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