age of. This place was rather a
rough camping ground, being quite uneven and covered with rocks. The next
morning, had a fine shower, which cooled the atmosphere and settled the
dust. At 8 o'clock were once more moving, and soon forded a creek, the
Rebels having destroyed the bridge. A number of the First Regiment
Michigan Engineers and Mechanics, were actively engaged in rebuilding it.
After proceeding about two miles, were ordered to halt, remaining in the
road for two hours, then moved into a field to our left, and encamped.
Next day, again started, and at noon reached Columbia, having crossed Duck
River. We here camped on a high hill just back of the town.

This was April 3d.

It was about 2 o'clock, when our tents were pitched. The ground was
cleared up, and the place made quite pleasant for camping purposes. It was
surrounded by a heavy growth of trees, which were beginning to leave out.
We also had a commanding view of the town and surrounding country.

Columbia, the county seat of Maury, is situated on Duck River, and is
fifty miles from Nashville. The Tennessee and Alabama Railroad, passes
through it. Population, about three thousand. The streets are wide and
clean. Among the public buildings, is a large Female Seminary, then
closed. A majority of the people are secessionists. Shortly after our
arrival, Dow Tanney, a member of the Company, died. On the 7th of April,
the right section of the Battery, under command of Lieutenant Bennett,
went to Mount Pleasant, fourteen miles from Columbia. A part of our
brigade, also went with them. On the 22d of April, we received another
payment, being up to March 1st. On the night of May 1st, about 11 o'clock,
an order came for one section of the Battery to proceed at once to
Pulaski. At 12 o'clock the centre section, under Lieutenant Baldwin,
started, with four companies of the Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry, one
company First Kentucky, and four companies Seventy-ninth Pennsylvania
Infantry, accompanying.

The reason of this sudden movement, was on account of Morgan's cut-throat
Cavalry being at Pulaski, where they had captured a wagon train of General
Mitchell's division, and had also made an attack on a party of unarmed
Union soldiers, who had just been discharged from hospital, and were on
the way to join their regiments. A number were killed and wounded, and
several taken prisoners. The citizens of Pulaski had assisted Morgan in
this attack, firing on our soldiers from