P. M. we again took the road and an easy march of
six miles took us to camp on a good creek, an old fashioned breast-wheel
grist mill close by, the name I did not learn. The first five miles was
a flat timbered country, uncultivated, but when we came towards the
creek it broke up in hills and rocks where poor folks lived and picked
up a scanty living. As soon as we approached camp, guns were heard in
every direction, more than last night. Several bullets flew directly
over camp, but fortunately nobody was hurt. Officers of the day and
staff officers galloped in every direction endeavoring to stop it. A
camp guard was thrown around the infantry with orders to keep all men
from going in who had guns. But General Smith had commenced too late to
stop this Division from foraging. The guards sat down and always looked
the wrong way, and meat in plenty was brought. Our mess had laid in a
supply early in the morning: six chickens, a beef and a goose was our
stock for eight men. Mail received late in the evening but I received
"nary" one.

Gilbertsboro, Ala., Thursday, Nov. 5. Thanks to the corporal of the
guard we did not get up till nearly 4 A. M. this morning, as he slept
and did not wake the orderly at the proper time. But we had to hurry up
to start at 5 A. M. which was a good while before daylight. Left the 3rd
Brigade behind. They were just having reveille. A cloudy morning.
Marched six miles through a flat country heavily timbered, with
excellent soil, but entirely uncultivated. It lies in the hands of
speculators. When we neared Sugar Creek it became bluffy and rocky,
which was all fenced and cultivated by poor folks. Came up to the 2nd
Brigade here and we halted three hours to allow them to get out of the
way. We went to a neighboring corn crib, and shelled nose bags full of
corn. Commenced raining very heavily. At 1 P. M. we hitched and started
out. The rain fell in torrents but the boys were as merry as ever and
forgot the wet in singing. Halting, the infantry built a bridge across
the stream with rails. Marched very lively over a hilly road but rich
valley. The clay, which in dry weather made good roads, was soon
converted into bottomless mud. Came into camp at sundown at
Gilbertsboro, Limestone County, Alabama. A very rich plantation here
surrounded by very high hills. A large amount of fodder and hay was
stored away in the surrounding houses which were soon emptied by the
boys and fed to the horses or made for b