[Homer_J_Simpson]

News from New-Orleans: No Military Movements of Importance– 2-3
From the Rebel States: Reported Sinking of a Banks Transport by the Florida – 3-4
Important from Washington: Passage of the Bank Bill Through the House – 4-5
Important from Vicksburgh: An Immediate Attack Expected by the Rebels – 5
The Negro Troops – 5
Washington’s Birthday – 5
Enabling Acts – 5
Mutiny of Newsboys – 5-6
Editorial: Affairs in Mexico – 6
Repeal of the Paper Duty – 6
From Fatherland – 6
The Bank Bill – 6

[BroJoeK]

In December 1862 my great grandfather's 119th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment was assigned to the District of Columbus, Kentucky, under Grant's 16th Corps, Union Gen. Stephen Hurlburt commanding the 16th.
The 119th's job was to protect Grant's supply lines, on the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, for his Vicksburg campaign.

After Confederate Gen. Nathan Bedford Forrest's cavalry captured my great grandfather's K-Company at Dyer Station, Tennessee (December 21, 1862), the 119th retreated back north to Columbus, Kentucky, on the Mississippi River.

Still in December, the 119th was ordered to move from Columbus south to Union City in northwestern Tennessee, along the Mobile and Ohio Railroad.
There, in January they dug ditches in preparation for another Confederate attack and impressed locals and "contraband" to work on repairing the railroad.

Later in January, the 119th was reassigned to the District of Jackson, Tennessee, under the 16th's 2nd Division, Gen. Grenville Dodge commanding, and ordered to move from Union City south along the railroad to Humboldt, which is about 18 miles north of Jackson.
In February the 119th marched 34 miles east to Huntingdon, TN to prepare for another expected Confederate attack.

In the meantime, my great grandfather and his fellow K-Company soldiers, having been released on parole by Confederate Gen. Forrest, are sitting in a Union camp in St. Louis, waiting to be exchanged for captured Confederates, and returned to service.
They will wait several more months.

Insignias for Union 16th Corps (left - Hurlburt) and its 2nd Division (right - Dodge)

Map of routes related to the Mobile and Ohio Railroad showing stations in Tennessee and Kentucky guarded by the 119th Illinois.