as very slow and laborious
as our horses were jaded out and hard to keep up. A few inhabitants were
seen but they could not find much to live on. 4th Corps stationed
through the valley as guards, each squad already located in neat
"shebangs". Passed Sand Mountain at noon, a force being stationed upon
it, the very high bridge having been destroyed near by and not yet
commenced to be built. The R. R. is in bad condition and will require a
good deal of labor before it will be rebuilt. A large part of it is laid
with wooden rails, an iron plate fastened on top. Coal abounds in the
hills. We passed a large bed of nitre, out of which saltpetre was
manufactured for Confederate States' use.

Came in sight of Lookout Ridge about 4 P. M., and at sundown we were
directly under the enemy's line, their picket fires burning brightly not
more than half a mile off. Did they but have the artillery they could
soon shell us out. The roads are very bad, filled with slough holes some
of which were bridged. 8 P. M. halted nearly an hour to allow the
pioneer corps to repair the roads. Most of the boys made coffee.
Hard-tack very scarce. I had none since dinner. After the roads were
fixed we moved out and marched about four miles right under the point of
the guns which could not be brought to bear on us. We passed by Joe
Hooker's headquarters. It was a very beautiful evening, bright
moonlight, and pleasant marching. Came into camp at 11:30 P. M., our
horses having nearly given out. When the wagons came up we fed horses
and drew crackers, but I was not as hungry as sleepy, so I laid down in
the open air with Point Lookout frowning in full view, on which is a
battery of heavy guns that at any moment could hurl terror to our Corps.

WITH GRANT AT CHATTANOOGA

[Sidenote: 1863 A Night March]

Camp in the pocket opposite Chattanooga, Friday, Nov. 20. Scarcely had
we closed our eyes to rest, before we were aroused again. Many of the
boys had not laid down. It was half past one o'clock in the morning. We
were ordered to hitch up in great haste. The rebs were crossing the
Tennessee River at some point, and we were to intercept them. Nothing
but a prospect of fight would have aroused the sleepy and tired
soldiers as quick, and 2 A. M. we moved out, all wagons, battery wagon
and forge left behind. It was clear and cold and I was chilled through
by my sudden rising from a warm bed. We gradually disappeared from Point
Lookout where the rebs' si