a place known as Elktown, the boys dismantling themselves and
wading, as the bridge had been destroyed. Four miles beyond this stream
is the State line, the regiment marching there and camping for the
night near a beautiful brook of water.

On the 7th of September, it crossed the line and camped twelve miles
south of it. The next day it reached Huntsville, and passing through,
took up quarters in the outskirts. The Eighty-sixth was the only Union
troops in the vicinity, the brigade having passed on, leaving orders
for it to follow immediately. When night came on, the Colonel became
uneasy, for citizens reported a force of the enemy near at hand. Upon
this intelligence he moved his command into town, and took up position
on the square. Companies were stationed in the different streets
leading to it, in anticipation of a surprise. The night passed in
suspense, but no enemy appeared.

Huntsville was a beautiful town with a fine location. It was, before
the war, the mart of Northern Alabama. There is a large and handsome
spring there, well worth the visit of the tourist and passer-by. By its
own force it runs machinery which pumps water for the whole town in
sufficient quantity.

The regiment greatly disliked to leave this place, and, in after times,
when it was wont to wish itself in some pleasant abode, it would fondly
revert to Huntsville. But, early on the morning of the 10th, it took up
the line of march for Stevenson, Alabama, where it expected it would
certainly join the brigade. It had not marched from Huntsville more
than three miles when a soldier from Company H, Mr. Church by name,
while walking in the woods near the road, espied a squad of concealed
bushwhackers, whereupon he fired at them, and killed one. The dead body
was brought to the road and left in plain view, being labeled with
these words: "A bushwhacker." A great number of negroes--men, women and
children, of every age and size, of every hue of the skin from yellow
to concentrated blackness, followed out from Huntsville, presenting a
jolly scene.

The march to Bridgeport attaches nothing of much importance to it, only
the usual occurring incidents. The sick and barefooted were left at
Brownville, to be transported from thence to Stevenson on the cars,
where they joined the command. The regiment reached Bridgeport on the
14th, where it received a mail--the first since Columbia. The brigade
had gone on from this place to Chattanooga, to join General