Chapter 1

It had been some time since I recovered the old trunk from the attic of my mother's house. It was not long after the funeral when my brothers and I cleaned out the rest of her effects. We divided them somewhat evenly between us. My brother, who lived nearby, assumed the role of executor and put the house up for sale.

I stored most of the stuff from the attic in my garage and there it languished for about 6 months. Blame it on the new truck I bought last fall, but I realized I needed more room to get the thing in the garage. I resolved to sort through it with a view to taking it to the dump. That's when I discovered the old trunk.

It looked very old, about the size of a large suitcase, leather bound with some barely discerned intricate scrollwork. That's what caught my eye at first. I thought that if I cleaned it up a bit it might be worth something at the antique sale.

It was quite heavy and there might be some more goodies inside so I rang the local locksmith to help me to get it open. The old brass lock was frozen solid of course. It took him all afternoon to gently pry the thing open, he was careful not to damage the lock.

Inside was a pile of old yellowing papers, much of which was difficult to read. They looked to be old legal documents. On top of them was an old dusty, wide brimmed hat of indeterminate color. One side of the brim was pinned up to the crown with a brass pin. There looked to be the remains of a feather attached to the pin. Beside the hat was an old revolver with a long barrel. 'Wow, ' I thought, 'this should be worth something after it's cleaned up'.

I knew little about firearms but this looked to be very old. The metal had blackened but the makers mark was still quite clear, carved underneath the breech in relief. It read, 'Patent 1856. 109763. Samuel Colt Firearm Company. Springfield Ill.' On the reverse side was, 'Property of the US Government.' 'A Colt revolver from 1856. Real wild west stuff, ' I thought.

Further into the trunk I found an old sepia photograph. Three figures stiffly posed in front of their horses. On the left was a man dressed in a slouch hat and uniform with various belts slung across his chest. Over his shoulder he carried a long rifle. On the right a black man stood, wearing a wide hat and long coat. In the middle was a smiling man with a long black beard. On his head was a wide brim hat with the side pinned up. From there hung a long black plume. He wore a short officer's coat, festooned with braiding, high boots and hanging at the hip, a saber.

'This man must be my ancestor', I concluded. On the back of the photo were three names, Lt. Elijah Briggs, Col. Thomas MacFarlane, Samuel.

Digging deeper I came across an important looking document rolled into a scroll. The yellowed page read,

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN.

I General Nathaniel Bedford Forrest, OF THE, Independent Command of the Armed Forces of Tennessee, (Forrest Rangers) IN THE LATE WAR BETWEEN THE STATES, DO ACKNOWLEDGE AND COMMEND, Thomas Hugh MacFarlane, Colonel, OF THE, 3^rd Tennessee Cavalry Regiment. AS A TRUE SON AND PATRIOT OF THE STATE OF TENNESSEE AND THE CONFEDERATE STATES OF AMERICA. Signed in Nashville Tennessee in the year of our lord 12^th of December 1865.

Underneath this was an old leather bound book, dusty and cracked with age. Dampness had bound the first dozen pages tightly together so I carefully opened it to the first legible page.

On it was a careful copperplate script, beautifully floral in its execution. Successive entries appeared under dates suggesting it was a diary of some sort. I went inside into the lounge to begin reading. It was a funny feeling reading the words written by my ancestor nearly 140 years ago, it almost felt like eavesdropping, but I was compelled to read on, fascinated.

The top of the first page had faded. The first legible words were:

Lt. Dickinson departed soon after carrying important dispatches and the rest of the mail. It is a clear night with a full moon gleaming off the surface of the Mississippi. The horse's hooves are still wrapped in corduroy and cloth muffles the bridles and tackle. Occasionally we see steamers on the river, belching sparks.

(Illegible}

Yankees spotted west of K--. Moved North following the trail through the swamps marked by Clr. Sgt. Wainwright, a native of the area.

(Illegible)

I thought of Miss Emily and wondered if she is watching the same piece of night-sky. It seems years since I beheld her last and fortune willing I may be protected from harm and returned to her next fall.

(Illegible) 7th January 1863 10 miles south of Paducah on the junction of the Ohio and the Tennessee rivers.

A large federal force garrisons Paducah so we make a plan to find a crossing of the Ohio further east. It's fairly obvious to all that we are going into Illinois so I called the officers to a meeting. There I announce our destination and tell them our orders are to disrupt communications, annoy their commerce and raid the large federal depots known to dot the landscape in those parts. The boys were quite heartened by the news and are especially looking forward to some good Yankee beef. We have not had decent rations for three weeks.

10th January 1863. Somewhere up L... creek.

Sent Lt. Johnson and Clr. Sgt. Wainwright to find a suitable crossing while we found camp up L... creek. It is a most inhospitable place, thickly wooded, damp and freezing cold. We led our horses by their bridles as the nature of the foliage precluded us from mounting up. It took us much of the day to arrive at a little clearing where we could form a camp. I ordered lieutenants Harding and Samuels to post pickets out for a mile or more and stationed some men up trees so they can communicate to us any sightings of the Yankees. I trust we will not have to inhabit this god-forsaken patch of the earth for too long.

We are having some difficulty keeping the weapons in good condition because of the damp. We bundled the Springfield's in oilcloth to protect them and our men used their groundsheets to cover the ammunition. I was far too cold and wet to sleep and spent a miserable night.

12th January 1863. The same.

We have had no word from our scouts. God speed them to us or else we shall have to strike north without them.

14th January 1863. The same.

Good news, of sorts. The scouts have returned but the news is not good. The Ohio is at the winter high water mark and all the crossing places are well guarded on both banks. I have resolved to move out anyway and give orders to do so. I have a mind to swim the horses if we can find a wide place where the current is not so swift

. 18th January 1863 Illinois.

Crossed the Ohio just west of H... It took two days of labor to get the horses and men across. We eventually rigged a rope across on which we passed the carbines and ammunition. Unfortunately we lost Troopers Gordon and Price who were carried away with the current. I lament these losses, especially Price whom I knew all my life. He lived not far from Pine Estate towards Chattanooga. Sterling fellow, he will be missed greatly in the days ahead. God will welcome these men into his care.

20th January 1863 Illinois

I intend to burn the railway trestle near Harrisburg then move on to the ordinance depot nearby. I order scouts to reconnoiter the area and determine the enemy position and his state of readiness. The men are much buoyed by the prospect of action and spend all day cleaning and oiling their equipment to a peak of workability.

Evening.

A sharp day's work. The trestle was guarded by a detachment of infantry and we fell on these with complete surprise. B Company 3rd Ten had the pleasure of leading the onset and soon put the Yankees to flight. I had them take position 500 yards down the Harrisburg road to forestall any interference from that direction while I put C Company and our little group of Engineers to work on the trestle. We found some pitch in a nearby workman's hut and we put this to good use. We soon had an impressive conflagration. A rattle of musketry signaled some foray from down the road but by the time we had reinforced the Company stationed there, the Yankees had retreated to some nearby hillocks. I ordered the Arkansas Roughriders to flank these people while B Company 3rd Ten occupied them from the front. We soon had them on the run thus enabling our approach to Harrisburg. The hour was passed, however, that we could launch an activity towards the depot so we decided to await the next day.

21 January 1863 Harrisburg Illinois.

I had a conference with my commanders this morning and decided that Harrisburg was now out of the question, given the probable hew and cry. I concluded that H... would now be fully on alert and we were too few in numbers to launch a successful raid in that direction. Therefore I resolved to skirt the town, leaving the railroad, and head north where we thought there would be softer pickings. Accordingly we broke camp this morning and proceeded on the line of a little stream called the Y... I sent 100 troopers on a brief feint towards H... in the hope the Yankees would still expect an attack on them. 22nd January 1863 Southern Illinois

We have arrived at a woodcutter's camp some thirty miles north of H... The woodsmen are most friendly towards us and there is much discourse. They tell us that a large contingent of infantry passed them the day before heading roughly south on the F... road. The federal force informed them that a large 'rebel' army was on the rampage and was probably heading into Kentucky to challenge the Union there. We thanked them for the information and hospitality and proceeded as if we were going to pursue it. After a mile or so we turned north again and struck for the Louisville-St Louis branch of the Central Illinois RR.

23rd January 1863 Same.

There occurred today an example of that superfluity of impetuosity that so characterizes the Southern cause. Johnson, sent on a scouting mission to determine whether any troops were quartered in the small settlement of W... leaves his mount and equipment outside of town and walks right through the place, posing as an itinerate woodsman. He then circles back through the woods to his horse and returns to confirm that W... is empty of soldiers. We then decide to add to the Yankee's uneasiness with an elaborate piece of theater. I gather my entire command in two columns and, flags and pennants flying we trot right into the settlement as if on a grand parade. The impact of a thousand horsemen entering this small town of some two dozen dwellings in full regalia caused much panic among the population. Outside the staging post flew the ensign of our enemies that we promptly changed for our own Stars and Bars. I then entrusted an elderly gent with the preservation of our flag in order to advise our comrades following that this place had already been incorporated into our territory. In the belief that a large Southern host had descended on them of which we were but an advance guard, we left W... , the only Confederate town in Illinois.

24th January 1863 12 miles south of Mt Vernon Ill.

Two copperheads by the name of Franks and Wilkes approached our camp on a small tributary of the Wabash River. They informed us that Rosecrans is moving north into Indiana with 50,000 US soldiers in the apparent belief General Johnson's entire army was outflanking him. Much as I would like to give credence to such information it seemed unlikely even General Rosecrans could be thus fooled. We left these men with the belief that we were part of a much larger host, however. Hopefully they will spread this fiction clear up to Springfield.

We are all tired of the constant marching and we desperately need some pause to attend to our horses and equipment. The woods are thin in this part of the State and our positions are not secure. Some light snow has been falling for the last few days, however shelter does not seem immediately forthcoming.

25th January 1863. The same place.

At the officers conference this morning we decide to 'take' another town. Clr Sgt. Wainwright has discovered a town of about 200 dwellings about 10 miles away. It appears to have good defensive positions as it lies on rising ground beside the O... river. I send B Company 3rd Ten with the engineers to cut the telegraph north and south and to reconnoiter the general area. A Company of 12 or so local Militia defends the town. It also contains a town hall with a federal army recruitment office. With whoops and hollers our troops take the town, surrounding it to ensure there are no messengers sent out. We have our shelter at last, but for how long? I know not.

I posted A Company 4th Ark as pickets. They were none too pleased as the believed the rest of the command would sort out the best billets for themselves leaving them with woodsheds and barns. I detailed Capt. Hanson to ensure sufficient accommodation was reserved for them. My aide, Lt. Briggs and servant Samuel found some reasonable rooms for me at a private house on the edge of town. The town hall we immediately requisitioned as our headquarters and ran up the Southern Cross flag. The Federal recruiters provided us with quantities of stationery and a few Sharpes Rifles. The recent inhabitant was the town mayor recently elevated to a full Sergeant in Union service. He exchanged his post for the small jail at the back of the Sheriff's office.

I then gave a speech to the assembled townsfolk, apologizing for the inconvenience and ensuring them that the Southern Armies now descending on this area would safeguard their lives and property. I imagine long after we've departed, the townspeople will be watching daily for the columns of marching southerners we told them would be arriving in our wake.

I retired to my rooms for some much needed rest, content that it would be a few days before there was any response to our activities from the Federal Army. I am quartered at the house of a young widow whose husband had fallen at Bull Run. I expressed my regret for her loss and wished a speedy end to this emergency so all loved ones could return to their kith and kin. I wondered whether Miss Emily would receive similarly bad news one day and hoped that, in such case, she did not give herself over to melancholy.

I reminded the men of the standing orders of our army to respect lives and property and threatened the severest penalties for any transgressions.

26th January 1863 Mount Frere Ill.

I spent a peaceful night at last. A soldier learns to ignore one's fears and discomforts for the blessed relief of a night's sleep. Outside there is much activity as the troopers attend to their tasks. Most are taking advantage of the pause to repair clothing and equipment and attend to the horses needs. There is much to do mending bridles and saddles, leatherwork and uniforms much abused over the last month. The town is well stocked with victuals and we purchase as much as we can with good Confederate currency. Lt. Briggs has obtained some good maps of the area from the surveyors records kept at the town hall. It confirms our belief that we are some 50 miles from the nearest Union garrison at Mt Vernon. The local forces hereabout seem given over to dispersing themselves around the country in small companies, guarding various strategic points. They would have been better served, I feel, concentrating themselves into an effective host.