Afterwards

William F. Hunter, a lawyer in civilian life, survived the war and eventually became dean of the Ohio State University College of Law. His correspondence and other papers relating to the Civil War and 97th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry are in the Ohio Historical Society, Columbus. Ohio.

1863 December 29th

Started for Strawberry
plains on cars about 10 A.M.
& reached there about 11 1/2 P.M.
Brig. G. S. S. being there for
bread, I came out with
him, arriving at Camp,
which is on the bank
of the river, 6 ms. from
the station.
So ends the Chapter.

1863 December 28th

Reached London about
8 A.M. Landed opposite
the town. the rebel
works there as seen
from this side of
the river are insig-
nificant. The bridge
here is burned.
Rain has ceased but
it is cloudy & cold.
Made a fire near the
Rail road, & trying to make
ourselves "at home" until
2 P.M. when, it is said,
the Cars will arrive.
35 Ky. encamped here.
Cars arrived about 12 M.
Started about 3 1/2 P.M.
"Stauled" once on up
grade. Reached Knoxville
about 8 P.M. -- 4 1/2 hours
going 35 ms. A.P.M. per-
mitted us to sleep on
the floor of his room
in the Court House.

1863 December 27

Sunday. Still rain-
ing. The boat goes
at the rate of-
well, I don't know
just how much, -
but she goes, or the
trees on the bank
have all started down
the river. Rained all
day & night. the rain
comes into our "Cabin"
without being invited.
The boat had to "lay to"
for several hours
during the night owing
to the fog.

1863 Dec. 26th

Started to rejoin the
brigade at Blanes X
Roads, 18 ms. from
Knoxville. Got aboard
the Steam boat "Chatta-
nooga," which got under
way about 9 P.M.
Cabin consists of
a light frame work
of pine, over which
is thrown some pieces
of old tent. No
stove in our part
of the aforesaid Cabin!
Unpleasantly cool.
Rained all day & night.
Fare: "Hard tack & coffee,"
& "do your own Cooking."

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.