sight that occurred on
this retreat as it entered Tunnel Hill. A large frame building had
caught on fire and was in full blaze when we entered town. While
descending a ridge in closed ranks, the light from the burning building
was reflected from every face, presenting a multitude of bright,
pleasing countenances, and as all else was dark, nothing could be seen
but a moving field of shining faces. Our brigade was not generally
engaged in the battle just recited, the Eighty-sixth and the 85th
Illinois being the only regiments brought into action, though the rest
were in close reserve. The Eighty-sixth loss was one killed and seven
wounded, the company loss being as follows: Co. H, three; Co. G, one;
Co. K, four. The reconnoissance was now ended, and its objects
accomplished.

The rebels had been sending troops to Mobile, but the movements of this
expedition compelled them to bring them back. On the next day, the
27th, the division was put on the march for Camp McAfee, where it
arrived at dusk of the same day, having been absent thirteen days. But
after all, we were destined to remain here only a short time. Just one
week after the reconnoissance to Buzzard's Roost we were again put on
the move.

Our brigade received orders to march on Sunday, the 6th day of March,
to Lee and Gordon's Mills, situated on the right of the Chickamauga
battle-ground, about eight miles distant from the camps at McAfee. The
command was sent here on account of this being a strategic point, and
soon began to lay off a camp, which day by day it adorned and
beautified until it became an enchanting place, the very prototype of
the grand and beautiful, being situated on the banks of the South
Chickamauga, a handsome stream of water.

When good comfortable shanties had been erected, the boys began to
ornament their grounds after the first order of things, for neither
time nor labor was spared in this work, each soldier taking a pride in
doing his part. All the companies of each regiment fabricated ornaments
of every conceivable workmanship, differing one from another, and on
the whole really handsome. These ornaments were made of pine and cedar
boughs by the more dextrous and artistical of our comrades. You might
see well-fashioned eagles, letters, figures and animals hung up in
conspicuous places over a beautiful frame-work of gothic structure,
astonishing and eliciting remark from passers by. Besides these, there
were all kinds of machinery flut