We camped on the Murfreesboro pike, three miles from Nashville.
Our tents were pitched in a large open field. The ground was low and springy, and whenever it rained, the place was almost untenable.
The day after our arrival was Thanksgiving day, but it passed off the same as all other days with us. We had our usual dinner of sow-belly a la mode, and hard-tack a la mouldy.
Nothing out of the usual course occurred, until December 8th. On that day, our brigade made a foraging excursion on the Nolensville pike. Went ten miles, and succeeded in obtaining one hundred and sixty-nine loads of corn, which was brought away in sight of the enemy’s pickets, without a gun being fired.
Captain Standart was acting as Chief of Artillery on General Palmer’s Staff; General Palmer having succeeded General Smith as Division Commander.
I will here mention that we were now in what was called the Fourth Division of General Crittenden’s Corps. Our Brigade is known as the Twenty-second, General Cruft commanding. Lieutenant Baldwin, at this time, was temporarily commanding the Battery.
On the 10th, we moved our camp about one-fourth of a mile to a drier piece of ground. Captain Standart also moved his quarters back to the Battery, but still retained his position as Chief of Artillery.
We remained in camp near Nashville just one month, during which time we had several alarms, but none of them of any consequence. Also made several reconnoisances on different roads.
We here received a supply of new clothing, harness, and other equipments; and, on the morning of December 24th, were ordered to have five days’ rations in haversacks, ready to march—but for some cause did not move.
Christmas went by in quiet, but it was only a lull in the war-storm which was soon to break upon us with a fury hard to withstand.