ils.
The 85th and 125th Illinois, together with the 52nd Ohio regiment, were
in the same brigade with the Eighty-sixth, and remained with it until
all were discharged from the service at Washington City. The history of
the Eighty-sixth Illinois is their history, and they were to each other
as a band of brothers. Colonel Dan. McCook, of the 52nd Ohio, was
placed in command of this newly formed brigade.

Soon after the formation of our brigade it made two other marches over
the dusty roads in the direction of Bardstown, nearly as severe as the
first one. They were doubtless unnecessary, and for that reason harder
to perform, amounting to nothing, only out in the country ten or twelve
miles and back again--training, no doubt. After these marches, the
command was put in the rifle-pits that encircled the city of
Louisville, for the Confederate army under General Bragg was near at
hand menacing it. There was great excitement about this time, as we
were unaccustomed to the work, and it went odd. While remaining at
Louisville, the Eighty-sixth went on picket for the first time. Its
acts and thoughts on this occasion were certainly novel, and furnished
a fund of great amusement in its after career. The regiment was just
beginning to experience many of the roughs and cuffs incidental to the
opening scenes of soldier life. Diarrhea became a plague to many, and a
change of diet a source of discomfort to others, which, upon the whole,
caused us to lead a rather gloomy life at first; then we were ignorant
of the many advantages an old soldier has acquired by long experience,
which advantages greatly modify the hardships and discomforts of
out-door life.

While the regiment lay at Louisville, a large army was being brought
together in order to oppose the encroachments of the enemy under Bragg,
which had advanced as far as Bardstown. The forces on our part were
commanded by Major General Buell, a man of questionable loyalty, as
future events determined.

Finding that the enemy were not going to attack him, Gen. Buell issued
orders for the advance of his whole command on the 1st day of October.
Accordingly, the line of march was taken up at the time specified in
the order, the 36th brigade being among the troops that went. As
Buell's army advanced, the enemy retreated, taking with him large
supplies from the country. Our forces followed rapidly for seven days,
when Gen. McCook's command overtook a portion of Bragg's army at
Chaplin