Following the American Civil War Sesquicentennial with day by day writings of the time, currently 1863.

Saturday, October 18, 2014

Tuesday, 18th.—Passed through Broom Town; crossed the Alabama line and camped at Waterloo Springs.

Monday, 17th.—Marched through Summerville, going to the left of Alpine. Yanks in Ship’s Gap.

October 18th. All quiet since the last date. Nothing special to record. Our regular routine has been going on through the days, picket and labor. When time permits we have to drill and have dress parade. Sunday morning inspection comes regular.

Etowah Bridge, Tuesday, Oct. 18. Three teams and six men gone a-foraging with two days’ rations. They go up into Cherokee County. Our horses have nothing, only what is foraged for them and grazing once a day, but the grass is getting dry. McCook’s Cavalry that have laid here for several weeks, broke camp this morning and marched northward. Worked this forenoon. In the afternoon wrote to my old comrade E. W. E., but there is no prospect of it reaching him soon. Weather beautiful.

October 18th.—Ten pleasant days I owe to my sister. Kate has descended upon me unexpectedly from the mountains of Flat Rock. We are true sisters; she understands me without words, and she is the cleverest, sweetest woman I know, so graceful and gracious in manner, so good and unselfish in character, but, best of all, she is so agreeable. Any time or place would be charming with Kate for a companion. General Chesnut was in Camden; but I could not wait. I gave the beautiful bride, Mrs. Darby, a dinner, which was simply perfection. I was satisfied for once in my life with my own table, and I know pleasanter guests were never seated around any table whatsoever.

My house is always crowded. After all, what a number of pleasant people we have been thrown in with by war’s catastrophes. I call such society glorious. It is the windup, but the old life as it begins to die will die royally. General Chesnut came back disheartened. He complains that such a life as I lead gives him no time to think.

Tuesday, 18th—We started early this morning and reached Lafayette at 9 o’clock. We lay there for two hours when we took up our march for Summerville, Georgia, and went into bivouac within four miles of the town. The rebels are still moving to the north through the Blue mountains. We had two days’ rations left in our haversacks this morning, when we received orders from the quartermaster that they would have to run us four days, as we could not draw any before that time. No news from the Eastern army.

18th. Tuesday. All quiet. 2nd Ohio returned.

Tuesday, October 18. — A letter from Stephenson congratulating- me on my election by twenty-four hundred majority. Iln the] First District, Eggleston has seventeen hundred majority. Still busy on entrenchments.

La Fayette, October 18, 1864.

Our brigade was marching through Cane Creek Valley yesterday until 4 p.m., when we struck out for this place five miles, which we made in one and one-half hours. Nice little town almost surrounded with half-mountains. There has been a pair of cavalry fights here, the fruits whereof can be seen in an addition to the cemetery, near which we are bivouacked, some 25 Rebel graves, and half as many Yankees. Divers fair creatures can be seen here, chiefly Rebels; I have thought though, to-day, much Union. We are now bound for Rome.

Tuesday, October 18. — Captain Amory received his box from home, with several Northern papers and books. Gave me a shirt and a pair of drawers, which Major Anderson sent me. There was a large meeting in town last night to consider Mr. Boyce’s letter. Had a drunkard in the lock-up who amused us. I was measured yesterday for a pair of shoes, to be finished by Saturday, by one Flannigan. Colonel Marshall received a letter saying he would be exchanged.