Thursday, 19th—We started our drove of cattle early this morning and the brigade broke camp at 8 o’clock and followed. We reached Pulaski at 2 o’clock, a distance of sixteen miles, and went into camp. Our road, rough and rocky, followed a winding creek which I think we had to wade twenty-four times during the day. I was corporal guard last night and having had no sleep, the hard day’s march has almost worn me out.
Good news came from the Eastern army, also from the Cumberland army. The report is that General Grant has had a six days’ fight at Richmond and that the rebels are whipped and on the retreat.
Wednesday, 18th—The troops in advance of us started early this morning, but our brigade did not move until 11 o’clock. We had a hard day’s march, having to cross a large swamp, wade four creeks, and cross one river twice: yet we covered fourteen miles with the cattle, and got into bivouac near Clarenceville[1] at 9 o’clock at night. Many of the men got sore feet, as a result of being in the water so much and then having to walk the rough, stony roads. The town of Clarenceville, they say, is almost deserted, only a few of the meaner sort of people remaining.
[1] This must have been Lawrenceburg, the county seat of Lawrence county, and on a direct line between Waynesburg and Pulaski.—Ed.
Tuesday, 17th—We marched fifteen miles today. Our brigade had the cattle in charge and at 10 o’clock we had to stop and let them rest, the heat and rough stony roads being too much for them. The other brigades of our corps passed us, going on ahead. We started again at 4 o’clock, but did not catch up with our corps and go into bivouac until late at night. In the country we passed through, only now and then are there small clearings with log huts. The people are poor and schoolhouses are very scarce through here.
Monday, 16th—Reveille sounded at 3 o’clock and at 5 we started on our way to Waynesburg. We reached the place at noon and went into camp for the rest of the day. The troops kept coming in from Clifton all the afternoon.[1] Our corps, the Seventeenth, is all together again, and now in command of General F. P. Blair. We have fine weather for marching, but the roads are very rough and stony, making it hard on our feet. The water is plentiful and very good, there being some healthful springs about here.
[1] They all left Clifton for Huntsville, Alabama. —A. G. D.
Sunday, 15th—We had regimental inspection this morning at 10 o’clock. Two regiments came out from Clifton as reinforcements for ours. We turned over all our tents, except one for every five men and this evening received orders to be ready to march in the morning at 5 o’clock for Waynesburg, Tennessee. Jason Sparks arrived this evening from Iowa to join our company. He is well and happy.
Saturday, 14th—The weather is quite warm and pleasant. A large fleet of transports arrived at Clifton this morning, loaded with troops and supplies, the wagons and teams of the Seventeenth Corps being on board. We also received a large mail.
News came that General Grant had defeated the rebels in a two days’ battle before Richmond, though he lost about twenty thousand in killed and wounded. The news is almost too good to believe. All is quiet here in the West. We are still herding cattle, but think we shall soon be relieved.
Friday, 13th—I went out as corporal of the picket this evening at 5 o’clock. There was in all a detail of one hundred and twelve sent out from the two regiments, besides the commissioned and non-commissioned officers. The guards are stationed from one to two miles from camp, where the cattle are corralled.
Thursday, 12th—It is very foggy this morning and our camp is low and unhealthy. We had inspection this morning and then company drill for an hour. John White and I then took a walk, and going outside of the pickets, we climbed some very high bluffs and found some of the nicest springs that I have ever seen. The country is very rough and heavily timbered with chestnut and scrub oak. There are a few little clearings with log huts. Our teams went back to Clifton this morning for rations.
Wednesday, 11th—I was in a detail of a hundred men, with my corporal’s squad, to go out on cattle guard. We had to herd about a thousand head of our beef cattle. At noon we were called in and our regiment, together with the Twentieth Illinois, was ordered to strap on our knapsacks, strike our tents and drive the cattle out about five miles farther on. We left our camp at 2 o’clock and at 3 reached Hardin’s creek, in the direction of Huntsville, Alabama, where we found better range for the cattle, which was the object. There is more danger here of the rebel cavalry’s making a raid and stampeding the herd, but it is thought our force is sufficiently large to guard the cattle.
Tuesday, 10th—We had an all day rain, and there was no drill or dress parade. The country around Clifton is very rough. There are but a few small farms, found only in the bottom land. Clifton is on the east bank of the Tennessee river about twenty-five miles below Savannah. The town has been burned and the people driven out, there being only four or five of the thirty log huts standing.
