Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 12.djvu/401

 Diary of Rev. J. G. Law. 391

tiful. In the distance can be seen the blue peaks of the Cumberland Mountains kissing the skies, while the intervening valleys are covered over with grassy meadows and ripening grain. We camp to-night near the foot of the Cumberland Mountains, one mile from Big Creek Gap and forty miles from Knoxville. A general inspection of arms this evening causes some speculation as to the proximity of the enemy. The object of our movement is not known in the ranks, but we know that we are moving in the direction of the Yankees and can conjecture pretty well as to what is expected of us. When " Reb" meets "Yank " then comes the tug of war. In the morning we ex- pect to pass through the gap and may look out for some sharp shoot- ing. I must pray for grace to meet any emergency.

August i6. — The troops have stood the march well to-day. We all left our knapsacks this morning so as to be unencumbered with bag- gage in case of a fight. We have marched sixteen miles and are en- camped a few miles from Wilson's Gap, which we will probably pass through to-night. The country through which we have marched to- day is wealthier and more refined than any portion of East Tennes- see that we have yet seen, and the friends of the Southern cause in- crease proportionately with the intelligence and cultivation of the people.

Sunday, Augiist ij. — A long, long, weary day. We were aroused from our slumbers last night at 12 o'clock, and resuming our march crossed the Cumberland Mountains by moonlight. As we slowly ascended the mountain with drooping eye-lids and weary limbs, some timorous mortal gave the alarm, and for a few moments there was considerable confusion in the ranks, but order was soon restored and the line of grey moved on without further incident, reaching the foot of the mountain on the Kentucky side just as the first grey streaks of morning appeared in the East. On we marched " o'er hill and dale" until 8 o'clock, when we rested about two hours. We then fell into line and continued our march all the live-long day, bivouac- mg at sunset. Our cavalry had a skirmish with the enemy this eve- ning and brought in nine live Yankees with their horses. We may have some fighting to-morrow as the blue-coats have made their ap- pearance. We have marched twenty-six miles to-day through a wild and desolate region. The inhabitants of this mountain wilder- ness are wrapped in profound ignorance. Some of them do not know in what year they live and are under the impression that An- drew Jackson is President of the United States.

Aiigusi 18. — Barboursville, Ky. After marching since 2 o'clock