Status - John Baer - 40th Indiana Regiment - Stanley's Corps - Wagner's Division - Lane's Brigade
The Union army remains mostly in place during these days, and is unaware that General Hood has started a march to the north in an attempt to cross into Tennessee and attack Union forces there. Hood diverts his army west at Guntersville, AL as he finds he cannot cross the Tennessee river there.
Sherman,while making preparations for the march across Georgia, keeps the army in place for the moment as he feels the current location allow him to block any Confederate advance on Chattanooga or Atlanta.
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John Baer Diary Entries - text in white, comments in blue. - October 22nd to 25th.
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DIARY ENTRY - Saturday, October 22nd, 1864
Marched at 6 o’clock A.M. and proceeded up the mountain - saw three houses in going a distance of 12 miles. Reached the valley about 1 o’clock P.M. and went into camp.
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DIARY ENTRY - Sunday, October 23rd, 1864
Remained in camp all day. Forage train went out - brought in potatoes, turnips, onions and apples. Party brought cattle, sheep and hogs. Hogs and sheep slaughtered for the brigade.
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DIARY ENTRY - Monday, October 24th, 1864
General began to grow uneasy on account of our exposed positions and we were ordered to be ready to march at 12 o’clock P.M. to recross the mountain. We were making headquarters at rebels’ houses. The old Gentleman’s name was Winster and he owned about 30 Negroes big and little, and when they got wind that we were going back, the broke through the weeds like a flock of quails with the intention of going along, but were nearly all sent back as we had no means of subsisting them. Did not get down the mountain until after dark - lost part of our cattle, all of our hogs, and two or three sheep. One wagon upset - all but the hogs were recovered the next day.
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DIARY ENTRY - Tuesday, October 25th, 1864
Remained in camp at the foot of the mountain - sent out foragers but they returned bringing nothing but potatoes. Received mail - only a few letters for the company, none for me. Some talk of a move, but no move.
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The regiment remains in the Alpine, AL area during this time.
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More Information:
- Link: War Operations, see Volume XXXIX, Chapter LI, Part III, Correspondence, pp. 394-439.
- The Civil War Day by Day, John S. Bowman, Ed. p. 182.
- The Civil War, A Narrative, Vol 1II, Red River to Appomattox, Shelby Foote, p. 616-618.
- Shrouds of Glory: From Atlanta to Nashville, Winston Groom, pp 99-100.
- Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant, pp. 641-.
- Memoirs of General William T. Sherman, pp. 634-.
- Events: 1864
NEXT POST: OCTOBER 29TH
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