[from the diary of Captain William F. Hunter, Co. B., 97th Ohio]

   Dec. 20th, ’62.
Fair & warm.
Brigade drill this
P.M. Quite a com-
motion caused by
heavy cannonading
in front, about 7 P.M.;
reg’t. ordered into
line of battle, but
soon sent to quarters.
Said to be a salute in
honor  Gen’l. Smith’s
marriage; afterward
heard that it was
the enemy firing on
Van Cleves pickets, –  

& still again, that it
was one of our for-
aging expeditions
defending themselves
from an attack of reb-
el cavalry.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 10547-bm