July 14th, 1863

Bought tobacco for
the following men of
the Co. of Sut. 57th Ind.,
at 30 cts. a piece, to be
paid next pay day.
1 Elias J. DeLarne
2 J. C. Nelson
3 W. B. Nelson
4. C. J. Bishard
5. J. L. Moore
6. W. N. Jordan
7. D. L. Mackey
8. W. Travis
9. G. W. McClelland
10. W. Woods
11. J. S. Martin
12, G. Stevens Wm. Morton
13. J. R. Bratton
14. J. Burns
15. W. F. Nicholson
16. G. Rice
17. R. Haney
18 C. Clinesmith
19. C. J. Doll[-]
20. J. Read

April 28th, '63

Up at 3 1/2 A.M.
Rained some during
the night, & very slight-
ly this morning.

Hunter does not write again until July 14

April 27th, '63

Up every morning since
out at 3 o'clock.
At 2 P.M. we started
back toward Liberty, &
encamped within 2 1/2
miles of that place &
1 1/2 miles our former
camp.
A number of refugees
are with us on their
way north. the peo-
ple all along our line
of march say they are
in a very destitute, & some
in almost a starving
condition.
A shoemaker in Al-
exandria told me, -
showing a pair of shoes,
just such as are issued
by our Government for
$1.48, -- that he had
been offered $25 for
his shoes, & had re-fused it.
Most of Stokes'
cavalry was recruit-
ed in this part of
the Country.

William B. Stokes, Colonel of the 5th Tennessee Cavalry, U.S.A.

April 26th, '63

Remained in camp
to-day. Heard Rev.
McFarland preach
in the Campbellite
Church.

April 25th, '63

Returned to camp a-
bout 9 A.M., when we
all started to Alex-
andria; which place,
we reached about
12 M., & encamped.
Today we destroyed
the machinery of a
flouring mill, & also,
a carding machine.

April 24th, '63

Remained in Camp
to-day; about 3 P.M. our
reg't went on picket
two miles East of town.

April 23d, '63

Started at 3 o'clock
this morning, at about
9 A.M. came upon the
pike, & started in the
direction of Liberty, which
place we reached a-
bout 2 1/2 P.M. a flour-
ing mill, much used
by the rebels, was burn-
ed this afternoon. en-
camped about 1 mile
West of town.

April 22nd, '63

Started early this
morning, & marched
all day through a
well wooded -- for this
country, - & sparsely pop-
ulated country.

April 21st, '63

Started before sun-
rise this morning.
Passed through Wood-
bury about noon; a-
bout 3 P.M. we halted
to rest & await orders; &
having marched about
25 ms. Rested over an
hour when we started
again, turning to the left
off the pike on a dirt
road, & marching a-
bout 5 ms. we encamp-
ed for the night.
Our mounted infant-
ry & cavalry, in advance,
entered McMinnville to-
day, capturing over 100
of John Morgan's men
& burned two R.R. bridges
& a cotton factory.

April 20th, '63

We were yesterday or-
dered to have three
day's cooked rations
in haversacks, & three to
put in wagons, to be
ready to march when-
ever called upon.
Started this morn-
ing at 8 1/2 O'Clock, and
marched out the Mc
Minnville pike to Crip-
ple Creek, where a bri-
gade of our army is
encamped, guarding
a very high hill, used
as a post of observation
by our signal corps, &
which gives a view of
the Country for more
than 20 ms. from Mur-
freesboro, & which can
be seen from the Court
House in the that town; here
we halted & ate our din-
ners. This afternoon we
marched to a little
town, the name of which
is said to be spelled Rea-
dyville, & pronounced Res-
dyville, where another
brigade, performing like
duty with the one before
mentioned is stationed

"A strong Federal expedition patrolled from Murfreesboro to McMinnville, Tenn., April 20-30." Long, Civil War Day by Day.

March 4th, '63

Hunter did not write in his diary again until April 20th

March 3d, '63

Cloudy & cool.

March 2d, '63

Cloudy & cool most
of the day. I walked
to town & back to-day.
Part of the reg't
returned to-day with
some of the wagons
loaded & sent back.

March 1st, '63

Clear & warm.
Quite sick in the
morning.
Reg't. gone on foraging
expedition, with three
days rations.

Feb. 28th, '63

Cloudy this morning.
Pay rolls to be made
out to-day; inspection
& muster for pay, also.

Feb. 27th, '63

Warm & clear to-day;
moved over to camp
to my tent.
Men for the "Roll of
Honor" elected to-night.
Brady & I hired "Jim" from
to-morrow, at $10 per month, -
"'alf & 'alf."

1st Lt. John I. Brady, of Co. B, 97th Ohio

Feb. 26th, '63

Rained all night fu-
riously; rained all day.
Sent $250.00 home by
"State Pay Agent;" Williams
to order of Father.
Paid, to-day, to Foerster
& Bailey, Sutlers 97th
Ohio, $56.67, my ac-
count in full up to
this date.
John M. Archer died
to-day.

Pvt John M. Archer, Co. B., 97th Ohio

Feb. 25th, '63

Cloudy this morning;
began to rain about
noon, & has rained all
afternoon.
Our reg't. was paid to-
day up to the 31st of
Oct. '62. I was paid
only from the 9th of
Aug. '62, at which
time I reported a full
Company instead of
the 15th of July, when I
was appointed; & muster-
ed in by Capt. D[?]

Feb. 24th, '63

Light clouds par-
tially obscure the
sun, yet it is a
beautiful morning.
Not so well to-day.
Clear in the afternoon.

Feb. 23rd, '63

Clear & quite pleas-
ant to-day.
I ate my dinner &
supper in Camp.
My back quite pain-
ful. this morn-
ing the firing of
cannon at Nash-
ville was heard in
Camp.

Feb. 22d, '63

Ceased raining at
dark & did not rain
during the night; cloudy
& cold to-day.
Today being the anni-
versary of Washington's
birth day, a salute
of 34 guns was fired
by one battery in
each division.

Feb. 21st, '63

Cloudy & cool this morn-
ing; begun raining at
11 A.M.
Reg't. out foraging to-
day. Over to camp to-
day.

Feb 20th, '63

Quite pleasant to-day, -
sun shining.
signing pay rolls
this evening. Over to
camp again to-day.

Feb. 19th, '63

Cloudy with little
rain to-day
did not fall asleep
until 5 A.M. this morn-
ing
Walkded over to camp to-
day

Feb. 18th, '63

Rained all night &
still raining this morn-
ing. At about 8 A.M. the
brigade marched out to
the pike & up toward
town, -- tents still stand-
ing & men detailed to
guard Co. quarters.
Passed through town,
crossed the river on
the R.R. bridge, & were
variously employed
during the day, I'm
informed, in gather-
ing timber adrift in
the stream, repairing
the R.R. bridge, & re-
moving the pontoon
bridge into more
shallow water.
This evening they re-
turned to the old
camp to sleep in
the tents.
Rained ceased about
9 or 10 A.M. since
which time it has
been cloudy & cool, ap-
parently prepared to
renew the drenching
process on the slight-
est provocation & at
a moment's notice.
Pain in my head less
severe to-day.

Feb. 17th, '63

Rained all night;
cloudy but no rain
during the day; -- be-
gun raining at dark.
Our brigade is order-
ed to strike tents &
be ready to move at
7 A.M. to-morrow.

Feb. 16th, '63

Railroad communication
between Murfreesboro &
Nashville ^'was completed' on last Thurs-
day, (that by telegraph be-
ing previously perfected.)
Suffering to-day with
weakness & pain in my
back; symptoms of
Rheumatism in my legs
& arms.
This moring Capt.
Nicholas, (Co. H.) oc-
cupies the bed in
this room, vacated
recently by Lt. Rose-
man, (Co. A) who has
recovered, & who was
here sick on my
arrival.
I'm informed that
the reg't was called
into line at 4 A.M.
to-day, & remained there
until daylight, -- an
attack by the forces
under John Morgan being feared.

William E. Roseman of Co. A, 97th Ohio; no Captain Nicholas in the 97th Ohio.

Feb. 15th, '63

The rain fell in torrents
all night, but ceased
at day break.
It is cloudy & cool.
Walked over to Camp to-
day, & remained a short
time; rode back on our
kind Chaplain's horse.
Not so well to-day as
yesterday.
Seven months in the
service to-day.

Feb. 14th, '63

Early this morning
the sun shone out bright-
ly, but before long it
was obscured by clouds, --
shortly after noon
it commenced rain-
ing & has rained all
afternoon & continues
unabated, (9 P.M.)
Although to-day is
St. Valentine's day, I
have rec'd "niver a
letter."
Feel quite well to-day.

Feb. 13th, '63

Still regaining my
health, & strength.
Clear nearly all day,
but quite cool.

Feb. 12th, '63

Cloudy & some rain.
Feel very well to-day.

Feb. 11th, '63

Still recovering health
& strength, I hope.
Clear & pleasant to-
day.
Have pains in my
joints, premonitory,
I fear, of rheumatism.
I neglected to mention,
in its proper place, that
the country around No-
lansville & Triune is very
hilly & broken, in places,
even mountainous; but
from Eagleville towards
Murfreesboro it is low,
flat & marshy.

Feb. 10th, '63

Still feel quite well,
but very weak.
this ^'morning' went out of my
room, for the first
time since I entered it.

Feb. 9th, '63

To-day passed off quiet-
ly & Oh! how wearily, a
sick man only knows.
I am rapidly convales-
cent, to-day.

Feb 8th, '63

cloudy & cool today.
Feel much better to-
day.
Firing of musketry, & ca-
nonading, heard on our
right again today.
An attack was appre-
hended this morning.

Feb. 2d, '63

Clear & bright this
morning.


From this day until the 8th
I have been unable to note
occurrences. I've been inform-
ed that there has been nothing
unusual, except some skirmish-
ing, with occasional firing
of cannon, on the right.
Have been much worse.

Feb. 1st, '63

This morning, some ex-
citement created by heav-
y firing of musketry
on our right, & a report
that an engagement
was in progress; but
it proved that it was
nothing more than the
firing off of guns, pre-
paratory to inspection of
arms, -- to-day being
Sunday, the day for
inspection.
Not so well to-day.

Jan. 31st, '63

Not quite so well
to-day.

Jan , 29 30th, '63

About as usual to-
day.

Jan. 29th, '63

To-day I was brought
to the house (Mrs. John-
son's) where I anow am.
Very little better.

Jan. 18th, '63

From this day un-
til the 29th, I was
so unwell that I'm
unable to recollect, dis-
tinctly, what occurred,
but I guess there was
nothing unusual.

Jan. 17th, '63

Clear & cold this morn-
ing. Felt quite sick to-
day. Reported that 80 ft.
of the R.R. bridge was wash-
ed away.

Jan 16th, '63

Up late this morning.
I feel very badly to-day.
Snowed all night & until
near noon to-day.
cloudy & cold all day.

Jan. 15th, '63

At day light it became
much colder, the rain freez-
ing as soon as it fell.
At 9 A.M. we moved on to
higher ground, where we re-
mained until about noon,
shivering around our fires,
with nothing to eat, at that
time we started for camp;
the rain had by this time
turned to snow. We march-
ed rapidly until 4 1/2 P.M.,
wading 10 or 12 streams
most of which were knee
deep, when we arrived in
camp. The water had been
in my tent, but Jim prepared
me some supper, & we slept
tolerably comfortably.

Jan. 14th, 63

Up at 5 A.M. -- moved a-
bout day light, directly
back on the pike leading from
Nashville to Nolansville, & from
that place to Shelbyville. At
about 7 A.M., it commenced
to rain & rained incessantly
all day and all night. We
moved on that pike un-
til about 2 P.M. when we
turned to the left on the Ea-
glesville pike, which, also leads
to Shelbyville; at Eaglesville
we again turned to the left into
the pike leading from Mur-
freesboro to [blank space] &
marching about 4 ms. we en-
camped; after dark, 13 ms. from
Murfreesboro. About 6 ms.
from Nolansville, today, we
passed through a town of
a dozen houses, called by
the negroes Tyrine, by the
whites Tyree (Trinne)
To-night is the most un-
comfortable I ever spent; the
rain is pouring upon us in
torrents, & the water stands
in pools over the ground.
We are unable to sleep or
even lie down.
God pity the soldier!
We have nothing to
eat save fat side meat.

Jan. 13th, '63

Up at 1 o'clock this morn-
ing, & started at 2.
Marched through town,
re-crossed the river at the
place of crossing, traveled
over fields & through the
woods and by by-roads,
in a South Westerley di-
rection, until about 4
P.M. where we came to
a halt, on the Nolans-
ville pike about 3 ms. West
of that place, to make some
coffee & eat dinner. Our
force consisted of 9 reg'ts
inf. 2 batteries, without
caissons, and a consid-
erable body of Cavalry --
from day light until
our halt at 4 P.M., I had
my Co. deployed as flank-
ers on the left flank of
the reg't. After resting about
an hour, we started again,
& moved to within about
1/2 mile of the town, where
we halted & encamped for
the night. It rained a
little during the night.
Saw no enemy.

The 97th Ohio was part of the Union reconnaissance to Nolensville and Versailles, Tennessee, January 13-15.

Jan. 12, '63

Clear & warm to-day.
Mr. [Simon] Elliott buried at 3 P.M.
At 4 P.M. ordered to be
ready to march, with 2
day's rations in Havre-
sacks, at a moments notice.
At Tattoo (7 P.M.) notified
that we would march at
1 A.M. to-morrow.

Jan. 11th, '63

Clear and warm this
morning. A bright Sab-
bath; the atmosphere is
as pleasant and balmy
as that of a May morn-
ing at home.The whole
Country around here is
drained by subterranean
rivers, which frequent-
ly appear above the sur-
face in low ground; they
however run but a
short distance when they plunge
into the earth. The coun-
try here is certainly as
fine as man could wish.
Being even, fertile, & well
wooded and watered.
Fortifications are being
constructed in front of
our division, to-day.
Relieved from picket at
3 P.M. Pay rolls to be
made out immediately.
Cars on the other side of the
river last Thursday evening.
Simon Elliott died at 10 P.M.

Simon Elliott was a private in Co. B.

Jan. 10th, '63

Called into line at 5 A.M.,
& remained until daylight,
it still raining.
Go on picket at 3 P.M.
Ceased raining about 9 A.M.,
& sun shining at M.
Reported that they have
the smallpox at a house
not 300 yds. from our camp.
Went on picket about a
mile West of our camp; my
H. Qrs. in a house for press-
ing cotton, & near the residence
of a Lieut. in rebel army -^'(Mrs. Johnson,)'
his wife, negroes, a rebel
surgeon, & a private are there.
His property is protected by
guards from our army!
Quite cool last night.

Jan. 9th, '63

Reported that we will
change camps to-day.
My Co. goes on picket,
tonight. At 1 P.M. the
right wing of the reg't.
struck tents, & moved
off toward town; we
will follow when the
wagons return.
Marched up to the sub-
burbs of town, where we
turned to the right & move-
ed in a south westerly di-
rection about 3/4 of a mile.
Pitched tents after dark.
Rained nearly all night.
Did not go on picket
to-night.

Jan. 8th, '63

Remained in
camp to-day. Our tents
arrived about noon;
the first we have seen
of them since leaving
Nashville. Plenty of
crackers to-day.

Jan. 7th, '63

Ordered to be ready to
march at 7 A.M.
Marched at that time,
on the pike toward town,
crossed the river above
the R.R. bridge, passed
through the town & out
the pike about 3/4 of
a mile toward [blank space]
where we turned to the
right about 1/2 mile, when
we were making prepara-
tions to go into camp,
when we were ordered
to fall in. Marched
left in front back
across the pike & to
the left & toward town,
about a mile from it, when
we encamped in a beauty-
ful wood.

Jan. 6th, '63

Came off picket
this morning. Rain-
ed last night.
Remained in camp
to-day.

Jan. 5th, '63

All quiet this A.
M. At noon our reg't.
went on picket out to
the left. Murfreesboro
is ours. Nothing un-
usual occurred on pick-
et.

Jan. 4th, '63

It is Sabbath, &
the rain ceasing, we are
now trying to dry our
wet & muddy clothes.
All quiet during the day.
Report current that
Murfreesboro is evacua-
ted. About sun set
heard the firing ^'of' one or
tw0 cannons in front.
Our forces again cross the river.

Jan. 3d, '63

Still raining, & contin-
ued all day & night, at
times, in torrents. Not
enough food to satisfy
the gnawing of our keen
appetites. Went on picket
this morning with my co.
Quiet most of the day except
picket firing. This eve-
ning our brigade relieved
for to-night & brought back
to the "second line"' in a
wood on the bank of
the river, where the mud
was terrible, & the rain
pelted us pitilessly.
About midnight we were
aroused from our wet
and comfortless beds, &
ordered to fall in im-
mediately; which we
did, & were marched
left in front back over
the river, which was
much swollen by the
heavy rain, -- it, in places,
in crossing, being above
our knees. We marched
back about a mile to
the rear of our former
position, on the Murfrees-
boro pike. This position
being given to our di-
vision to allow it rest.
Our forces have all
recrossed the river, on
account, I presume, of
the sudden rise in the
water.

Jan. 2d, '63

This morning changed
a little to the left, by
which my company is
placed in an open field.
There [we put?] up a barricade of
cedar brush and rails
as a protection against
rifle balls. matters re-
mained about as yes-
terday, until between 3
& 4 P.M. when the
rebels advanced in
heavy force upon our
men, & on the other side
of the river, at the
same time a [?]
[smeared an illegible line]
was poured upon us, but
with little effect. At
the onset our forces
fell back under the
pressure of the overwhelm-
ing force of the enemy,
but, in turn, they drove
the rebels, regaining their
former position, & driv-
ing the enemy from the
field in confusion. At
this time we moved a-
cross, wading the river,
& took a position on the
left flank of our forces
on that side, still in ad-
vance. Shortly after night
fall, it commenced rain-
ing, & rained, unceasingly
during the night; we be-
ing engaged part of the
time in erecting a heavy
barricade of rails.
In the affair of this eve-
ning, we took a battery
& a flag. Rations very
short.

Battle of Murfreesboro or Stone's River resumes

Jan. 1st, 1863

This morning, the first of
the new year, finds me
still alive, by the mer-
cy of God, having yes-
terday passed through
one of the most terrific
and sanguinary conflicts
of the age, and which,
Heaven grant! may be
the last one in which
the peril of our coun-
try may require us
to participate, or even
witness. Our reg't. is,
as it has been since
we arrived here, in
the advance, occupy-
ing a position in
a narrow point of
woods, about 600 yds
in rear of our position of
yesterday, where we were
ordered by Gen'l Rose-
crans, in person.
Our position a very ex-
posed one, being directly
under the fire of a reb
-el battery, which, to my
notion, is skillfully work-
ed; a battery of ours is
posted on an eminence
on our left which neces-
sarily [draws?] upon us the
fire of the enemy's cannon.
Two brigades of our forces
crossed the river to-day on
the left. Constant firing a-
long both picket lines; near
noon, heavy firing of mus-
ketry & occasional firing of
cannon on the right.
About 4 o'clock, the reb-
el battery in front of
us opened & shelled us
furiously for an hour,
but without effect.
Quiet during the night.

Battle of Murfeesboro or Stones River