Ashtabula weekly telegraph. [volume] (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1853-1873, 1861-12-14

order 20 halt aud equally vain was the
search in oar haversacks for the hard crack
or aad raw bacon which is usually round
ihore eu those marches No order to take
any rations with us had been given, aud
none bad been taken, as It was not suppos
cd that march so formidable was about
to Be undertaken. Frost grapes, black
and even pcrsimous were de7oured
with eagernsss.
At'length, on descending hill the little
town Of Mt Vernon was seen hailed with
heartlaess, for II was whispered that here
we should make halt, and the prospect
Of getting something to eat, was, as we sup
posed, good Our pieces we parked in
small lot-iu the center of the town, aud our
horses were fed for the frst time since our
departure from Camp Calvert Misman-
agement was everywhere apparent. No
food had been prepared for the men, and
no quarters for the sick. Although drip.
ping wet, we we're forbidden to touch rail
and for long time had to remain in our
wet clothes, with no prospect of drying
them until we should get to another encamp'
ment. The mnrmurs of the men became
loud and frequent. A few barrels of crack.
ers we're known to be in store room in the
neighborhood, and the determination was
soon formed to obtain them. Fortunately
the commissary agent was a good mason,
aud cne of our officers being also of the or.
der they we're obtained without violence,
and distributed to the men at about 10 a.
IN. Atrer partakiDg of our meal of dry
crackers, we lay down on the wet gronnd
without covering, to sleep, while the rain sill
fell in torrents. Here we learned that our
baggage wagons had not been brought up
from Wild Cat Hill, Our horses bad Civ.
en- out, and for some reason, it was Dot deem.
ed advisable to send back extra teens for
them, so after a very uncomfortable nights
rest and another meal on hard crackers, We
proceeded OH our way. The road was lit
tie better than the day before, bat hope
kept rs alive, and on We went. About
p. N. we camped mile from Ora 10 Orchard,
but here as before, we were not permitted
to burn q rail, or even cut the dry timber
in the adjoining lot, but nature had provd
ed substitute in the shale rock, which be-
ing well impregnated With oil, burned read
lily for time. We were not long in finding !
this out, aud before dark, cheerful fires en-
circled the camp. The rain had ceased, !
the clouds had been blown away, and for q |
time, we hattered ourselves that at least, |
the elements were going to favor Us but
such hopes we're put to fight by tue APP
proach of night, as it became apparent that
hard fiosty night was before US, and as
our tents were among the baggage. the
prospect was not a pleasing one. After
q rough, soldiers meal we hay down on the
ground without covering, except the vault
of heaven, which however, afforded but al
indifferent protection. SleepleSsly, aud be-
numbed with cold, we anxionsly awaited
the approach Of morning AT length it
came, and its light revealed a frost which
was al 6rst mistaken for snow. The night
had been the ccldest experienced by us
since entering Kentucky.
At noon our baggage came up. Gu its
arrival it was found that every mess chest
belonging to the battery, in which were our
cooking apparatus, had BEEN ,thrownaway to
tighten the load for the overbRrdened horses
On reaching Wild Cat Hill, it was found
that the load had to be lghtened still more,
and seven barrels of crackers, and over 200
pounds of bacon followed the mess chests.
Thus far have spoken only Of our bat.
terry. Their suferings it should be borne
10 mind, bore no comparison to those
OF the infantry. Obliged to walk every
step Of the way and carry ihsir own haver
sacks aud knspsacks, they became fatgued
before they had gone half the distance from
London to Wild Cat. Many of them threw
away their kDapsacks, and putting of their
sheeS which were only DO her, as they weigh
ed doEn their feet and offered no protection
against the mud and water, they splashed Oh
as long as they could, aud when their over.
tasked natSres gave out, they laid down in
the corners Of the fences, or by squads ga
thered bOughs, aud laid down upon them to
rest as best they could. Before they reach.
ed Wild Cat, the officer had ceased to give
command, but let each soldier seek his own
path, and before morning, the march which
had been commenced with a solid column
was now herd Of stragglers, whose only
object seemed to be to reach as soon as DOS.
sible, some place Of rest. An had been
forbidden TO touch anything in the garden.
BY the road side. The Tennessee regimen
which had been ordered back with US eVinC
ed the utmost reluctance, and whole compl
Ries fell out, until scarcely enough remaine
to form company AT this it was though
best TO order them back 10 Loudcl, whicI
was done.
The faligues Of Ibe march could haVt