Sunday 1st May 1864
Had orders to march in the morning at 7. Inspection of arms in the
forenoon.
Monday 2nd May 1864
The 3rd Brigade left Stevenson at 8 o'clock and arrived at
Bridgeport At 3 PM where we camped for the night.
Tuesday 3rd May 1864
The whole 2nd Division left Bridgeport this morning for Chattanoga.
Marched about 10 miles and camped for the night at Shell mound. [letter]
Wednesday 4th May 1864
Our Regiment started this morning as a wagon guard for the Division.
We marched very slow and got to General Hookers Quarters in Wahalchie Valley at night. We
were all rather tired as we had marched 20 miles.
Thursday 5th May 1864
The rest of our division camped last night about 4 miles ahead of
us. We started this morning at 7 and marched over Lookout Mountain and into Chattanooga
Valley. We marched until we came withen 4 miles of Ringgold and took a road leading off to
the right. After marching about 6 miles we caught up with the rest of the Division at dark
and went into camp.
Friday 6th May 1864
Started this morning at sunrise and marched untill 9 o'clock, when
the division went into large ...... and we camped. Staid there all night. [letter]
Saturday 7th May 1864
Started this morning at sunrise and after marching about 2 miles. We
haulted to let the wagon train of our corps pass. We started out again about noon, with
our Brigade acting as wagon guard. We marched until 10 o'clock at night.
Sunday 8th May 1864
Left camp at sunrise, a Brigade of General Kilpatricks Calvary being
in the advance. We marched about 8 miles, formed a line of battle and waited for General
McPhersons Corps. which was coming up another road. As soon as they came up to join the
rest of the Division. We came up on them in the evening and found out that they had been
fighting nearly all the afternoon.
Monday 9th May 1864
We laid in the woods where we camped last night until 3 in the
afternoon when our regiment was ordered out on picket. Co. E C & Ke were on the
reserve. The division threw up brestworks during the night.
Tuesday 10th May 1864
Everything was quiet last night. The reserve relieved the outpost at
4 PM. I was detailed with 6 others to go on a lookout post part way up the mountain. I was
on from 12 untill 6 AM. It rained hard nearly all night. Everything was quiet. [letter]
Wednesday 11th May 1864
There was hard fighting on the left of us early this morning and
again in the afternoon. We were relieved by the reserves in the PM.
Thursday 12th May 1864
Was relieved by the 2nd Michigan Cavalary at 9 AM. Joined the
division and marched about 5 miles and came up to the rest of the Corps. We marched
through Snake Gap and camped for the night.
Friday 13th May 1864
Left camp at 7 and after marching a short distance we haulted until
noon. General Kilpatrick went past us in the morning with a large body of Cavalry and in
about an hour he came back in an ambulance, wounded. The Division left at noon and after
marching 5 miles we came up to the rest of our corps who were fighting a short distance
ahead of us. Our division marched into a large field, halted and cooked supper. We then
marched into the breastworks and laid there all night. Everything was quiet during the
night.
Saturday 14th May 1864
There was heavy fighting to the left of us this afternoon. At 4
o'clock our division left the breastworks and started up towards the left. We came up on
the First Division at dark. They had just had a fight with the Rebs and drove them back
with heavy losses . We went past the First division, halted, and built breastworks out of
rails. Laid down to sleep for the night.
Sunday 15th May 1864
Left camp at 9 AM and after marching 2 miles we came to the Third
Division who were lying behind the breastworks. Our Division passed over the breastworks,
formed in mass a line of battle, and charged the Rebel Breastworks. They were about a
hundred rods in front of us on top of a steep hill. We charged up and took their battery
of four 12 pounders but we couldn't carry their breastworks. We laid down under the crest
of the hill and kept up a steady fire on their breastworks that were about 6 rods off. We
laid close under the battery that we had captured but were unable to haul off the guns. We
were relieved by another brigade at 8 in the evening. The Rebels retreated and left their
breastworks at midnight. We started after the Rebs this morning and followed them all day.
We crossed three small rivers, wading the first one which was about waist deep. The other
one we crossed on 2 flat boats that the Johneys were good enough to leave behind for us.
We went about a mile from the river and camped for the night. One mile from the Coosawata
River.
Tuesday 17th May 1864
The men found 17 boxes of plug tobacco in the woods a few rods from
where we camped last night. It was divided amoung the men in our Brigade with each man
getting two plugs. Started at noon and camped for the night at Calhoun. The wagon train
came up and we drew 3 days rations.
Wednesday 18th May 1864
We started this morning at four and after going about a mile we
halted for about an hour to let the wagon train pass. We marched until after dark.
Thursday 19th May 1864
Started out this morning at 7. Marched all day with skirmishers up
front of the division. About sundown the skirmishers came up on the Rebs. The division
formed a line of battle and they left in a hurry. Camped after dark.
Friday 20th May 1864
Seventy five of our regiment were ordered on picket line last night.
We were all not needed so they sent some of us back to camp. Stayed here in camp all day.
The weather is very hot. [letter]
Saturday 21st May 1864
We are still here in camp. The 20th Corps is still camped near here.
Went to a large creek a short distance away and did a large washing.
Sunday 22nd May 1864
The whole army appears to be camped here. The 4th, 14th and 20 corps
are lying close together. Had orders this afternoon to be prepared to march in the
morning.
Monday 23rd May 1864
Started this morning at 5. Marched about 15 miles and crossed the
Etowh River. Went about a mile beyond the river and camped at dusk.
Tuesday 24th May 1864
Started a daylight. At 10 o'clock we were drawn into a line of
battle, marched about a mile through a field, came to the Altona Mountains and marched
about a mile along the ridge until dark.
Wednesday 25th May 1864
Started at 7 and marched fast until 10 o'clock when the First
Brigade of our division was fired on by the Rebs that were lying in ambush on each side of
the road. The whole corps came up fast and formed a line of battle and at 5 o'clock and
moved forward following the Rebs about 2 miles. At dark we came to a long line of
Breastworks. The battle lasted until 8 o'clock. The 149th charged the battery and we lost
over 40 of our men in about 2 minutes.
Thursday 26th May 1864
The 2nd Division commenced building breastworks about 40 rods from
the Rebel Works.. The 149th was sent back to the left hand side to hold the Breastworks.
Friday 27th May 1864
Our batteries played on the Rebel works all the forenoon. Was
detailed with 40 others to go on picket. Was on post all afternoon.
Saturday 28th May 1864
The Regiment moved a short distance to the left and put up small
Breastworks. The Rebs made a charge on our lines to the left of us and were driven back.
Heavy skirmishing all day in front of us. [letter]
Sunday 29th May 1864
(corrections made in diary)
Monday 30th May 1864
Skirmishing all day but few men were hit. Weather very warm.
Tuesday 31st May 1864
We lay in the same position today. Steady skirmishing all day. At
dark 50 men were detailed to build Breastworks on the left.
