OUR TRAVAILS (TRAVELS) IN KENTUCKY Camp Joe Holt Dec 11th 1861 We start at 7. o'clock and we had a Sollemn (solemn) Scene at the time of our departure the wharf and front of the City was-Covered with the inhabitants of the City and while the ferry boat was Crossing the River hundreds of people Cheered by hollowing and waving hats handkerchiefs &C.. and we had a nice time marching through Louisville and we was led by the Jeffersonville Brass Band to the out edge of Louisville and as we was marching along I saw a pole Standing along the road and Before we got to it one of the largest and Prettiest American Flags that I ever Saw waved over us and there was the first Cheering done on the Kentucky Soil by the 49th Reg,- Ind-- Vol,- then we Started and marched 9 miles and Camped at Camp Bickern in Jefferson County on Perrin Creek Camp Bicken is 9 miles back of Louisville. Dec,. 12th started Before Sunrise and reached mount Washington about noon and found but one or two Union families in this place and by them we was well treated and they gave us Plenty of Pies Cakes apples &C, and Some of the Boys got whiskey which Some of them took a little too much on our arival (arrival) in Camp at 4.o.clock was Camp Capell our. Col-- Spoke a few Cheering words to the Boys in Reguard to our good traveling and he also asked the Blessing of God on the 49th Reg this is immediately on our arrival in Camp and I must help Pitch tents. Dec 13th Started a 7.o.clock and marched on until noon halted and took refreshments started and marched. to the Nelson County Fairground 2 miles north of Bardstown which is Camp Dumont a very Convenient Place for wood water Straw &C,, we are now at the place we Started for when we left Jeffersonville and we have traveled at the Rate of 13 miles Pr (per) day which is good traveling for to Be done By New Recruits on their first march we are now 39 miles-from Camp Joe Holt and in these 39 miles which we have travelled (traveled) we have Passed Some of the Blackest Rebels that we have in our land and the way they looked at the Hoosiers was not slow Bardstown Ky January 12th 1862 We Start for New london Sunday the 12th and marched thru the mud and Rain to the town of Bottlon (?) a distance of 7 miles. from Bardstown there we Camped for the night 13th Started at 8-o-clock and marched to Beach fork. Bridge where we halted and took Refreshment Started and marched through Fredricksburg Washington County a Small Slush hole and Proceeded on to Springfield where we found the Stars and Stripes floating free and Oh the first Sight of it made me feel like leaping over the whole earth and exclaiming all hail to the Stars and Stripes Springfield is in Washington County a very nice town we marched through the town and Camped for the night and we had a Snow Storm 14th We started at 9 o'clock and marched to the town of Lebnon in Marion County where we halted for dinner and then marched on until 3.o.clock halted and pitched tents in the Snow and while there we went out on Battalion Drill one day and the Regiment was marched up on the top of a high hill and the Colonel formed the men in a line of Battle and then Commanded them to Come to a Charge Beyonets (Bayonet) with the yell three times which semed (seemed) to make the Surrounding hills tremble and then the Reg,. Decended the mountain and marched through the Camp where 3 regments (regiments) was and we was serenaded By them with fine music Camp Kegwin January 21st 1862 we Start at 7.o.clock and marched to Beach Creek where we had to wade it it Being knee Deep it Run through haysville then marched on to Lynchburg where we had to wade the Creek again the Roads Being very muddy we marched on until 1/2 past l o.Clock and Camped at Broonfield Camp January 22nd Started at day Break and reached Mitche Isburg at 7.o.clock marched on then to another town called Parksville reached it at 9.o.clock where we found the Stars and Stripes hoisted on a very nice-and high Pole and-Oh then the 49th made Some noise Shure (sure) But we marched on and as we marched along we found Plenty of friends to the Union and as we Past By one house. I Saw one woman Standing in the door with her Children around her and as we Played the music when marching By she wept But for what I do not know But the thought Struck me that She had a husband in the Rebel army. we marched on having a good time Reached Danville at 12.0.clock where we was warmly welcomed By the Ladies Marched on through town and Camped for the day Danville is a very nice town Situated on the Clarks Run and Salt River turn pike it has some 3 or 4 Churches and one Bank and good many large Dry Goods Stores and manufacturing establishments according the land is nice and good hemp is Cultivated Some about here Danville is Due South of where I live when at home in Bail County. Danville January 23rd 1862 Started at day light marched onto Stamford a distance of 12 miles where we arrived at 12.o.clock Stamford is a nice little town Situated in a low place Surrounded with hills it has two or three Churches and other fine Buildings the Country in this part of the State is quite much Broken But the land is good our march today is about 16 miles January 24th Started at 5 o.clock the day Being fine the Roads good we marched on to Crab Orchard at which place we arived (arrived) at 12.o.clock where we found a good many of our Indiana Boys Sleeping in their graves we also found a good many Union folks in the Place Crab Orchard is a Snug little town in Lincoln county we marched on 2 miles east of town and camped at Camp Hawhee for a few days the land in this Part of the County is of the Poorest quality Swampy and thinly Settled the flat Part of it is Covered with oak of the most inferior quality the Road is very Bad and almost impassible we had turnpike all the way from Louisville to Crab Orchard a distance of 105 miles trees which was cut clear off by the cannon balls and the ground is very rough all mountainous steep rock etc, the rocks are sandy and some of the balls struck them square and mashed holes in them as large as my cap in the time of the fight here our men was the topss (tops) of the mountains well fortified and the rebels was in the hollow between hills and some of the rebels got on a hill south of our men but was not fortified and our men made them get back in short order. This camp got its name because the 33rd Ind. Reg Boys caught a goodly ;number of the and the mountains are thick with them and plenty of evergreens. Such as Laurel Ivy and Holly and a great many other Curiosities. Feb. 6th the Reg was marched upon Hoosier Knob where the 33rd Ind. Reg stood and fought the Rebels and had Dress Parade after which the Col made a short speech and where he stood we could see over into Tennessee and see a mountain 1.5 miles from Cumberland Gap Camp Wildcat Feb 7th Started at sunup and marched on through the mud and wading creeks upon the top of a mountain where Zolycoffers army was camped when they marched to Camp wildcat to take it and such a desolate place I never saw they had burned every rail on it and destroyed every thing else and the took they that lived along the road and made them go with them in there army and thus we marched on within one mile of London where we camped at 3.o.clock for the night Camp Wild Cat and London are in Laurel County Camp Commodore Feb 10th 1862 Started at 1/2 past 7.o.clock marched to town halted with the 16th Ohio got in the advance and the 9th Ohio battery also the we marched or finding plenty of union Women and a few men until noon then we halted at Big Laurel Creek and eat Dinner the we marched on until 1/2 past 5.o.clock when we camped for the night Camp Kount (Hount) Feb 12th Started at 1/2 past 7.o.clock marched on to Stinking Creed Crossed and marched on to flat lick at which place we reached at 12.o. clock then we marched onto Cumberland River the marched on up a short distance and in the mountains. Camp Pogue Feb 15th/62 Started at 7.o.clock through a Sever snow storm and marched on up the River about 6 miles to what is called the Cumberland Ford and Camped in the midst of the most gigantic hills I ever saw but we fount level ground enough to set our tents on (this is directly below the mouth of Start Creek a Steam of Considerable size) Camp Cumberland Feb 22d 1862 here amid the surrounding troubles of camp life we were visited by a terrific rain storm insomuch that it flooded our camp and we was compelled to strike tents and flee up on the side of the mountain in the midst of the heavy torrents of rain which poured down upon us and no place to put our clothing while we struck our tents but to let it take the rain and the best of it was we scraped the mud out of our tent then cut brush to lay on then came the worst of it we hat to sleep under wet bed clothing the storm lasted about 18 hours. Feb 23d/62 This brings this to a close I am well and hearty with the exception of the bowel complaint and the probability is with me that we will remain here Some time although we may leave sooner than I think we will Probably to through the gap when we leave this place and if we do we will see better time I think so no more at present take good care of this and write soon >From you Affectionate Brother Mark P. Butler
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