February 18. Again moved, keeping near the city, however. The night was very cold.
February 24. The regiment and corps, including the Thirty-sixth Regiment, broke camp at daybreak, marched three miles beyond Strawberry Plain, and camped in the woods. During this march the officers were without horses, tents, or blankets.
Under the date of February 26, the diary of a field-officer of the regiment, from which we quote, has the following:—
“Same place. Sent the tents, etc., to the bridge to be taken to Knoxville. Move to-morrow, at daybreak. The little the ‘mess’ had to eat was destroyed by fire last night. I have no money, no horse; clothes in rags; boots worn through on the soles, and burnt; no tobacco; no chance to buy anything if I had money; couldn’t get forage if horses were here. Slept on the ground in front of a fire, with one ragged blanket. Very cold.”
If a field-officer was thus destitute, how much greater must have been the destitution of the men! The regiment had not been paid for more than six months.
February 27. Moved to Strawberry Plain. Crossed the Holston River in boats, and moved forward two miles into the woods. Encamped for the night.
February 28. Sunday. The horses were returned to the officers. The whole corps moved through New Market to Mossy Creek, a distance of eleven miles, and formed a camp.
February 29. Marched to Morristown. It rained in torrents all day and night. An attack by the enemy was rumored, and the troops received orders to be prepared for it.
March 1. In camp all day. Severe, cold rain. Many of the soldiers agree in saying, that this was one of the most uncomfortable days spent in the army.
March 2. Moved at half-past four, A. M., to Mossy Creek. At midnight the order came for the whole corps to retire across the creek. The blundering and confused manner in which the orders were given, indicated “that somebody in authority was badly frightened, without cause.”