Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1861-06-25

beng up ana on duty tor Iorty-
rurs, we we're suddenly ordered
rch. Weary and detected we
{ up our Inc and moved forward
g. 10 o'clock p. M. across the coun-
t. Our guides took us the longest way
,o yoid the enemy's scouts. This is
t. (, .irst long forced march We have
M ic on foot. The moon was shining
wi n we started, but vas soon overcast
vii dark clouds. So dark was it that
we could not see a hands distance be-
fore us. Still on We went-our long
muskets or our shoulders, and our well
filed cartridge boxes weighing down
heavily. Our Captain did not allow
alt but once or twice during the entire
march of twenty-five miles, and then
not more than a minute or SO at time.
At the bank of creek our guides be-
came bewildered and could not find the
way. We forded tie creek, then We
marched up into the thick woods on
the other side, without knowing where
we were going. 1t was inky dark on
the open prairie, but when we entered
the woods it became UAck darkness.
Our company ID. G. A.'s) were in front
and company ID" Just behind us with
halt of company =" G" behind it, so it
made long line. The Captains orders
could not 10 heard, 80 we had to pass
them along the line from soldier to sol
der
When we had got little way into
the woods, our guides, who were
mounted suddenly came upon little
declivity, down which the horses COM
menced rolling, which threw the ranks
into confusion, but they soon were up
on the top Of the bank again, and soon
the order, "forward, march - ran along
the line, but no one knew which way
was forward or backward The ranks,
and even the different companies were
in the utmost confusion. NO one could
see the man ahead Of him, and the only
way we could keep together was by
holding upon each other. The wood
became dcnsely thick. One of our
comrades fell down in the bushes from
4 .Lon. ha,1ttop
Our men were not allowed to speak
to each other above a breath, for fear o.
arousng the enemy, while those in The
extreme rear OF tire division were be
seeking OF US to 'halo" to them thai
they might know where We were, fol
when we filed right or left in search OF ;
road, they, in the rear, knew nothing
about it, and kept straight ahead, 50 tha
the detachment was spread over the roaC
each man looking ont for himself re
gardIcss Of any body else, 50 the smalle
boys got behind and almost out Of hear
{ lug distance. AT this juncture, on
q guides came smack" up against fale
stump, analhe heavy; il limbs keepins
I up from The ground at the other end
about breast high. Here it was though
necessary to halt, but the guides dldn'
think so, and over they went, the com
puny following the best way it could
: This separated the company more tina,
ever, and the rear boys, almost flintin.
with fatigue and nearly lost in the wood
C and darkness, began to besecch the res
, to halt, aud let them catch up, an,
through some good luck We did hal
little while.
: To add to our confusion, the rumo
5 came through the ranks that we wer
, deceived and betrayed into the hands O
the enemy by our guides, but in tn
face OF fatigue and consternation, W,
struggled on, and after marchin.
through dense woods, muddy creeks
: thick bushes and almost everything else
we emerged from our "iiving grove
and found ourselves upon the open prai
rie. The moon had come out, mean
time, and never did it shine on NOR,
detected and dioheartened set OF mel
: since its Great Creator placed it in tn,
armament.
We halted and formed into regula
companies, which occupied some it'll
time, for although there Were three com
panies, separate and distinct, when W,
!, entered the woods, we were all mixet
: up, indiscrminately, when we emerged
We marched about four miles tarthe
and came to the town of Maysville, tn
0 place we started for at first, but no on
, but the officers knew it, until we arrived
|. there. We halted in little hollow
q just i'll the cd re OF town, and our captain
sent forward company ''D' under com
mand of Lit. Dylleman. They marche,
l. up the hill, and in moment we hear,
e a volley ofmuskotry. We were ordcre,
e to march to the relief OF company CD
g in double Quick" Our limbs woulc
hardly bear us up, but we obeyed orders
and gained the top Of the hill just il
time to see small company of secession
! troops scampering in every direction
V We had come upon them unawares, aps
!. they took to their heels as their bes
friends.
The captain ordered us TO search tn,
! town, and in less than half an hour, til,
b entire town was sacked. Nothing wa