The next morning, Sunday, February 28th, nine deserters came into our lines. They reported Longstreet as falling back; said they were tired of the war, and that there was much dissatisfaction in the rebel ranks. We marched about eleven o'clock, Morrison's brigade in advance, and halted late in the afternoon about a mile beyond Mossy Creek, having advanced thirteen miles.
That night it rained, nor did the rain cease with the darkness. We marched at seven in the morning, February 29th, the rain still falling. The roads were very muddy, and we had a toilsome, disagreeable march. Early in the afternoon we reached Morristown,—a march of thirteen miles,—and encamped just beyond the town. The ground was well-watered, but we pitched our shelter-tents, obtained some boards from an old camp near by, and endeavored to make ourselves comfortable for the night. A flag of truce came in from the rebels, and it was understood that they were in force about six miles distant.
We expected to advance the next morning, March 1st, but it still rained in torrents. Our shelter-tents afforded little protection in such a deluge, and officers and men drew largely on the hospitality of the town in seeking comfortable quarters. Some curious expressions were caught up from the people in this region, and long lingered in the regiment. A few of our men were at a farm-house, and, as they sat down at the supper-table, the good mistress of the house apologized for the quality of the fare in these terms: "Our butter is gin out, but you can wobble your corndodgers in the ham-fat if you choose." A forager asked a woman if she had any molasses. "Well," she replied, "we haven't many, but we have a few!"
To our great surprise, the next day, March 2d, we moved back to Mossy Creek. Why, we knew not, as there was no enemy threatening us. We reached Mossy Creek about ten P.M., and encamped on the same spot where we pitched our tents when on the way to Morristown. We were snug in our blankets that night when orders came for us to be ready to march at a moment's notice. A little after midnight Col. Morrison rode up and startled us all with the order, "Fall in, Thirty-sixth!" In less than five minutes we were on the march. We moved down to the creek and there halted. The troops of the Twenty-third Corps were crossing. Citizens and contrabands had reported that Longstreet was advancing. We built fires and awaited further orders. Not long after daylight we returned to the camp we had left so suddenly.
March 5th a brigade of rebel cavalry was reported near, and Companies B, C, and F of the Thirty-sixth went out on a reconnoissance. After feeling of our position, however, the cavalry left. While our men were out they were drawn up in a line of battle under the brow of a hill, well concealed. Col. Morrison, who accompanied the scouting party, was a slight distance in advance, reconnoitring, when a rebel lieutenant, who had lost his reckoning, being overcome with whiskey, rode up to the brow of the hill. The colonel drew his revolver and ordered the drunken lieutenant to dismount. He had on one of our overcoats, and when Gen. Parke came up, not long after, he gave orders that it should be given to one of our own men. A goodly-sized knife was the only weapon that the lieutenant carried.
On the following day we again had orders to be ready to march at a moment's notice. March 7th we changed our camp, though we still remained at Mossy Creek.
Orders for a movement were received March 11th, and the reveillé was sounded at three o'clock the next morning. We marched at five, Morrison's brigade having the advance. It was a beautiful winter's day, and we reached Morristown about eleven o'clock. Passing through the town, we encamped about two miles beyond, on the Chucky Valley road. The railroad bridge at Strawberry Plains had now been repaired, and the trains were running to Morristown.
March 13th we had a quiet Sunday, and were to have a brigade dress-parade at night, when word came from our cavalry pickets that the rebels had appeared. The Thirty-sixth was ordered out in the direction indicated; but the enemy had already retired, and we returned to our camp.
The next morning our cavalry had a short fight. One rebel was killed, two were wounded, and nine were taken prisoners. About eleven o'clock we had orders to fall in, and our brigade moved out on the Chucky Valley road. The Seventy-ninth New York was left at the cross-roads, about five miles from our camp. We halted at the river, while the Twentieth Michigan, throwing off their knapsacks, advanced a couple of miles further. The cavalry sent in one prisoner. As he joined us he said he had never fought against "you-uns." The Twentieth Michigan at length returned, and the brigade marched back to Morristown, where we arrived about dark. Several corn-cribs along the line of march that day, and one especially at the river, added somewhat to the daily ration.
The 15th was a cold, raw March day. Just at night there was an alarm, and our brigade moved out hastily to support the cavalry pickets; but we were not needed, and soon returned to camp.