Although the soldier endures many hardships and privations, still there are many pleasant scenes and associations connected with a soldier's life; and I think that should the war continue, many of the men, looking back upon the pleasant side of their campaign, will have a yearning for the scenes and associations in connection with it, and again enter the ranks.
God grant they may! and with willing hearts and hands, and with the assurance of the righteousness of the cause for which they contend, may they consecrate themselves anew to the cause of Freedom.
Thursday, 16th. At five, P.M., we received marching orders, with instructions to "pack knapsacks," and be ready to march immediately. At six, P.M., we struck tents, and in half an hour were marching, in company with the rest of the brigade, in the direction of Boonesboro'; and, after a short march of five miles, encamped for the night on the heights which form the banks of the Kentucky River, at nine o'clock in the evening.
Friday, 17th. We did not move from our camp until ten, A.M., owing to the delay necessary in crossing the river. The cavalry accompanying us commenced crossing early in the morning, and at ten, the Twelfth were ordered to fall in. After a march of a mile, we came upon the edge of the river, at the place of crossing, in time to see the last of the cavalry pass over. The river at this place was, perhaps, fifty rods in width, and the convenience for crossing were two scows, in each of which forty men could be taken over at once, and so shaped that our teams could drive on or off at either end. The river was not deep at this place, and the mode of propelling was by pushing with poles.
Some very amusing incidents occurred in connection with our passing over the Kentucky River. Some of the teams, consisting of a government wagon and four mules each, were in readiness, and crossed at the same time with our regiment. This was accomplished by ending the scow on shore, and driving the team on and into the forward part of the boat. The remaining space was filled with soldiers. The scow was pushed across, and, landing end on, the team was driven off. The manner of driving a mule team is this: The driver sits upon the near wheel mule, uses one rein, and by dint of some little hallooing,--understood only by those versed in muleology,--manages his team. The scows were barely wide enough to admit the wheels of the carriages, and it required no little degree of skill to drive on and off without accident. While driving one of the teams off, the near wheel mule, being crowded, jumped off the scow, throwing his rider head and ears under water. The man, upon gaining the surface, was soon ashore; and the mule, after floundering awhile, got a foothold on shore, and the wagon was drawn off. No harm done as we could see to either the mule or his driver.