ift, over a rocky bed. Passed some
very fine country, but mostly inhabited by the poorer class and
cultivated by white labor. Saw but very little cotton growing, and that
of an inferior quality. Foraging done on a large scale by our boys.
Sweet potatoes and chickens in plenty. Division commissary getting up
beef cattle as we march. Came into camp near a very pretty creek with
high rocky banks, the name of which I did not learn, at 1 P. M. As soon
as we came in sight of camp, the infantry went out in squads in search
of meat, with guns. The woods were full of hogs, and it soon sounded
like heavy skirmishing, General Smith riding in great fury back and
forth, endeavoring to punish the guilty parties and put a stop to it. He
tied up several men by the limbs all night, but the boys got their
hogs. He is getting unpopular very fast with his men. J. Wolf, S. Beaver
and M. Dziewanowski detailed in the morning to go with E. W. E. in
search of horses. They returned late, having found forty mules in all
but no horses. We got twenty of them for the Battery and they will be
put in the teams instead of the broken down horses.

This was election day for Wisconsin. The polls were opened by a
commissioned officer about half an hour of sundown, and the electors
soon deposited their votes with no fuss or talk as is usual on such
occasions, more weighty matters being on hand. Lewis led Palmer (for
governor).

[Sidenote: 1863 A Poor Country]

En route, Wednesday, Nov. 4. Reveille sounded at 3 A. M. and the sleepy
camp was soon ready to march. Started at 5. It was a dense, foggy
morning and the red glare of innumerable camp fires lit up the infantry
in heavy columns, giving the surroundings of the camp a wild and
terrible aspect. We moved out moodily, the stars lighting us on our way
for nearly three miles and a half before daylight appeared. The road was
rough and covered with pebbles which made it very bad for the horses.
One of mine being barefooted is somewhat lame. 10 A. M. We came up on to
the camp of the 2nd Brigade at Rogersville, the town half a mile to the
left of us. The 4th Division had just returned, having found the bridge
over Elk River destroyed. Then it moved out on another road leading
north, which gives twenty miles more travel I understand. We halted for
three hours, unhitched and unharnessed, cleaned off our horses and fed
them. The 2nd Brigade moved out soon after we came in. The 3rd Brigade
came up at 12 M. At 1