Here is my great grandfather's description of the Ninth Corps' trip by rail from Cincinnatti to Cairo, IL.
June 5th.1862
Arrived at Covington at 8 AM. Crossed by ferry to Cincinnati. Stopped in the city until near 5 PM. And had a good dinner provided us by the city. Had quite a chance to view the city. Liked its appearance very much, has some fine buildings all of which seemed to have a fresh and lively appearance, coming I suppose from their having been recently built. Was sorry to see whiskey shops so numerous, many of the regiment imbibed far too freely, much to the discredit of the regiment. Went with Lt. Pope and a squad of men patrolling among the whiskey shops for “stragglers.” Many citizens, formerly residents of the Eastern States visited the regiment. Had a few minutes pleasant conversation with Mr. Clarke of Dayton, Ohio., who formerly lived in Dedham. Our company was treated to a couple boxes of oranges from another ex-Dedham resident, Mr. Hunnewell. They were most heartily received. Wrote letter for Isaac Collier to his wife, he was suddenly taken sick and transferred to the Marine Hospital in the city. At near 6:30 PM were on board cars once again, on the Mississippi and Ohio Railroad and en route for Cairo, IL, as our next halting place. Were closely packed, 50 to a car, so there was scarce any chance to sleep or rest. Added to the unpleasantness of being thus crowded, was the pleasure of enduring the mad freaks and hilarity of some half dozen or more in each car of crazy headed ones from the influence of liquor, so that for a while it was in reality “confusion worse confounded.” It is pretty evident we now go to Vicksburg. Our stay in Kentucky has been very pleasant, some severe marching, yet we have been undisturbed by hostile foe. Probably the majority of the men would prefer such service rather than that we shall be likely to see down about Vicksburg. Yet I sometimes feel as if in such service we were doing but little in crushing the rebellion. If our going to Vicksburg will place us where we can be more useful to this end, we ought to be cheerfully willing to go there even though it bring us to the stern realities of battle. May God aid us to meet patiently and courageously the sterner scenes of war, which seem now to be in store for us. Accounts of the progress of the conflict about Vicksburg represent that our troops are having a hard time of it, suffering much from severe labors in besieging the city, and from sickness. Many of us will undoubtedly be laid by, no more to return to our Northern homes. Dread to write to my folks informing them of our move and destination.
June 6th.
Today have been steaming along through Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. Leaving Cincinnati our route for quite a distance lay along the Ohio River, through prosperous villages and a thriving farming country. Rode upon the top of the car until dark and enjoyed the scenery very much. At every village the citizens were out “en masse” to welcome us on, the young ladies quite liberal in bestowing of flowers upon us so that we were quite fancifully decorated with them. The old and young were full of hearty cheers for us, this was truly refreshing after our cold and indifferent treatment we have received in the villages of Kentucky. Made out to sleep about half the night, after a fashion, anything but refreshing. The forepart of the night was anything but quiet with us on account of the crazy headedness of a few whiskey guzzlers. In Seymour, IN at 2:30 AM had some hot coffee and crackers. At Vincennes, IN on the banks of the Wabash River we were treated again to some hot coffee and other refreshments. Barrels of ice water were at the depots for us from which we filled our canteens. Crossing the Wabash we were in Illinois. Here we could see Western life in its every variety. Log houses were scattered along the route, villages more or less prosperous, nearly all having schoolhouses and churches and presenting in this respect a pleasing contrast to the villages of Kentucky. Occasionally a church or school building could be seen but partly finished, and seeming to tell that the war was having a depressing effect upon the material prosperity of the village. The people were out as in Ohio to greet us with cheers, flowers and banners. Passed over large sections of prairie land, which to us used to the hills and rocks of New England presented a novel appearance. All around as far as the eye could reach seemed one ocean of plains. Dotted here and there with villages and interspersed with cultivated tracts and tracts where nothing but a wild prairie grass was in growth, which was interspersed with a variety of wild flowers giving it a pleasing appearance. As we drew near the junction of the Ohio and Mississippi and Illinois Central railroads, the land grew richer, and the farms more numerous and as thriving as heart could wish. Changed cars at Sandoval for Cairo. Previous to our re-embarking our Colonel gave us a short season of battalion drill, his object he said to “rest us and stretch our limbs a little after our long ride”, this was not much liked by the men who made blunders innumerable some on purpose.
June 7th.
Passed the night very uncomfortably, were much crowded, and noise and confusion abundant of which it may be said “Whiskey done it.” Arrived at Cairo at 8 AM. Pitched our tents upon the sand on the bank of the Ohio. Took a good scrub in the river. Wrote a letter to Abbie and Carrie, after which slept rest of day. Could hardly realize it to be the Sabbath, or that I was really in sight of the MS, and of the shores of KY, Ill., and MO., such has been the whirl and excitement of our journeying from Ky.