Sept 5, 1862
I was not a little surprised yesterday whilst writing to hear the order given to form in line of battle immediately as the enemy was coming. We were formed and marched to Fort Mitchel and stood there in line of battle 5 hours expecting every moment to see the enemy approach. But the alarm was finally ascertained to have been caused by some rebel cavalry attacking and burning 4 or 5 government wagons near Florence about 5 miles from there. About 5 o’clock we were ordered to march to camp King about 4 miles east on the R.R. leading from Covington to Lexington. There is a Pike here also. This is a remarkable strong position – it appears as that nature formed everything to our advantage.
There are not less than 10,000 soldiers here and 100 negros at work fortifying. If we were a little better drilled I would not be afraid to risk holding this place against 4 times our number. We are situated about 2 miles S.E. from Covington on the Licking river – a very rough country it is and very poor. It is remarkable how kind the inhabitants are to us. On our inward yesterday at every house we passed there were every description of vessels filled with water placed along the road for us and we were cheered on every side. There is no use denying the fact the line of battle is now on the Ohio River.
I am very well satisfied that the approach of battle will not scare or unnerve me in the least, though I saw numbers yesterday who were so bad scared that they could scarcely stand and I think the Army would be better off without them.
We have had no tents since we left Camp Denison. We have been camped in line of battle, that is, in open field – our guns stacked in line and at night we sleep with our heads to our guns – lie on one end of our blankets and cover with the other.
Jacob Shively
A Thousand Thunders 