Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 8.
Frank Moore, Ed.

December sixth, about nine o'clock A. M., moved the two companies forward as advance-guard. The rebels made considerable resistance. We moved but about a mile to-day.

December seventh, moved several miles past where we were encamped on the eighth of October.

December eighth, moved on to Rutledge, county-seat of Grainger County.

December ninth, passed through Rutledge and on to Bean's Station. Here our regiment was sent out on the Morristown road to the Holston River. Here we ran upon the rebels; had considerable skirmishing; lost one man. After dark we returned to the station.

December tenth, remained at the station.

December eleventh, Colonel Pennebaker, with our brigade, went to Morristown. Made no attack on the enemy, as he was about a mile east of town. We returned to Bean's Station after night.

December twelfth, remained at the station.

December thirteenth, in the evening the enemy moved upon our pickets. Had some skirmishing. We formed line of battle, with artillery in position, to receive him, but, after some skirmishing, the rebels drew off.

December fourteenth, in the evening, the enemy moved down the valley, in solid columns, upon us. Our corps was put into position; our division — Wolford's — in front, contesting every inch of ground. Our regiment was ordered to take position in the houses. The station-house is a very large brick building. Part of the regiment were in the brick and part in the wooden houses. The rebels came down the valley, through the open fields, like a flood. As there was not a twig in the way, our boys mowed them down like harvest before the sickle. While the air was filled with bullets and shells, Colonel Wolford rode to and fro along the front line, giving the men instruction how to fight to advantage. When the right of the line was being overpowered, Colonel Wolford rode up to the house, and ordered Lieutenant-Colonel Ward to send four companies of our regiment to support the right. Our companies — B, H, G, and I — were despatched to the right. The rebels moved steadily down. Our line had to give way gradually. The other part of our regiment held the houses till dark, while they were the object of a concentrated fire from the rebel batteries — the rebel lines having now passed the houses both right and left. Here our regiment suffered more than at any time previous. By strategy, Lieutenant-Colonel Ward made his way out with the men, by leaving enough to keep up a fire from the houses, which made the rebels keep their distance till the majority made their escape by running out in small squads in rear of the houses. We full back in line of battle slowly all night.

December fifteenth, at sun-up, our brigade moved back the road toward the station about a mile; built a breastwork of rails. The rebels pressed down considerably till about ten o'clock A. M., then drew back out of reach, and remained silent till about sundown. They began to show themselves on the mountains, trying to move around our flanks. They had managed to get a battery on the mountains on our right, and about sundown began to hand down a few shells. After dark we commenced falling back; passed through Rutledge.

December sixteenth, fell back to Blain's Cross-Roads, near the “Ruined house.”

December seventeenth, remained in line of battle; some skirmishing in the front.

December eighteenth, our regiment was relieved from the front, and moved to the rear, and went into camp, and was paid off; received two months pay; at night, moved out about five miles to Holston, near McKinney's Ferry, near the mouth of Richland Creek.

December nineteenth, came back to Blain's Cross-Roads. Remained here till the twenty-first. Our brigade is about one third dismounted. At two o'clock on the evening of the twenty-first, the mounted part started to Tazewell. On the evening of the twenty-fourth, the dismounted part moved to the bridge at Strawberry Plains.

December twenty-fifth, the brigade all came back to Blain's Cross-Roads.

December twenty-sixth, remained in camp.

December twenty-seventh, late in the evening, our brigade moved up the Indian Ridge road to Buffalo Creek, about a mile from Orr's Ferry, on Holston River.

December twenty-eighth, sent out a scout, but soon returned; perfectly quiet.

December twenty-ninth, moved about a mile, and went into camp, with brigade headquarters, at Esquire West's. Remained here till January ninth, 1864.

January fifth, 1864, Lieutenant-Colonel Ward made an effort to veteranize our regiment. The boys made a very good turn-out; but finally, because we could not be mustered as cavalry, the regiment failed to veteranize.

January ninth, at eight o'clock A. M., our brigade started on march, but as the weather was very cold a good many of the men dismounted, and as our horses were barefooted, our march was slow. At night we camped at Blain's Cross-Roads.

January tenth, marched to within three miles of Clinch River. The weather very cold and the roads covered with ice, so it was nearly impossible to get our horses and wagon-train along.

January eleventh, crossed Clinch River at ten o'clock A. M., the river running full of ice. Came on to within two miles of Tazewell.

January twelfth, moved on toward Tazewell four miles. Remained here till the morning of the fourteenth. On the morning of the fourteenth we started on to Cumberland Gap. Passed through Tazewell at nine o'clock A. M. This is the worst destroyed town we have found. From the ruins it looks as if it once had been a nice