r, when the regiment drew its guns
and its first suit of army blue. While at Peoria the Eighty-sixth was
rendezvoused at Camp Lyon, a name given it by Colonel Irons. Time
passed slowly, for all were anxious to move to the seat of war, and
were not at rest till they did. Finally, orders came, and on the 7th of
September the regiment boarded the cars for Louisville.

Every member of the Eighty-sixth left Peoria with mingled feelings of
pleasure and pain--pleasure, that they were about to participate in the
great struggle for Union and Liberty--pain, that they were called upon
to part with their nearest and dearest friends. It was on Sunday
morning; beautiful and bright the sun shone upon its bristling armor as
the regiment marched through the city with measured tread, bound for
the "land of Dixie." The streets and balconies were filled with anxious
friends, and fair hands waved us an affectionate adieu--hands which
were not only true to us in our pride and strength, but also in the
darkest hour of our trials and suffering. In long days after this, when
men turned copperheads by scores, these same _fair ones_ proved true.
"God bless the _fair_!" The regiment arrived in Jeffersonville,
opposite Louisville, on the morning of the 9th, going into camp at Jo.
Holt, on the Ohio river, across from the city of Louisville. At this
camp the regiment first began to soldier, taking its first lessons in
lying out in the open air. While at Jo. Holt it was drill, drill,
almost constantly--the boys were not able to do enough drilling; but
for all that, this camp became dear to us; especially in after times
when water was scarce, memory would revert to the cool crystal waters
of Jo. Holt.

After getting a partial outfit for campaigning, the regiment quit the
Indiana side of the river, and crossed over to Louisville on the 14th.
It again took up camp two miles south of the city in a very unpleasant
situation, now remaining about Louisville until the 1st of October.

At one time, our brigade, which was formed on the 15th of September,
and afterwards known as the 36th brigade of General Sheridan's division
of Gilbert's corps, was marched through Louisville on grand review.
This march was a severe one. The day was intensely hot and the roads
dusty; then, the narrow streets made it doubly suffocating. Many fell
powerless and died, and others received injuries for life. That day
will long be remembered by those who were participators in its to