Huntsville, Sunday, March 6. A most delightful day. On guard. Second relief. —— still under arrest. Knapsack inspection at 8 A. M. as usual. Preaching in camp at 2 P. M. Very good, by member of Christian Commission.
Thursday, March 6, 2014
Scottsboro, Ala., March 6, 1864.
By marching 21 miles on the railroad ties we reached “home” yesterday, after an absence of 24 days, in which we traveled 280 miles. Altogether it was a very pleasant trip, although the first 10 nights were almost too cold for outdoor sleeping. I kept a “sort” of a diary of this trip in a memorandum book, and being too lazy to copy, tore out the leaves and mailed to you. You should receive three letters of that kind. One about the “Wills Valley” trip, one of the march from here to Cleveland, and the third of the trip from Cleveland to Dalton and back. The rain was pouring down when we received orders to start home from Chattanooga and it rained almost until night. We marched 16 miles without a rest, and did it in five hours. Did exactly the same thing next day, although it did not rain. This was from Oltewah to Chattanooga. In addition to this march I took a look over the part of Mission Ridge where our regiment fought, and also climbed Lookout mountain. The 103d, the brigade they were with, undoubtedly got the hottest part of the whole Lookout, and Mission Ridge fight. The nature of the ground was such that not a shot was fired by either side until they were within 200 yards of each other, when our men charged. Some of our boys were killed a little to the right of, but on a line with the Rebel guns. The trees and shrubs show marks of extraordinary hot musketry work. I cut a hickory walking stick right where our men commenced the charge. This hickory stood by an oak that I should think was hit by 400 musket and canister balls. It helped me later in the day to climb Lookout Mountain. I think the view from Lookout worth 1,000 miles travel. The high mountains of Western North Carolina, and the Blue Mountains of Virginia are very plainly seen from the summit. There is a summer retreat, some 40 or 50 nice houses with public hall and school on top.
6th. Sunday. Thede and I attended Prof. Thome’s church with the friends. Communion. Season of rich feasting. Benefited. P. M. went to S. S. Bible class. Adah sang S. S. hymns. Of course nearly went up. Evening heard Mr. Thome. Quiet visit with Adah.
[Diary] March 6, 1864.
As Brister was away, Lame John saddled Charley and I went down to Frogmore[1] for Harriet’s buggy, which I brought home. Charley was in fine spirits and cantered well. I had a funny time getting him on when Dr. Hunting, who was riding with me, turned down to Dr. Pope’s. He would canter after him, and when at last I got him turned short off in a cornfield, he sounded a call for the other horse every minute and kept looking about eagerly. The woods on fire stopped me, and I had to turn miles out of the way. It is too bad that such large tracts are being burned over, and the trees killed or injured. I saw several gigantic pines which had been chipped into holes in the trunk by the people getting “lighters,” and the turpentine in these holes in the trunk, when ignited, burned like fire in great fireplaces.
[1] The plantation which Miss Towne later bought.
Sunday, 6th—The weather is quite pleasant today, and has been for several days. We had company inspection early this morning, and in the afternoon we had preaching in camp, followed by dress parade at 5 o’clock.
by John Beauchamp Jones
MARCH 6TH.—My birthday—55. Bright and frosty; subsequently warm and pleasant. No news. But some indignation in the streets at the Adjutant-General’s (Cooper) order, removing the clerks and putting them in the army, just when they had, by their valor, saved the capital from flames and the throats of the President and his cabinet from the knifes of the enemy. If the order be executed, the heads of the government will receive and merit execration. It won’t be done.
March 6.—A cavalry force, sent out from Cumberland, Md., under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Root, of the Fifteenth New-York cavalry, returned, having effectually destroyed all the saltpetre works near Franklin, in Pendleton County.—The English steamer Mary Ann, while attempting to run the blockade of Wilmington, N. C, was captured by the Union steamer Grand Gulf—The sloop G. Garibaldi was seized at Jupiter Inlet, Florida, while trying to run the blockade with a cargo of cotton.
March 6th. Sunday. Cloudy and cold. Attended church in town. Wrote letters. Late this afternoon marching orders received. Leave camp on the morrow for parts unknown to us. Soldiers must obey orders and not ask questions. At times some movements look very foolish to us. We often wish the war was over and we could go marching homeward. The people suffer very much from the effects of the war. Thankful it is no nearer to old Connecticut. The guerillas and scouts keep us on the alert all the time as they are liable to show up at any time. They raid trains on the B. & O. R. R. Seem to know when they can make a good haul.
