Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1861-11-14
'nohi COL. FljlToH's REGIMENT,

We were ordered from Big Spring
to join the main body of the ar
my, about three miles from where
we were stationed. Marched about
4 o'clock without scarcely any pro-
Visions; twas night before we got
to our camping place. After we
got our fires and everything ar
ranged for a snooze, there was an
order for a detailment of ten men
from each company to go about 3
miles to cook 3 days provisi IL.
Next morning up came the bread,
and such bread made up with
out salt and soda, with about ten
minutes baking. We drew our
rations. l went and received q
cake thick as my hand and as large
round as q plate, for two Of us. |
endeavored to break it half in two,
but mirabile dictu! it didn't break.
You have twisted q bar of lead in
two?--such was the toughness Of
the bread. Well, we started on
cur march. The day was quite
warm; we suffered much travelling,
ascending and descending places
where it seemed to me it would
Oallie the ingenuity of the channels
to Chamber. We camped on the
brow of q hill, where no one was al
lowed to peep over. (The morn
ing and evening was the first day.
Next morning bright and early
we started eff to gain point OF
attack in the rear of the enemy.
About II o'clock the order was
passed down the line, "double-
quick" something ahead" Then
| began to think that the ''tug Of
war" was about to come, but it was
only some pickets a. They be-
ing placed under guard, we nushed
Oh. Nothing broke the silence,
save only the command "double-
quick" as it echoed down the line.
Bang went a gun, and all was still.
Soon came up to where | heard
the report; there sat three more
prisoners, and off c fcW PAGES was
one lying, his brains pay ing the
forfeit OF an attempt to escape
Scarce had | seen him before |
heard another report, which re-
suited III wounding one III the
thigh. Then we came upon, be-
ing frequently wheeled in the line
Of battle, a large body of pickets,
who surrendered Internationally;
/ all Ct them being taken by surprise,
not knowing that there was reb-
.el IN 20 miles. Some of them
asked chow we ever got there?"
were we rained out Of the clouds,
OF did we spring up from the earth?
Things being arranged, we received
the order 10 forward march. eff
we started over one of the steepest
OF mountains. Having crossed,
we halted til night should come to
assist in carrying out cur designs.
About dusk we started again, and
marched over a summit. There
we could see their camp-fires, heard
their drums, and even heard
them call their rolls; but we were
q little too close, so we retreated
just over the summit of the hill,
to await the signal (the fire of a
cannon) for us TO attack. In the
meantime it seemed to ne that the
fountains Of the great deep were
broken up" and there we were in
the enemy's camp, raining on cur
arms and ammuni;ion, one-balf of
the regiment without blankets,
hungry, (our three days rations
having given cut the first day. and
wearled out with our days march,
to make the best we could Of sleep
ing. | threw away my blanket, so
you know my situation. | sat
down and put my head ON my
knees, thinking | might sleep a lit
tie; but the water run down my |
back and kept me awake. Then
L stood up by tree, and ever and
anon | dozed of, but my founda-
ton was not very level, so when |
got to sleep Id give a nod and
down I'd come. | had only one
ague, which lasted all night
Next morning al were up taking
the loads out of their guns, and
occasionally firing off one, Though
in three-fourths OF a mile of the
enemy's camp.) We were expect
ing every moment to hear the sig
nal, but Loring BRIG. Gen. had
about two miles, and left