In an October 27, 1863 letter to his brother Clark, Pembroke Scott, a private with the 118th Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry, describes food rations and skirmishes near Loudon, Tenn. Scott talks of the bread the soldiers eat, saying "our bread tries its best to make us sick & unfortunately succeeds frequently."

Additionally, Scott mentions that they had begun building winter quarters near Loudon, but they were stopped due to the threat of a Confederate attack. He describes the aftermath of an attack on the 45th Ohio near Philadelphia. Scott states that "the Rebels attacked the regiment, capturing six mountain howitzers and many men and pursuing them to within two miles of Loudon."

Scott also notes a visit from General Ambrose Burnside, noting that "the Rebels must leave here or else he will! I can give a rough guess who will stay!!"