Mrs. Lyon’s Diary.
Jonesboro, April 7.—The General sent his ambulance for me to ride in this morning. I am very glad, I shall be much more comfortable. He apologized for not doing it before. He said he thought I had been provided for more comfortably, and that he would see that I was supplied with all the comforts he could command.
We came through very comfortably, and have found a good, large house to live in. We have the parlor, and a large room with a good bed, where we can rest very well.
Colonel Lyon.
Written at Greenville.
We made a long march and reached here, 75 miles above Knoxville, last evening. We have orders to move on to Jonesboro, 35 miles further. Adelia travels in an ambulance, and we are well and happy.
The 13th did not vote. I know that I am beaten and I did not care to swell my vote with that of my own regiment. They would all have voted for me. I have never expected for a moment to be elected. I suppose I am defeated by at least 5,000. I know that some of my best friends were committed to Judge Noggle long before I was nominated, and could not do otherwise than support him.
Everybody is in good spirits over the news from Richmond.
–
Mrs. Lyon’s Diary.
Greenville, April 6, 1865.—There seems to be no rest for us. Yesterday we were indulging in the hope of staying here for some time and had quite a settled feeling. If I had not been tired I would have unpacked my trunks, but I was fortunate in not doing so. We are again ordered to march to Jonesboro, 35 miles farther. I shall have to go behind the mules again.
We started. The mules ran down the hill as usual, and when we were three miles out we broke an axle. I then rode in an ambulance for ten miles, seated with the driver. Stayed here all night. Some of the boys march right along with us over these mountains to keep the ambulance from turning over, the road is so steep and sidling. I had much rather march than to ride in this way, but they will not allow me to for fear I will get sick; and then we have to ford so many rivers, when I have to be in the carriage. I sometimes think we never can get up and down the bank; but I find it much better sitting with the driver. Since we have been on this march some of the men run on ahead of the regiment, when we are to stop over night, and gather hay or straw, or get pine boughs for me to sleep on. They do not seem to think that I am in the way at all. They have shown me so much kindness in preparing something for me to sleep on, I shall never forget it.
Mrs. Lyon’s Diary.
April 5.—We marched through to Greenville, 19 miles. I was the only lady from the 13th. We started off behind balky mules. They ran down every hill, and would not go up the hills. They finally ran off a bridge at the bottom of a hill. Colonel McConnell came to my rescue and I then rode with Mrs. Moody in a pleasant ambulance with the 2d Division. Got to camp and put up the tent to stay. We think we will get a good rest here.
Mrs. Lyon’s Diary.
Bull’s Gap, April 4.—I expect we shall stay here some time, they are so nicely situated. The whole 4th Corps makes a fine show in camp. We shall settle down now and have a nice visit after all.
Later.—We have just had orders to march to Greenville at six o’clock in the morning. What a long rest!
Mrs. Lyon’s Diary.
April 3.—We were nearly all day on the road. Had dinner on the cars, what the men had provided for themselves, about like a soldier’s dinner, something to keep the stomach from getting empty. William met us at the depot. We walked to the camp. They have selected a very pleasant spot about half a mile from the depot, and all the way up hill. I was so glad to get there.
Mrs. Lyon’s Diary.
April 2.—Mr. and Mrs. Pierce, Mr. and Mrs. Moulton and I went to the cemetery. Mr. Pierce is a very strong Union man. When we got there he was not afraid to express himself. He would like to get away from here.
The Adjutant went yesterday to Bull’s Gap to help with the month’s report. He has returned today. William sent for me to go up there to see him again. They do not know how long they may stay there. Mrs. Moulton and Minerva will have to go on a wagon with the trunks. They have made up a train with a pony engine and one box car, and that is all there is to use this side of the break in the road. They are not willing to take passengers, but decided that they would take the Adjutant and me.
Mrs. Lyon’s Diary.
New Market, March 30.—Cool and rainy. We find these people very friendly. They are very glad to accommodate us. Mrs. Pierce showed us a room in the center of the house that they built on purpose to protect her husband and boys when they come home. Mr. Pierce is home now. He is not well, and the rebels let him alone, but they are bent on getting the boys, because they are Union boys.
Our life is very monotonous. It seems too bad to stay here when the regiment is so near, only about thirty-five miles from here. Mrs. Moulton and I took a long walk over the hills. It is a very pretty country. A little girl brought me a nice bouquet because we are Union people; but this family are very careful about talking, for fear of being heard. They shut the doors if they want to talk.
Mrs. Lyon’s Diary.
March 29, 1865.—After the march of yesterday it took some courage to get started. The Adjutant and Jerry went with us. The Adjutant went to town for a conveyance for us, and we had to say good-bye to our husbands. The Adjutant found a mule team and double wagon, and we all got in with our traps and went to the depot. We waited there for the train, but it did not come on time. After a while we learned that it had run through a bridge and would not be in for several days. The Adjutant then found a place in town where we might stay a few days. We are making ourselves as comfortable as we can. We are staying with a Union family who are Quakers.
Mrs. Lyon’s Diary.
March 28, 1865.—We started this morning at six o’clock. We went over the mountains, and forded the rivers. There is only a track for one horse, and we are traveling with six mules. The people here all ride horseback and have no use for roads. I have been very nervous all day. We went through places where there is no road, and it seemed impossible to get through. But we did, however, get through to New Market about five o’clock. We came through Strawberry Plains. Had our dinner there, coffee and hard crackers again.
The 4th Army Corps makes a large army. They put up the tent and we ate our supper and thought we should be there for some time. We fixed up our bed as well as we could and I went to bed. This was my first experience in sleeping on the ground. William and the Adjutant sent over to town and found that they were ordered to go to Bull’s Gap at six o’clock tomorrow morning. In coming from town they rode over an opossum. The darkies were much pleased to get it. They sat up nearly all night in order to have it for breakfast.
Now we have gotten to the end of the railroad and we women must go back to Knoxville. The Adjutant goes with us. William left him to take care of us. We had to get up early to get packed again to move.
Mrs. Lyon’s Diary.
March 27.—We took the train yesterday towards night, the road having been repaired. Today we got to Knoxville. We found orders that they were to guard and conduct a train of ambulances across the country, and the men were to march. I expected to go back from Knoxville, but William says that I shall not go home, but go as far as they go with the train, for there is plenty of ambulance room. We went ten miles on a fearful road over the mountains.
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