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Regiment: 8th Michigan Cavalry
Battles Mentioned:
Historical Figures: John H. Morgan
On board “Jno T. Macombs”
Sunday July 12, 1863
Dear Father
I dropped you two
short lines from Westport but
fear that they may not reach
you for some time so write
again now. My last was
mailed at Lawrenceburg on
the 9
th inst. at which time I gave
you some account of our march
upto that time.
Orders came on the evening of
the 10
th that we move to Eminence
as soon as our horses would
take us & in a very short time
we were on the move. On
reaching Eminence 35 miles
from Lawrenceburg we found
orders to move on to Westport on
the Ohio R. about 25 miles
from Eminence reaching said
place last night 12 o’c
About 1 o’c to-day we took
packets for Madison on reaching
said place we found that
Morgan had gone farther
East so are moving right
on to Very 20 miles from
Madison & 45 from Westport.
This boat ride is quite a relief
& rest for us.
I am feeling very well.
The wholecommand are in good
spirits & anxious to catch Morgan
This boat is one of those Morgan
captured & put his troops across
the Ohio on. It was done
by forcing citizens to go to
the wharf with their trunks
& when the boat landed the
soldiers sprung from their places
of consealment & rushed aboard
We get so tired & sleepy on these
night & day marches that we
sleep horseback Many a man
has lost his hat in that way
& some
[ ? ] they roll off
I am enjoying this march
right well & hope to have
the satisfaction of seeing Morgans
forces cut up & himself captured
Love to Mother & Mary.
Tell Howard I shall write him
a letter about our march
as soon as I can.
Tell mother that I get good
meals & quite regular but the
poor men have hard bread,
pork &c. We came off in
such a hurry & expected to
return so soon that our tents
cooking utensils & everything
that could be left behind.
We had to leave our Wagons
at Westport & now must
subsist on the people I fear.
Your aff son
Watson
July 12, 63
