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

Hancock’s Diary: or, A History of The Second Tennessee Cavalry.–Richard R. Hancock.

Tuesday, 10th.—After a march of about sixteen miles, our company (E) went into camp within three miles of Jamestown.

We are now marching over the same road and in the same direction that we did in August. The other two companies are coming on. I suppose that we were separated as a matter of convenience in procuring forage for our horses.

Monday, 9th.—J. L. Thomas and I set out from Mr. Lathan’s to hunt our command. After a ride of about twenty-four miles, we found our Company at Monroe, in Overton County, six or eight miles north-east of Livingston, on their way to Knoxville. The other two companies, B and C, were beyond Livingston.

Brother Ben, who had taken brother Will home from Camp Schuyler, rejoined the company. It was about this time that Captain Payne left the battalion, and Duncan was made Captain of Company D.

Thursday, 5th.—McNairy moved from Camp McGinnis to Livingston, where he remained about five days.

Post image for “…we arrested those who were hiding out from home or thought to be preparing to go north, if we could find them.”–Richard R. Hancock, Second Tennessee Cavalry.

Monday, 5th.—We moved on to Camp Zollicoffer. about two miles north-west of Livingston. Here we found the Twenty-fifth Tennessee Infantry, Colonel S. S. Stanton’s Regiment. And about this time, or soon after, the Twenty-eighth, Colonel J. P. Murray’s Regiment, was organized at this camp. The other three companies of our battalion joined us here. After resting one day at Camp Zollicoffer, the whole battalion took up the line of march again. (Beg pardon, dear reader—right here I find another leaf of my Diary gone.) However, from Livingston the First Battalion marched east to Jamestown, thence south-east to Montgomery, then the county seat of Morgan County, and thence four miles east, through Wartburg, now the county seat of Morgan, to Camp Schuyler, arriving at the last place mentioned on the 14th of August, where we remained one week.

We found that a majority of the men through this portion of East Tennessee had either crossed over into Kentucky to join the Federal army or hid out in the woods. It was reported, before reaching Montgomery, that we would meet a considerable force of “Home Guards” at that place, but they left before we got there. We saw one woman and one child as we passed through the county seat of Morgan County, but not a single man was to be seen. A “Union” man who remained at home and attended to his own business we did not molest, but we arrested those who were hiding out from home or thought to be preparing to go north, if we could find them.

Monday, 2d.—Passing down Cumberland Mountain, the three companies bivouacked at Camp McGinnis, on Wolf River, some ten miles north of Jamestown.

As I was sick of the measles, I remained for a week with one Mr. Lathan, who lived one mile from Camp McGinnis. One of my comrades, J. L. Thomas, remained with me.

Sunday, September 1st. — McNairy moved on to and camped for the night at Jamestown.

Saturday, 31st.—Companies B, C and E very gladly bid Huntsville adieu, and, moving westward, bivouacked on the Jamestown road.

Post image for “…they were not willing to divide rations with ‘Rebs’”.–Richard R. Hancock, Second Tennessee Cavalry.

Thursday, 27th.—The writer and a few others were sent to a gap in the mountain, about twelve miles north of Huntsville and within three miles of the Kentucky line, to watch for a Federal paymaster whom Madame Rumor had said would pass through that section. We had only been stationed a few hours, however, when Colonel McNairy, having received orders to move to Jamestown the next day, sent for us to return to camp immediately, though, on account of rain and high water, we remained at Huntsville three days longer.

Scott was rather a poor county, and as the people were mostly “Union,” they were not willing to divide rations with “Rebs”; therefore we suffered more for want of rations while at Huntsville than anywhere else during the war, while in camp.

Wednesday, 21st.– McNairy moved his battalion from Camp Schuyler, about thirty miles north, to Huntsville, the county seat of Scott County. This was the day of the noted “Big August” freshet. It rained so much that our wagon train did not get to Huntsville until next day. We took-shelter in the court-house.

Companies A and D were detached on the 25th and sent back to Camp Schuyler.

Post image for Measles!–Richard R. Hancock, Second Tennessee Cavalry.

Thursday, 15th.—Seventy-five of our battalions set out from Camp Schuyler to go to Knoxville, about forty miles east, with some prisoners. They returned the 17th.

The measles broke out in camp while at Camp Schuyler.1

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1 J. C. McAdoo and brother Will (Company E) had the measles, and went home from this camp. Brother Ben went with them.