DIY History | Transcribe | Civil War Diaries and Letters | Andrew F. Davis papers, 1862

Transcribe
Translate

18_1862-02-28-Page 02

but I had nothing to do but obey orders, and I suppose that if the Soldier had kept sober there would have been nothing of it therefore he had no one to blame but himself, but I want no more such jobs.  On Tuesday morning we ware on the march again by 6 Oclock. It fell to Company "I" lot that day to be rear guards. that is to march in the rear of all the teams and help them along if need be and also to take up all who would be inclined to linger behind. We followed the pike about 2 miles and then Struck across the country again towards the Munfordville and Boling Green turnpike. We got along verry well until we got back to said pike. which whe we arrived there we found entirely impassable. as the Rebels had torn it up for 8 or 10 miles and then ploughed up the ground, and the cosequence was. we had to make our through the fields and by roads. Some of the latter the Rebels had also obstructed by cutting timber across them. Here commenced our hard work in earnest. as our teams ware heavy loaded and the ground verry soft consequently about evry 1/4 of a mile we would have to help 30 or 40 wagons out of a mudhole. we worked that way and made about 6 miles when night overtook us and we ware in the woods with 5 or 6 wagons Stuck in the muck. So we built fires and lay down until moring  My blankets and Over coat was in my trunk in the bottom of the wagon. So I borrowed a coat of one and a gum blanket of anothe and lay down to sleep by the fire and was doing finely until about 2 oclock it commenced raining which made it somewhat unpleasant but as I had not slept any the night before on account of being on guard I managed to sleep some more in spite of rain. The Regiment had not waited for us but went on some 8 miles further before camping but they ware in as bad if not a worse fix than we ware as all the tents and most of the provision was in the wagons, with us  On Wednesday morning we worked the wagons through 2 miles more of mud which brought us to a good pike again. We then pushed on to where the Regt. had camped (which by the way did not await for us but Started on early in the morning) where we Stoped and got dinner and was taking a rest and was calculating to go 5 miles further and camp for the night but just as we got pretty well rested orders come for us to report ourselves with the Regt at Boling Green yet that night which was 19 miles. This was not verry welcome news

Saving...

but I had nothing to do but obey orders, and I suppose that if the Soldier had kept sober there would have been nothing of it therefore he had no one to blame but himself, but I want no more such jobs. On Tuesday morning we ware on the march again by 6 Oclock. It fell to Company "I" lot that day to be rear guards. that is to march in the rear of all the teams and help them along if need be and also to take up all who would be inclined to linger behind. We followed the pike about 2 miles and then Struck across the country again towards the Munfordville and Boling Green turnpike. We got along verry well until we got back to said pike. which whe we arrived there we found entirely impassable. as the Rebels had torn it up for 8 or 10 miles and then ploughed up the ground, and the cosequence was. we had to make our through the fields and by roads. Some of the latter the Rebels had also obstructed by cutting timber across them. Here commenced our hard work in earnest. as our teams ware heavy loaded and the ground verry soft consequently about evry 1/4 of a mile we would have to help 30 or 40 wagons out of a mudhole. we worked that way and made about 6 miles when night overtook us and we ware in the woods with 5 or 6 wagons Stuck in the muck. So we built fires and lay down until moring My blankets and Over coat was in my trunk in the bottom of the wagon. So I borrowed a coat of one and a gum blanket of anothe and lay down to sleep by the fire and was doing finely until about 2 oclock it commenced raining which made it somewhat unpleasant but as I had not slept any the night before on account of being on guard I managed to sleep some more in spite of rain. The Regiment had not waited for us but went on some 8 miles further before camping but they ware in as bad if not a worse fix than we ware as all the tents and most of the provision was in the wagons, with us On Wednesday morning we worked the wagons through 2 miles more of mud which brought us to a good pike again. We then pushed on to where the Regt. had camped (which by the way did not await for us but Started on early in the morning) where we Stoped and got dinner and was taking a rest and was calculating to go 5 miles further and camp for the night but just as we got pretty well rested orders come for us to report ourselves with the Regt at Boling Green yet that night which was 19 miles. This was not verry welcome news