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.