We now turned off to the right, crossing a small creek; and, as we were now off the McMinnville pike, our expectations of going to that place vanished. We were once more nonplussed as to what was really our destination. As usual, various opinions were expressed.
It would really be laughable to an outsider to hear the surmises and “yarns” of the men about this, that and the other. One thing, however, was quite evident: that from the direction we were taking, we would soon be among the Cumberland mountains; and it further looked as if we were heading towards Chattanooga.
We soon found ourselves on a road over which we had marched nearly a year previous, and which leads from McMinnville to Altamont. This road is a succession of twists and turns, being similar to a street in Boston: it had no apparent beginning, nor ending.
After a tedious day of it—meeting with some slight accidents—at night we came near a large Female Seminary, and camped in the woods close by, and two miles from Collins river.
Started at 8 o’clock the next morning, and soon thereafter crossed Collins river. The road was now ascending, being in many places quite steep, and it was with much difficulty that we were enabled to transport our heavy guns. The horses were all pretty well used up at the end of the day, and some of them had given out entirely.
On Wednesday morning, according to orders of the previous evening, we got an early start, and at five o’clock were all on the road. The horses were suffering for want of food, as we had no forage for them, and we were obliged to send them back on the road for a supply.
The road now lay through a thinly settled part of the country, and very rocky and uneven. Water was scarcely to be obtained, and for the want of which there was much suffering. Frequent halts were found necessary, to rest both men and horses. At 2 o’clock we had made about fifteen miles; had now gained the summit, and were about to descend the mountain. We found this part of the road more heavy than that of the morning. In going down a steep pitch, the reach of the forge was broken, and a little further on, two caissons broke down. The men belonging to the detachments, together with the wagon maker, were left with them to make repairs. The remainder of the Battery continued on, and at 5 o’clock reached the small town of Dunlap, which is located in Sequatchie Valley, and one mile from the foot of the mountain.
At 10 o’clock on the morning of September 3d, we once more made a move, and about noon passed through the town of Jasper, making but a short halt. Five miles beyond the town, we crossed the Sequatchie river, and halted on its banks long enough to get dinner. At 4 o’clock we again moved forward, and continued on till about 8 o’clock in the evening, when we halted in a large field, about one mile from the Tennessee river.
Our orders were to unharness horses, but to be prepared to cross the river as soon as the moon rose. Accordingly none ventured to sleep; but we built large fires, cooked supper, and patiently awaited for the moon’s rising.
At 10 o’clock Miss Luna showed her face, which was the signal to move; and in a few moments we were on the way to the river. In a short time we reached its bank, and at once commenced crossing by means of ferry-boats; but it was daylight ere all were safely crossed, and at Shellmond.