January 15th clothing arrived and was issued. Though the quantity was small, there was enough to be of much benefit to our shivering men. On the following day the Forty-fifth Pennsylvania started home, its term of service also having nearly expired. At ten o'clock we broke camp and marched to Strawberry Plains, about sixteen miles north of Knoxville. It is at this place that the railroad crosses the Holston river. We went into camp, and on the following day built houses.
But on the 17th there were rumors of an approach of the enemy, and we had orders to march the next morning at seven. When the morning came, however, these orders were countermanded, and we were then ordered to hold ourselves in readiness to march at a moment's notice. That night two or three inches of snow fell. On the following day, January 19th, we remained at our quarters until night, when we were ordered to the station to load cars with batteries and ammunition. January 21st no rations, except of fresh beef, or rather of bones, as the men said, were issued. About midnight we were ordered to be ready to march at daybreak. Wagons came at two o'clock, and our baggage was packed and sent off to Knoxville. About noon on that day, the 21st, we moved into the woods. Not long after, the rebels appeared on the opposite side of the river and opened fire from a battery, to which our guns responded. No rations were issued that day, but our men obtained some corn and pork which the Twenty-third Corps Commissary had left at the station. The bridge across the river was destroyed by our troops, also about forty wagons. Early the next morning we set out for Knoxville, Morrison's brigade forming the rear guard. The rebel cavalry followed us closely, and we were obliged to form in line of battle frequently, and offer fight, in order to keep the enemy at a respectful distance. Late in the afternoon we halted about three miles from Knoxville, and bivouacked for the night.
The next day, January 23d, the rebels retired and we moved into the woods for protection from the cold. Here we hoped to have a little rest; but in the morning—it was the Sabbath—we found that a Sabbath-day's journey was before us. We marched through Knoxville, passed Fort Sanders and the trenches that the siege had made so familiar to us, and went into camp near Erin's Station, about five miles from the city.
Rumors now became rife that the Ninth Corps was soon to leave Tennessee and go east, to be under the command once more of General Burnside. The thought was an inspiring one to both officers and men.
Having completed our camp preparations, company and battalion drills were resumed January 27th. January 31st the Thirty-sixth received about one hundred recruits from the Twenty-ninth Massachusetts,—the portion of the regiment that had not reënlisted. The remainder of their period of service these men were to fill out with us. That evening we received orders to be ready to march at a moment's notice. We did not move, however, until late in the afternoon of the following day, February 1st, when our whole division marched through Knoxville, crossed the Holston, and encamped on the heights beyond. It was very muddy, and we had much difficulty in climbing the hills in the dark. Our bivouac that night was a cheerless one, and the next morning, it having been discovered by somebody that there were no rebels within thirty miles, we were ordered back to our camp at Erin's Station.
General Foster, about this time, asked to be relieved of the command of the Department of the Ohio, on account of the reöpening of an old wound; and February 9th General J. M. Schofield reached Knoxville, having, at General Grant's request, been appointed to succeed Foster.
February 15th we broke camp at Erin's Station in a pouring rain, and marched to Knoxville, where we encamped just outside of the city, and not far from Fort Sanders. The rifle-pits occupied by the rebels during the siege extended along the rear of our camp. The object in making this change in such a storm was not apparent; and, as this was our first acquaintance with General Schofield, the impression received was not a very favorable one. Yet, like good soldiers, we made ourselves as comfortable as the circumstances would allow.
Three days later orders came for us to move in the afternoon. This time it was a mile only, to a position between the Jacksboro' and Tazewell roads. Here we had again made ourselves as comfortable as possible when, February 20th, shortly after dress-parade, we received orders to be ready to march at a moment's notice. The next morning we were up early, the mules were harnessed to the wagons all day; but night came, and we still remained in camp. February 22d most of the regiment were engaged in strengthening the fortifications at Knoxville. On the following day Captain Smith, Lieutenant Brigham, and ten men were detailed to go to Massachusetts for recruits. At night we were told to hold ourselves in readiness to march at daybreak, in light marching order, with sixty rounds of ammunition per man. This looked like business.
A little after sunrise the next morning, February 24th, we left our camp, and took the road to Strawberry Plains, General Willcox being in command of our division. On the march we passed the Twenty-third Corps. General Schofield and his staff accompanied the troops. We marched about twenty miles, and at night encamped in the woods three miles beyond the railway station at Strawberry Plains. On the following day we received orders to lay out a camp, as it would be necessary for us to remain where we were several days. A pontoon came up on the train from Knoxville, and everything indicated a vigorous movement against the enemy.
February 27th we broke camp about eight o'clock in the morning, and marched to the river. As there was neither time nor men to construct a pontoon bridge, preparations had been made to carry the troops across the Holston in barges. Two ropes were stretched from bank to bank,—a distance of about one hundred yards,—and by means of these the barges, filled with men, were drawn across the stream. There were seven barges in all, and in less than three-quarters of an hour our brigade was transferred to the opposite shore. The passage of the entire command occupied the whole forenoon. When we had crossed, we moved down the road two miles and halted in an oak grove. Meanwhile our supply train and artillery were crossing at the ford below. Late in the afternoon, when we had pitched our tents for the night, orders came for the regiment to pack up, as we had been assigned to picket duty. So we packed up and moved out to the front.