"I wrote you three nights ago. Then my brigade had been ordered to
Loudon, and I was only remaining behind to get the last and special
instructions of the general before going myself, expecting to be off
in the morning, but I am still here and my brigade at Loudon. Every few
hours I have been expecting definite orders, and something transpires
to prevent it. During the last few days I have been getting a pretty
good insight into the inner workings of our military affairs. I have
been in General Burnside's private room daily and frequently, in
conference with him and other generals, and know something about the
interference of Washington City.
"The plans were all laid, my guides were selected, the rations were all
issued, my brigade was ready and waiting, and in a short time I was to
be off on a grand raid into Georgia in rear of Bragg's army, tear up
the railroad system of the State, and alarm the rebels generally, when
orders were received from General Halleck that raids into Georgia are
not now contemplated, and all that is stopped. Probably you will thank
General Halleck for that. It may have made me a general. It may have
run me into Libby Prison. But it was a great disappointment to me and
I think to the general.
"I have seen more of General Burnside than any of our generals, and
I regard him as one of the best of men, a pure patriot, a just man,
and, I hope, a Christian. Let me give you an instance. Yesterday
evening everything was ready for a general movement of his whole
army. I telegraphed my brigade at Loudon to be ready to move at two
o'clock this morning; the forces at Cumberland Gap were notified to be
in readiness; it appeared a matter of importance that we should be
off. I went up to his room last night to get my final instructions.
The general said he believed we would wait a day, as he forgot about
to-morrow being Sunday. He said he always felt a disinclination to
commence a movement on Sunday, and he would not do it, unless he should
learn during the night that it was very urgent. So to-day we have a
quiet Sabbath, the only one since we left Kentucky. It is very pleasant
to me and doubtless is to the whole army."
It turned out that Bragg's cavalry was not a severe menace to Rosecrans
and my brigade was recalled from Loudon and we moved up into Virginia
as a part of the general movement just indicated. In a fight near
Bristol the Sixty-fifth Regiment lost four killed and thirteen wounded,
and had another fight at Jonesboro, from which place the letter of
October 18 is written:--
"We have just returned from a fatiguing march into Virginia. We have
succeeded in driving the enemy away from Zollicoffer, having another
fight at Blountsville, and destroying the Virginia Railroad for ten
miles, but I have no time now to write about it. I have stood the last
two weeks' campaign remarkably well and continue in the best of health.
I enjoy the cavalry service very much, only lately we have had a little
too much of a good thing. During the past five weeks we have been
continuously on the march, with a number of sharp fights. But we have
now a prospect of a few days' rest. If I get it I will improve it to
write you a good long letter, but the enemy may interfere with my plans
any day. This is likely to be our outpost station until Rosecrans and
Bragg settle affairs below.
"How often and how much I desire to be at home with the dear ones and
families of relations and friends. As we rode along through the mud and
rain to-day I thought of home and what a pleasure it would be for me
to be with you all at home. But I must content myself, believing I am
in the line of duty and pray that a kind Providence may bring me home
at an early day. I have always believed that God is doing his will and
accomplishing his purposes of right and freedom in this war, and if I
can be one of the instruments in his hands of accomplishing a portion
of this work we should be content. Kisses in abundance to my darling
little children. Does my little Alice talk much about her papa? Tell
her he thinks all the time about her."