March 8 (1862) 
making coffee. At 8 A.M. we took all our baggage on shore in order to scrub the boat. Our Reg't marched on a high bluff that commanded a view of 10 miles in every direction of the surrounding country. Below us flows the beautiful river, beyond the river is the green cane, on the bluff pine timber, not large but presenting a beautiful scene. The sides of the bluff are covered with flint rocks that look almost as white as snow. The river is dotted with boats as far as the eye can see. over 100 boats are here on the river, loaded with troops & supplies.
 March 10th
 After many hours of anxiety, we left the mouth of Big Sandy river at 11 A.M. The boats commenced plowing their way up the river. At 12 M. we passed where a R.R. bridge across Tenn. Riv. had been burned, here we passed upwards of 30 boats. We had to land 1 mile above to burry some dead. While we stopped here about 50 boats ran up the river past us, it was a beautiful scene.  The country along the river generally hilly.
