1 - 7 Nov 1863

Nov 1 - A lovely day.  Some advice to Col S[wayne] in newspapers on the Sabbath.  Hear that some men, and partially even officers have been gambling.  Had a pretty good sabbath.  Spite of business and preparations for moving, we had open air service in a.m.  A decent attendance.  In p.m. Mr. Fry and I were going to officiate in church in town but the church was taken.

Nov 2 - Rose early.  Renewed in strength and hope by yesterday.  Got articles at commissary - teams heavily loaded.  Johnson one of our wagoners was captured yesterday.  Marched 8 miles to Eastport on the Mississippi river [perhaps he meant to say Eastport, Mississippi, or he made a mistake and meant to write the Tennessee river].  Dined with Col. Hayes.  Cared for a wounded man.  We bivouacked in an old house.

Nov 3 - A fair mild Indian Summer day.  Saw my wounded man.  He is a true Christian I think.  In the afternoon he died.  Visited and talked with sick and well some.

Nov 4 - Pleasant day.  Moved down to the [Tennessee] river and the brigade crossed.  I staid behind to attend the burial of this man and distribute papers in a hospital.  In p.m. I canoe over.  All passed without accident.  Dyspeptic in evening.

Nov 5 - Rainy and dark day.  Troops are still crossing in our rear.  Read Schalk's book on military science*.  Read some in Dickens' stories.  Visited among the men some.  Went to bed tired.  Have warm blankets and sheets and a cot.  Deer and turkeys killed.

Nov 6 - Cleared off and a beautiful day.  Our brigade being the advance of an army of about 10,000 under General Dodge moved at noon.  Came about 9 miles through hills.  Beautiful, clear springs and streams.  Camped in a good place where forage is plentiful.  Guerrillas have shot or captured stragglers.

Nov 7 - Most beautiful day.  Clear streams around.  Horses have plenty of fodder and young cane.  Hear of stragglers captured and killed.  Start at noon and march 12 miles.  Encamp after dark.  Tired.


* Summary of the Art of War: written expressly for and dedicated to the U.S. Volunteer Army, by Emil Schalk, A.O.  Philadelphia, J. B. Lippincott & Co. 1862

* Union General Grenville Mellen Dodge was born 12 April 1831 near Danvers, MA. 
In 1851, he graduated from Norwich University (VT) with a degree in civil engineering, then moved to Iowa, where he settled in Council Bluffs. For the next decade, he was involved in surveying for railroads, including the Union Pacific. He married Ruth Anne Browne on 29 May 1854. He was also a partner in the Baldwin & Dodge banking firm, and in 1860 served on the City Council.
Dodge joined the Union in the Civil War. At the beginning of the war, Dodge was sent by the Governor of Iowa to Washington, D.C., where he secured 6,000 muskets to supply Iowa volunteers. In July 1861, he was appointed Colonel of the 4th Iowa Volunteer Infantry Regiment. He commanded the 1st Brigade, 4th Division at the Battle of Pea Ridge, where he was wounded. For his services at the battle, he was appointed brigadier general of volunteers and placed in command of the District of the Mississippi, where he was involved in protecting and building railroads.  Pictured below