Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1916-12-27
Interesting Accounts Taken
From Diary of the Late
&. M. Slayton
/ Columbia, Tennessee,
Sunday January 1 1861.

Dunudy, Il, lOOcs
The first day of the week, month
and year comes on the same day, and
it is a pleasant one; much different
from what it was last year. / was
intending to have a holiday to day,
as it was Sunday, but had to work
all day. In the first place / put a
pocket in my vest, then made feed
trough in the afternoon, hewed out
and made a wagon tongue. In the
evening / wrote letter home.
Monday, January 2, 1865.
1t seemed very hard this morning
to get up at five o'clock in the cold,
when we had been used to laying in
bed until after seven o'clock, but we
were to be ready to march at eight
and it must be done, so we crawled
out. At eight o'clock we drove out
on the pike, going through Columbia
and striking out in a southwesterly
direction. Stopped short time be-
tween eleven and twelve o'clock, and
improved the time in making and
drinking some coffee. We had pike
road today, which held through very
level country. We passed many
large, rich plantations; one of which
was General Pillows, and one cou-
sin of Ex-President Polk s. We also
went by large church containing
an organ that was torn to pieces, and
the boys got many of the pipes and
made all sorts of music along the
road. The boys went out after sheep
and hogs today and obtained good
sized ham of the latter. That night
we camped in nice piece of woods,
little north of Mt. Pleasant, hav-
ing gone nine miles.
Tuesday. January 3, 1865.
We had a good nights rest and
were up, had breakfast ready and ate
it, then packed up and were ready
to start by daylight. At eight o'clock
we started, going through Mt. Pleas
ant, a rather nice place, but now
dead, the ravages of war having
killed most of the trade. We had
very good road until about noon, when
we came to the hills and the end of
the pike, then the wagons stalled and
there was whipping and swearing,
etc. We finally came TO long hill
and came to a thinly settled country.
We passed southern summer resort,
where several log houses were built
in the woods near a large spring,
but they were all vacated now. We
travelled about fourteen miles today
and camped just before shutdown
/
ent, and one mile northeast of Henry
vile. The sky cleared off and the
weather was pleasant, but cool, to-
day. / saw a little pony this after
noon, claimed by one of the Fifteenth
Indiana Battalion, which was three
feet, four inches high, but had very
large body.
Wednesday, January a, 1865.
We had breakfast as early as US
ual and were on the road before eight
o'clock. Passed through Henryville,
where we saw but one house occupied
by man. The ground was frozen so
that it was pretty good wheeling and
the teams went along well until about
noon when the wagons stalled some,
but were taken out without much
trouble. The country was slightly
rolling, timbered with small black
oaks and chestnuts, and thinly set
tied. The day was very pleasant and
without cloud, and coming in the
middle of the winter seemed doubly
beautiful and lovely, and right mer-
rily did the troops feel. Such days
are most heartily welcomed by the
soldiers when they occur in that
dreaded season of the year-winter.
We were to draw rations today and
we did not want to get very far ahead
of the supply train, SO after going
eight miles, we went into camp at
noon on a clear creek. In the after
noon / made a whiffletree, some
spreaders and was very busy until
night, Mail came today; none for
me.
Thursday, January 5, 1865.
Orders came to start half hour
earlier than usual this morning. So
by getting up a little earlier and
hurrying a little more in getting
breakfast and loading up, we were
ready in good season, and before the
sun was yet in sight, were out on the
road and in line of march. The en-
gipeer and pioneer battalions go
ahead, then two Of our brigades, then
two batteries, then another bridge,
then the rear guard, then the head
quarters train, the batter trains,
about forty ambulances and medical
wagons, the ammunition and supply
trains. The brigades take turns GO
ing in front. Today the third brig
ade came out onto the road we were
in just ahead of us. The country for
a while this morning was level and
n -