The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1862-10-08

/ c'Tf 'ponaence of ihe Nonivl's JovruM
CAM MAR LOUISVILLE. Sent % 1850
Permit a soldier Of Buei's army lto
| give the public an account Of o,Ir march
from Alabama snd Southern Tennessee
70 this city, the greatest and most on
pressing march ever made BY American
troops in this OF any previous wars. ana
almost equaling the retreat OF the ten
thousand. The different columns left
their camps from the LIST 20 The 9th of
September, and arrived here the 9th.
10th, and goth. came with Woods
division. We left McMinnville, Tenn,
Sept. Sd, and arrived here Sept 25th. We
marched fifteen days and rested the re-
mainder OF the time. la these fifteen
days we marched two hundred and
| seventy-one miles one day thirtv.four
another thiriy-one, and other DAYS as
little as seven and oighl. The average
is eighteen miles per day. There was
no regularity in our marching; some
times we rested at night and marched by
day, again rested in daylight and march
ed at night; hence the regularity of habits
so necessary 70 any laborous undertake
ing was entirely destroyed The roads
were extremely dusty, and, during the
twenty two days, not a shower fell suffi-
eient to check the dust. The men were
literally covered with dust, and, in the
road, could not recognize each other at
the distance five rods. At this season of
The year the chief reliance for water in
most OF the country we passed through
Is in large ponds. The water in time
Of rains flowing TO the lowest places, re-
mains at the surface, and at these ponds
were we compelled to drink. The
weather had been dry 60 long that the
water had become almost putrid from
the decay Of animal and vegetable mat
ter held in solution by il, and we were
often compelled to push the green scum
ana Waggletails away to dish up a
drink. We sometimes encamped near a
well or spring but il was generally guard
ed by soldiers, exclaiming TO those
coming up this is for headquarters "
yonder is the pond. On one occasion
went form the well TO the pond and there
saw mules drinking and men drinking
within fifteen feet of each other, the op-
posite side lined with men washing their
socks and feet, and at the further end
saw dead mule floating upon the sur
face. But shall say more of this cat
more convenient season F" soldier ap-
preciates the miRutia Of this service and
can speak in detail, that is, if he keeps
his eyes open.
We had less than half rations, and mart
Of the time the hard bread gave out and
flour was issued. Our wagons, tents, and
cooking utensils much Of the time did
not travel with us, 80 the men had 20 mix
up their flour with water, place it upon
the Goals, or before the fire on q barrel
staye, or twist IL around a ramrod ard
thus bake 1t. The issue Of meat would
not make one good meal per day. Pota-
toes and apples and corn could be pot
and these were roasted bV the
fire and eaten. A few pounded out old
canteens and tin cups, punched holes in
them with their bsyonets, and made rude
grsters upon which they grated meal and |
made cakes or mush az suited their time |
or inclination. The men were compelled |
to help themselves to whatever thew could |
get eaiable, but took care to find out first |
that il was the property Of rebels. / |
could relate, II time permitted, a hundred /
tricks resortcd TO by the soldiers 10 slip |
The camp guards TO get something 10 |
stop their hunger"
The rebel army left Tennessee about
.he same time we did, and kept the same
direction almost parallel TO us, until we /
reached Bowling Green. Had Bragg kent
)n, he would have reached there abont
The same time we did, but he preferred TO
change his course and not risk an en-
yagement there. From MunfordviIle we
directly on his track, and were
20 near TO him that we picked up his
itragglers and sick almost every mile
He was then bound for Louisville, as we |
learned, in many ways. Citizens and
prisoners said this city was their desti-
nation, and we could read on the fence |
such idle boasts as these "Oome on,
Yanks,' 1--WE are bound for Louisville" |
you have tried living off us, well trv |
living off you" "bound for Indiana" tive |
will winter NORTH" &c, &c But when
near Elizabethtown they found that Bu-
ell, with the heroes of Shiloh and Donel- |
son, was so close on their track that thew |
turned short of and gave up the coveted |
prize. Nothing but the certainty of a |
slaughter prevented them from |
on Louisville. Bragg's troops |
were well armed. hut poorly clothed, and |
they had been promised a fine outfit |
when they reached this city. The Goths |
and Vandals that issued out of their
Northern Businesses, and came down on |
refined and classic Rome, committed no
more destruction than this Southern army
would have done 10 your own city
Like the harpies, olsoeng Uulatfes, their
very touch is destructive. | do not won
der that your city was in as deep con-
ilernation as Jerusalem when Titus was
before her walls. A traitor TO
bis God and country, as a rebel must be,
IS worse than q barbarian.