On February 13 the 6th Kentucky received the much longed for marching orders. On the 14th early in the morning we left Camp Wickliffe. It took us four full days to reach West Point. I will say nothing about the hardships and arduousness that we had to endure on this trek, with frequent bottomless roads; since we survived, and that is history, they see it much lighter now and in fact a little humorous. However, we will never forget the bottomless mire, which we had to wade through, because we had to bring our wagons, etc., on the steamboats. It was trouble and work that brought the majority of the men together, at least for the moment. On the 15th the steamboats took our division down the river.

After we traveled two days, we received opposite orders and had to go back to Cannelton, [Indiana] then; however, we received orders to go to Paducah, where we arrived by steamer on the 21st. We spent the night there on the boat and departed the next day up the Cumberland River. We passed Fort Donelson. Also, it is a little surprising that the Southerners could not hold the fort, one of the strongest in the country. The morale of the Confederates is completely broken. Their heart has sunken.

On the 15th we reached Nashville, the outlaw secessionists’ hole. We were the first Union troops who entered there — ourGeneral Nelson immediately took possession of the city and in particular the Statehouse over which he raised the Union flag with his own hands. The Secessionists fled quickly, because they had to leave behind a large quantity of provisions. We have deceived ourselves with the assumption that the Secessionists have poor and meager food. Their provisions are good and based on the quantity that we seized in Nashville, [they] have everything in large quantities.

The residents of Nashville are very happy that they are rid of their Southern guests. Food has reached an enormously high price. A pound of coffee cost $1.00 and all articles in proportion to that. We established our present camp on the 26th of February. It is a mile distant from Nashville, the prettiest, healthiest and most comfortable camp that we have had until now. Within an hour of Nashville lay at least 100,000 Union troops. Our regiment is in the best of health. Since we left Camp Sigel we have lost only two men through death. The main reason for the present situation was til now the fatherly care of our upstanding Quartermaster, Mr. M. Billing, because he untiringly procured ample and healthy food for the regiment. A bad mishap has befallen us through the resignation of our attentive, beloved Quartermaster. Simply through his untiring care, that let him rest neither day nor night, his health was undermined, so that to the greatest sorrow of each individual in the regiment he was forced to request a discharge. All our officers especially and in particular our Brigade and our Division General were distressed to accept his resignation. Mr. Billing however withstood that, while he explained that longer administration of his so very arduous office inevitably leads to physical deterioration. Since the beginning of the month of Febr.[uary], the condition of Mr. Billing’s health was very questionable; the trip here, however, of which the whole burden for the regiment lay solely on his shoulders, had worsened his condition, so that he, as long as we lay in this camp could seldom leave his bed and only for short time. With grief, with deep grief, each soldier of the 6th Kentucky Regiment sees him depart, and only the newly-named Quartermaster, Capt. Wolfe, our former Wagonmaster, a trustworthy man, gives us confidence and trust for the future. Mr. Billing will leave after about eight days, after he has transferred all the quartermaster stores to his successor.

How long we remain here can of course not be said; however, it appears that we will not depart soon. Tennessee can be declared a Union state; the power of the Secessionists is completely broken, and the one place in the state they occupy with some confidence is Memphis, which they would leave without the slightest doubt with the advance of our army.

The morale of our troops is excellent and we anticipate a movement against the fire-eater with burning desire.