Eleventh and part of the Ninth Michigan--all Infantry--and one battalion
each of the Fourth Kentucky and Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry, together
with four guns of the First Tennessee and four of First Kentucky
Artillery. At 9 o'clock, same morning, the First Kentucky Cavalry,
together with our forge and battery wagon, arrived at Murfreesboro, and
were at once sent forward to join the main body of the army. The
expedition was under command of General Dumont.

Early that evening our expedition reached Readyville, and camped in a
corn-field near a creek. At 11 o'clock, the same night, all hands were
ordered out to proceed on the march. A good deal of grumbling was caused
at this unlooked for command, but all must obey.

About this time, an eclipse of the moon occurred, and the men jocosely
remarked that we were only wakened to take an astronomical survey of it.

After considerable delay, at 1 o'clock we were in motion. For the first
few miles the road was quite hilly, and one of the Kentucky battery's
caissons was capsized over a bank, and had to be left behind. The roads
were now in pretty good condition, but very dusty, and at daylight we had
advanced some ten miles. The weather was extremely warm, but the road was
well shaded by woods. At 11 o'clock arrived at McMinnville, a small town
of some five hundred inhabitants, and situated on the Manchester and
McMinnville Railroad. The place is strongly "secesh." There was an M. D.
along with us, who had lately been driven out of the town on account of
strong Union sentiments. He was acting as our guide.

At McMinnville we camped in an open field near the town--the Tennessee and
Kentucky Batteries being camped near by. The remainder of the force were
camped at different places. On the day following, a part of the force,
consisting of the Third Minnesota, and First Kentucky Infantry, one
battalion each of the Fourth Kentucky and Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry,
one section of Hewitt's Kentucky, and our center section of artillery,
were ordered forward to Pikeville, to drive out a body of Secesh Cavalry,
who were reported as being at that place. At 5 P. M., took up our line of
march. The next morning, early, the rest of the force followed.

Our road now lay through a wild, rough, and mountainous country, but
thinly inhabited and little cultivated--corn being the only grain we saw.
The long and dry continuance of the weather had drained all the creeks, so
that water was not readil