The original journal was written in German and is at The Filson Historical Society, Louisville, Kentucky

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The Sixth Kentucky was 705 men strong when we left Camp Sigel near Louisville

Description of travel and events since I enlisted the 6th Kentucky Regiment, in Company E on November 26, 1861.

The 30 Dec. 1861 we marched from our first camp site, Camp Sigel, on the street to Bardstown, and camped in the evening 15 miles from Louisville that was the first night, where we slept without tents and also drew crackers and bacon the 31. we made 14 miles, the march with our heavy knapsacks was hard, and already many fell behind the first day, it was very strenuous. The 1. Jan 62. we reached Bardstown toward evening and pitched our tents that same night at the fairgrounds. the 2. Jan we marched off again and pitched our camp 6 miles from Bardst. in Camp Morton, several regiments were already camped there, it rained most of the time, and was terribly muddy there, the 5. Jan. we marched off again, and camped after a march of 10 miles in Camp Wickliffe, in a thick wood, where we first had to clear away trees, in order to pitch our camp, The 12 Feb. we received new tents and 14 Febr we marched from there, the previous night it snowed and it was 6 inches deep. and in the morning the tents were ladened with snow, and frozen we knocked it off and tied it together as good as we could, and the brigade to which we were assigned was the 19th under command of Col. Hazen our and Capt. Hedden’s Comp were the rearguard and we stayed there until noon until all were away, it was cold and we burned all boards, boxes, straw and the like before we departed,

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We marched afterward to the wagon train, which took a forest path, which was so muddy that one could almost not pass[,] each moment one stuck again almost up to the axles and we must help them out again, the whole way was barricaded by wagons stuck fast and we had our problems with it we made only 5 miles that day and camped in an old log cabin it was very cold and the snow was frozen hard and we were not destined to get any sleep here, next morning the 15. it went better because the wagons moved better so as long as it was frozen We also marched through Hatchingsville [Hodgenville] where we could buy some things and our two companies camped in the evening in two log cabins where our Comp. [Company] slaughtered a pig, however we had no salt and also no crackers and had to eat the meat unsalted, this was 2 1/2 to 3 miles from Elisabethtown [Elizabethtown], next morning the 16. we marched off about 5 o’clock by moonlight, and came through Elisabethtown while still dark, we joined our regiment again on the other side of Elisabethtown and the same day made a march of 26 miles, in snow and muck, where many did not keep up, we were all dog-tired we camped two miles from Westpoint in a wood, next day the 17 Feb. it began to rain and foggy weather we marched off and it thundered until evening until we all had embarked, our regiment boarded the Boat Switzerland and we had much trouble until the wagons and similar things were brought onto the boat, because the going was down a big hill and the ground was loose and difficult. by nightfall the boats departed. the boats stopped by the mouth of the Wabash [Green] river for a long time, and afterwards moved up the river several miles, then turned back again until we then landed at Paducah the 21 Feb.[,] on Sunday the 23 Feb. we moved our things from the Boat Switzerland onto the steamer City of Madison, the boats departed, and by Smithland moved up the Cumberland River, the 24. Feb we passed Fort Donelson where there was a 3 day battle and Gen. Buckner was taken prisoner.

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The 25. Feb around 2 o’clock we arrived at Nashville, and about 3 o’clock we marched off, through and out of the city, and it already began to become dark when we wanted to camp, then they had us move again and stand around here and there for quite some time, The Rebel cavalry, the so called Texas Rangers had left the city shortly before and still roamed around in the surrounding area, suddenly 10 to 15 quick shots followed one another between the outposts, we were immediately posted in Line of Battle, our rifles were loaded right away, and we spent almost two hours marching back and forth, we also stood in a square the night was pitch black, our cavalry came rushing up the street, and we thought nothing else but now the Rebels were approaching, which was quite surprising and made us curious, finally we were allowed to lie down, although everything had to stay in readiness and sleep on our loaded rifles, but slept very little, toward midnight it began to rain hard and rained until around morning, we were all dripping wet[,] in the morning 26 Feb. we cooked our breakfast and unloaded our rifles whereupon we then pitched a camp several hundred yards from there named Camp Andrew Jackson, we spent the time with drills as we did everywhere we camped a long time, the 12 March our brigade made a march to Andrew and Richard Jackson’s graves, on the Lebanon pike, 12 miles distant from our camp upon arrival we stacked our rifles, and went to Jackson’s grave accompanied by mournful music, several salutes were fired off by the cannon and then began our march back, and reached our camp again by nightfall, at which we arrived very tired, hungry and dusty, the 17 March we marched off from there and we camped in the evening and were tired still Dress Parade was held, over which everyone was angry, the 18 March we marched through Franklin, Tenn[.], we camped after an arduous march and many had blistered and sore feet, and could hardly march any more.

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around midnight about 10 shots were fired, whereupon we were deployed right away and prepared for an attack if something of that sort should occur, it stayed quiet however, and we returned again to our rest it did not last long however so came a strong thunderstorm it lightninged and crashed, we threw the tents from the wagon as quickly as possible and pitched them, however, it began to rain before we got under cover and rained the whole night through until toward 8 o’clock in the morning Our company came on picket the next morning we marched off again we came through the little city of Spring Hill where we pitched a camp several miles from the city, named Camp near Spring Hill we stayed there until 29 March, when we then marched off, and by Columbus [Columbia] had to wade the Duck River, which at places was 3 1/2 to 4 feet deep this presented a comical spectacle, it lasted rather long until all were across and had dressed again the bridge over the river was burned down and Col. Willich with his regiment rebuilt it again. which was finished in a few days, in Columbus [Columbia] we had to halt a long time, then resumed our march, and camped several miles from Columbus [Columbia], they pitched the tents the next day, our company was on picket, the 30 March we marched three miles further, and camped on the beautiful farm of Rebel General Pillow next day the 31., we took up our march again, and pitched our tents in a corn field, near Mount Pleasant, a little country town, We had a dress parade on the same evening in the moonlight, next morning the 1st of April our young division was put in an uproar because some shots were fired in the outpost line, we were deployed and marched halfway up a large hill, whereupon it was seen this whole thing was a false alarm, we returned and cooked our breakfast and marched away afterwards. the 2., 3. 4 and 5th April it rained most of the time we were however always without shelter at night and had never pitched our tents the 5th we came in the early evening to a meadow, by Savannah, on the Tenesee [Tennessee] River,

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Our company came on picket, and the others pitched the tents, the night was frosty and cold and we were not allowed to have a fire[,] next morning the 6th April, a Sunday, we heard some cannon fire in the distance, we immediately received the order to march off and by the time we marched off it degenerated into a general battle in the distance by Pittsburg Landing, we heard cannon and small arms fire without stop, we marched to Savannah where first we drew rations, because we had nothing more with us. 1 o’clock in the afternoon we marched off with our knapsacks on our backs at the double-quick, over a miserable forest road to Pittsburg Landing which was yet eight miles distant, we reached it near nightfall, and were shipped over right away, the troops of General Grant which had been in battle the day before, got courage by our arrival, because the battle of the day before had been lost and the Rebels would only have taken the few prisoners, or have driven them into the river, if we had not come, our division the Fourth under General Nelson, was pushed forward that same night as advance guard the night was pitch black, and toward midnight a storm moved in and it rained until almost morning we were all soaked[,] at daylight we threw our knapsacks into a pile, the gunboats continued to fire Bombshells toward the enemy during the night so they kept at a considerable distance, at daybreak it began, our company were the skirmishers, and Martin’s Comp. from our regiment, it misted all day, the commands were given to advance and we did not need to go far until we found the ground covered with corpses, clothing, knapsacks, rifles, sabers, disabled cannon[.] horses, and everything found on a battlefield, we skirmished through the woods, until we came to an open place, and across it at the edge of the wood lay the enemy, the enemy drove us back considerably fast

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Faster than we advanced an absolute hail of bullets came towards us, then the regiment came up and the battle began the battle had partly started with our brigade, was no cannon until about 9 o’clock the artillery came to help us, the Rebels drove us back several times, whereupon our brigade made a bayonet attack and we forced the Rebels to retreat hurriedly and where they lost many, then they drove us back, where many with us fell, the battle continued until noon, and the Rebels did not want to retreat in the afternoon between noon and one o’clock we believed ourselves lost and surrounded, there arrived however perpetual reinforcements, and the enemy began to retreat little by little, and by 5 o’clock in the evening they were completely beaten and withdrew from the field. our regiment lost 116 men killed and wounded, and afterwards our brigade inspected the field on which we fought, and took all the wounded still around, and laying in hospitals or log cabins back with us. we camped in the muck and it began to rain hard again, the next morning, the 8 of April, in the morning at daybreak “Fall in” was called and all went in confusion, in the knee-deep muck and rain, and each one grabbed the closest rifle I could however not find my rifle and had to obtain another one, our Brigade then had to go on picket at least 3 or 4 miles from where we camped, we relieved the Brigade where in the evening the battle came, we saw everywhere there and around the places where the Rebels had camped, the dead were all buried after the battle, and most of the wounded sent to St. Louis, Louisville and other cities. We were relieved on the 9th by another brigade and came back again next to the previous place, Where we had to lay in the muck and rain for 3 days long without shelter only the officers had their tents and also still little to eat finally 11 April our tents came, and we pitched a camp on

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the Shiloh battlefield[,] we camped there until 2nd May, meanwhile we were paid, and also received good food i.e., plenty crackers and bacon, etc., 2nd May we marched away from there. and camped about 10 miles from the last place, the 3rd May our brigade had to make a reconnaissance, our company and Martin’s were again the skirmishers from our Regiment, we had a difficult time, through woods over fences hills and valleys and also covered 4 miles. however we could encounter no enemy, toward evening we came back again, but we hardly had drank our black coffee, when our regiment had to go on picket right away and ours and Capt. Martin’s Comp. were used again for the outposts, the 4th of May it rained the whole day, we built ourselves huts, but it rained through them, we were relieved toward evening about 5 o’clock, the 5th May in the morning about 6 o’clock, general march blew, it rained hard, and our whole Division marched off. in the rain and muck we got stuck nevertheless had to go forward, and no one or few had their black coffee or eaten crackers yet, and we must leave with empty stomachs, we were only able to march 1 1/2 to 2 miles, and then it went no more, because the cannon were not able to be advanced further on the bottomless road and therefore we turned around again really covered with mud and soaking wet, and we remained there until the 7th of May, when we advanced 6 to 7 miles further, the 8th of May advanced 4 miles further, when we advanced the next morning within approximately 4 miles of Corinth and remained there until 1 o’clock in the morning the order came to march back as quickly as possible, each one of us carried 80 cartridges, the night was pitch black and a wretched newly cut and made forest road[,] it went almost in the double quick back again, and few arrived in the camp who had not fallen 3 or 4 times on the way back,

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we arrived at the old place before daybreak, which we previously had left, we pitched our tents the 9th May in the afternoon we were alarmed by heavy cannon fire in the distance, and went to the battlefield on the double quick, however, before we were quite there, the order came to turn around and we went back the same way, and went again to the same place we were the previous night, next morning the 10. May our whole division was formed in line of battle, and we expected an attack, we spent until 10 o’clock and advanced a little, but there was no enemy to find, we returned again when night fell and stayed until 12 without tents our regiment also came there on the 11. on picket, we now pitched our tents somewhat back in the woods, named Camp near Corinth miss. [Miss.], the time was spent there with camping etc. we still had to stand in line of battle each morning until night from 4 to 6 o’clock and drill, and sometimes we must come out at 2 o’clock in the night, the 17 May we were alerted through heavy cannonading in the distance that occurred on the left wing, our regiment was relieved from picket and we had to stand under arms until 5 o’clock in the evening. When suddenly general march blew, and the whole army was put in motion, we had to march at the double quick for two miles in dust and heat that was nearly suffocating we halted at a large open place, it had already begun to get dark and we camped there at the road and edge of the woods, the pickets maintained a continuous mutual fire on each another, the next day on Sunday the 18. May, 10 large siege guns which were 11 1/2 feet long came and 10 horses were hitched to each cannon they were immediately deployed in the open field and earthworks were made in front of them with earth and bushes. The 19th May we marched off. the army advanced and now built entrenchments 1 miles from our camp, from fence rails and ground, the following night it rained hard. our trenches on the whole were finished, We also had to stay there on picket and afterwards we

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built huts from brushwood, however, were soaking wet in the morning then a few from each company were sent to the camp in order to pick up some coffee and crackers and also coats and blankets, toward evening we were relieved and as long as we were there came on picket every 2 or 3 days 23 May, while on picket by the entrenchments I was promoted to sergeant where it rained the whole day, the 27. we came on picket again, we were relieved and were about half way back to camp, when the order came to turn back, we threw all our blankets on a pile, and marched a mile beyond our first entrenchments, shooting at one another during the whole day with cannon and rifle fire blowing in between, sometimes also very loud, they deployed us in an open field where we had to spend the whole day from 9 o’clock in the morning the sun was so hot we could barely hold up, the 29 May they put us to work again, and we had to make new entrenchments in an open field in the greatest heat, one mile from the first, they were finished at 4 o’clock in the afternoon and we built huts there in the open field from foliage. the 30 May at 7 o’clock in the morning, we saw a thick black smoke in the area Where Corinth was located, and immediately after that bombs exploded on the land and for a short time there was a perfect thunder, this was the Rebels munitions warehouse which they themselves had set on fire, before they abandoned Corinth, immediately the order arrived to march off and we marched into Corinth and into the camp of the departed Rebels and entrenchments that were all abandoned, the inhabitants had fled. where several afterwards then came back, enough foodstuffs lay generously everywhere where the enemy had camped. We had e.g., flour, molasses vinegar, bread, roasted rye corn for coffee, tents, rifles and all kinds of other things, the prettiest furniture and glassware lay all around destroyed, the railroad depot and some other houses they had burned before they left we stayed there until evening, where prisoners were still were being brought in, and also a nice secessionist flag was burned.

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The 31st May we had to go on picket again, and the 1st June we were paid in Camp near Corinth on the 4th of June we marched off after a march of 12 miles we made a halt in the bush where we spent 2 days and received nothing but 3 dry crackers for the day. The 6th June we marched off again and made but a mere 6 miles next day, the 7. we covered 4 more miles, our regiment was in front of the brigade and 3 companies of which ours was one, had to advance several hundred yards for our regiment and spent there until the 9th without being relieved around 3 o’clock in the afternoon we marched off in the dust and heat and marched without halt until 10 o’clock at night and then nobody even thought about cooking then each one was too much tired, we made fires and lay down on the ground, dripping with sweat and covered with dust and dirt, and there was nothing to lay on and nothing to cover up with except a coat, and then only a few had them next morning the 10th again marched off and in fact without breakfast, we made a halt at 7 o’clock in the evening, of course everyone was tired and done in from the severe strain we cooked our coffee and each received 2 good drink, a half pink Wisky, that cheered us up again, the 11th we marched off again and made a halt at the Charleston and Memphis Railroad, the march was arduous and dusty and we sometimes received no water and most water was foul and disgusting the 15th June we had to perform guard duty at the railroad bridge, which was built over the Bear River, which was 5 miles distant from our camp the 16th we came back again, because we had been relieved. We received orders to send all our extra clothes away by command of General Nelson We sent our coats and dress coats and the like off and it happened that we never saw them again, the 17th of June we marched off and covered 7 miles in the greatest dust

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and heat, then the order came to turn around our regiment must be the rear guard, the wagons had to go up a high hill, which took a long time, we had to help pull them up until finally all were over it, however, we still had our knapsacks on our backs, which made us very sweaty and it was dusty at many places, so that when marching we barely saw each other. we reached the old place around 10 o’clock at night, which we had left in the morning[,] the following night it rained and the 18th of June, we marched on the other side of the railroad and pitched our tents in the woods, called Camp near Iuka (miss.) [Miss.] the 22nd we had marching orders, and we were all ready to march off, but did not depart the same day. next day the 23rd June around 3 in the afternoon we marched off, at nightfall halted in the woods, and next morning we took up our march again, and marched mostly along the railroad, the 25 we marched through Tescumbia, [Tuscumbia] Ala. and the 26. we crossed over the Tenesee [Tennessee] River on two small steamboats named Lady Jackson and Des Moinser [Moines] City about 6 o’clock, we marched through Florence, Ala. in the largest thunderstorm, the road was filled with foot-deep water it lightninged and cracked continuously, the lightning hit a few times, soaked to the skin, we camped 1 mile from Florence in the woods, the 27 we marched off again, and we were hardly on the march a quarter hour, and it began to rain hard again, in the rain and on terrible streets, we marched still 7 miles we made a halt by a river, or creek we were dripping wet, our Company, the first platoon came on picket, I and 6 men were by the Head Quarters of Col. Grose who at that time was our Brigade Commander, the 28th we marched off again, and it began to rain again

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we marched through a little hamlet named Rochesville [Rogersville], Ala., we made a halt not far from it and we took off our shoes and socks , and rolled up our pants as far as they went, several hundred yards from there was the Elk River which we had to cross, and which was 3 1/2 to 4 feet deep in several places, we arrived on the other side and dressed ourselves again, it looked curious enough and ridiculous when we waded through the river, which was nearly 150 yards wide, this march was one of the hardest which we had yet made, we had the most intense heat, 18 miles lay behind us, and we could only get water half the time, and it was miserable and made me sick, and I had get out of line, and I was Sergeant of the Guard at that time, now over half the men at that time stayed back, the 30 June early morning we marched off had barely still 6 miles to Athen [Athens] Ala. Where we marched through at 8 1/4 in the morning and camped 1 1/2 miles from Athen in the woods, we pitched tents the same day on the 4th July our Division had a parade under General Nelson down at the Fairgrounds at Athen, which was located a good 3 miles from our camp, of course it was so dusty that one could not see his neighbor, and the sun was oppressively hot, there were many that were overcome by the heat during the march, we marched there about 4 o’clock in the afternoon and came back again about 7 o’clock, we looked like the miller who was covered with dust from head to foot, and so we spent the 4th July 1862. The 8th of July we marched off from there, and moved forward 2 miles, our camp lay at a hill, there was a large open place there with good water and also a creek to wash, this camp was called Camp Houghton [Routin]. The 14. July we marched off from there and we pitched our camp by the little city, Athen Where they barely gave half rations to us our Colonel Whitaker had the same day a quarrel with another Colonel, who had his tent where Whitaker wanted to pitch ours, and they got into an argument, he also had

PAGE 13 a heated exchange with Col. Hazen, whereupon he had to hand over his saber, (and so called) came under arrest. The 17 July we marched off from there. it began to rain and the road was filled with water, at nightfall we made a halt, however we could find no good water anywhere, July 18th went again further, and our brigade was now all spread out, we went left through a narrow forest road and arrived about noon at our place and pitched our camp in the woods at a pretty place near the railroad, it was called Camp Brown, near Elk River Railroad Bridge, We always worked alternately by company at the bridge over the Elk River, one time we were supposed to be attacked there the night of 3rd until 4th August by 300 cavalrymen, we were alerted and prepared to hold, whatever happened, but it stayed quiet, the 5th August we marched off from Camp Brown the wagons were taken over the river on a flatboat, we made a halt by a creek, named Richland Creek, where we ate and stayed for a while. And in the evening we arrived by Pulaski, Ten. [Tenn.] where we camped for the night on the morning of the 6th we took up our march again and marched through Pulaski, which is an old little city and had a pretty Courthouse, around noon we arrived at Ronald [Reynolds] Station where the wagons were unloaded, and the things put on the railroad, the captains drew lots as to which companies had to go by railroad and which by the wagons over the road to Murfreesboro. 4 companies had to go with the wagons and 6 by the railroad where also ours was with it, and we arrived at 6 o’clock in the evening in Nashville, we had considerable time and freedom there, and those who had money bought, a nd most got themselves full of booze and got to fighting. I borrowed two dollars from Gustav Laun, I bought quite a lot of bread and cheese, and also a pint whisky for 25 cents PAGE 14 many got their heads bloodied and it was a spectacle the whole night, that you could not close an eye, next morning several had a swollen head and a terrible hangover on the morning of the 7. we rode away from Nashville on the railroad and arrived at noon in Murfreesboro where the rest of the regiments of our brigade already were, and all had marching orders when we arrived, we had our things unloaded, and again on the wagons, of other regiments and all were ready to march off, but the order was again cancelled, and we pitched our camp outside the city on the McMinnville Road, we marched then another day the 8th of August on the opposite side of the city and set up our camp there, next to us was a little Fort which our Battery occupied, 2 companies from our regiment were deployed to 2 railroad bridges in order to guard them, they had to build little Forts, We had to stand picket, and train guard on the railroad and every morning around 3:30 or 4 o’clock go out, and stand in Line of Battle until day[,] the 17 August we had Brigade Review, we marched through Murfreesboro up to a large open place on the evening of the 17 and that night the 27 Ky and 9 Indiana Regt. which belonged to our Brigade, went to Nashville, the 27th was sent to Mumfordville [Munfordville], to be completed, and the 9th Indiana came back out to us later the 18th we had inspection, the 19th we drew half rations for 14 days long, the 20. the old Hecker Regiment rode past us on the railroad, the 22 the music band left, which played for us there each evening at the dress parade the 24 August we were on picket on Sunday, and the others in Camp had to cut down trees the 25. the 2nd Ky. Regt. came to us, and 2 regiments of Cavalry on this side where we camped, the 26. the 6th Ohio that also stayed not long there, the 27. August afternoon around 3 o’clock several shots were exchanged by the pickets and Rebels at the same time the cavalry came up there.

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and brought Order, the enemy approached, now all went into confusion the regiments fell into line, our company was already posted as skirmishers in the little city of Murfreesboro, but no one came, afterwards we marched out of the little city, the women and children fled to a secure place, and we awaited whatever should come the road out of the city was fully strewn with corn, which the haulers had lost, because they drove a cart in there, and thought they still came after them We returned again to camp. our regiment marched to the 2 companies which had been posted at the bridge and stayed there overnight, on the next morning they arrived again at camp, in the skirmish between the pickets on our side 1 man was killed and 3 wounded, where this disturbance began , the soldiers wanted to wash, their whole wash, soap canteens buckets etc. was left behind, which we found by the Spring and took the best with us into the Camp. (Continued in Part !!)