October 1862
1st Break up camp at 9.A.M. & march 13 miles southwest & camp at what is called the turn back weather fine roads good health of Reg. excelent
2d march at 6.A.M. southwest 20 miles pass through Mt Vernon a beautiful town over magnificent Prairies studded with small Groves camp at the head of Spring River.
3d move into a suitable camp discharge & clean our arms clean camp & make ready for a long stay. at 8.P.M. orders come to march & away we go for New Tonio 25 miles distant
4th marched all night 3 hours rain roads very muddy we (37th Ill.) were the advance Regiment & was far ahead of all others at day light we pass through the once beautiful but now deserted town of Jollification & at 8.A.M. we march on to the prairie which surrounds New Tonio it is a beautiful sight that presents itself from the N.W. & S.W. the 1st Div'n under Blunt, Solomon & Cloud all are advancing steadily with an occasional halt of a moment to throw a shell into the town the remainder of our Div'n except cavalry was was an hours march behind as we advanced (supposing we had them cornered) the secesh retreated by to [illegible] an unknown road as we were on the N.E. Brown Cav. Brigade on the S.E. we thought them fast & come to find out there was an excelent road leading south which the Reb's took our cav. pursued killing some taking some prisoners it was a cold disagreeable day & our clothes being wet from the rain which fell during the night makes it bad for us this afternoon we move into a suitable camp & await the arrival of our tents Blankets rations, &.c.
5th teams come up at night we pitch them & get ready to live once more we have a beautiful came[camp] one mile south of the town on the edge of the Prairie up to this time Gen Totten is almost worshiped by the Reg't.
6th weather splendid men in good health & spirits at the prospect of a pleasant campaign under a good kindhearted General
7th nothing is learned as to the whereabouts of the Reb's. the weather is fair people are very destitute through this section of the country mostly Seceshionests especially the Ladies (if such they may be called which I doubt)
8th rainy day orders to march tomorrow
9th march south at 9. A.M. it rains all day & until 10 oclock at night march 13 miles over very muddy roads & camp at Gadfly without tents or blankets or or[our] rations
10th teams come up it has cleared off is quite a fine day
11th go foraging have a pleasant day a very poor country
12th march south 12 miles to caseville where we lay nearly three months during the past summer we are now on the old telegraph road
13th it is beautiful weather everything looks familiar hereabouts the Reg't is in good health
14th Gen. Herron arrives from Springfield with the 3d Div'n the weather is fair
15th weather fine roads excelent Perris, my Step Bro. is sick today also one of our Serg'ts.
16th take Perris to the Hospital & prepare to march on the morrow by Order.
17th once more we take up our line of march for Ark. 9 months today we crossed the line for the first time then in pursuit of Price now of Rains Shelby Marmaduke & Co. march 25 miles & camp on Pearidge
18th march two miles along the ridge & ocupy the same camp we used to ocupy before the battle of Pearidge (March 6th 7th & 8th/62) it is a beautiful camp & it is pleasant weather
19th obtain permission & look the Battle field over it looks familiar go to our (37th) old burial place at leetown it looks very well.
20th march at 6.P.M. Blunt (1st Div'n) marches southwest we southeast
21st take breakfast at Daybreak 23 miles from camp in a beautiful valley with splendid springs a beautiful creek large Oaks & Pines & various trees & shrubbery altogether it forms a most pleasing sight, but we must pass on most likely never to return to these beautiful vallies again we pass over large sloping hills & steep bluffs cross White & War Eagle rivers & at night bivouac 40 miles from Pearidge 7 from Huntsville lay on our arms expecting to have a fight in the morning no blankets or tents
22d after shivering six hours we are called into line of battle where we stand until day light when we break ranks confiscate some small Porkers & roasted them but it is rather poor eating without salt to season it with the cav. have cleared the Reb's. from Huntsville & at noon our teams come up we work until about 4.P.M. to get our tents up & supper ready. just then Orders come to march & immediately the bugle sounds to strike tents. we are drawn up in close columns & Col. Black makes a short but stirring speech, in which he tells us that before the rising of another sun we shall stand face to face with the foes of our country & as we are the only tried reg't in the two Div'ns & the favorite Reg't of a favorite Gen (Sotton[Totten]) much would be expected of us. then after resting awhile for others to get ready we marched N.W.[?]
23d we have marched allnight & until 4.P.M. today now we camp 35 miles from where we started last eve
24th march 10 miles north cross the telegraph road at mudtown & camp at Sand Spring we are now within 15 miles of Pearidge where were started from it has been fine weather during the whole march & the boys have stood it well in the meantime Blunt has fought them at Mount Pleasant & taken 4 pieces of artilery 300 prisoners part of their train & drove them over the Boston Mountains
25th cloudy today the people here are very ignorant & destitute the Ladies smoke & chew tobacco & swear like pirates.
26th Knapsack team (left at Pearidge) comes accross to us & it comes very acceptable just now as we woke up this morning with three inches of snow on the ground Lt F. J. Abbey arrives from Springfield
27th break up camp at 6.P.M. & march south west
28th at daybreak arrive at Fayetteville (22 miles) the Van. Guard rout the Reb's after a short skirmish killing 8 of theirs wounding 5 of ours the rest fly for Boston Mountains leaving part of their train we advance 3 miles to white river lay an hour or so & then return to Fayetteville & camp for the night
30th weather fair break up camp at 6.A.M. march back to Sand Spring 22 miles roads good teams move ahead therefore we have everything ready when we arrive as the boys that strayed ahead have pitched our tents for us
31st weather beautiful muster for Pay Col. Mc E. Dye mustering Officer another month is gone.