, Ohio. At 3 o'clock a grand review of the entire brigade took place, after which the troops were formed in a hollow square, when Captain Standart was called out and presented, by General Cruft, on behalf of the officers of the brigade, with a beautiful flag for our Battery. But great was the Captain's surprise, when the General presented him with a splendid sword, as a mark of the respect and high estimation in which the officers of the brigade held him. General Cruft then made a neat little speech, which was happily responded to by Captain Standart.