, 1862-02-27
through all time, an extraordinary achieve
ment, and history would hare recorded it
as striking triumph Of patience and endur-

through all time, an extraordinary achieve
ment, and history would have recorded it
as striking triumph Of patience and endur-
ance. :.
Our men had not yet rested from fatiguing
march Of twenty one miles; they had scarcely
Of supper; the most of them had not even
stretched their 1imbs in their cold and cheer
less tents, when the order was given to leave
their encampment, shoulder their muskets
Immediately and march with the utmost Sc
creey and expedition to ford or ferry, whlcn
miles. But not murmur ran through the
ranks; the order was hardly given, until the
battalions were formed, aud Col. Tu1chin:s en-
tire brigade, accompanied by other troops,
which have heretofore designated, we're pro
ceeding with cheerfn1ness md alacrity toward
the river
The night was bitter cold, and the frozen,
snowy and slippery ground made the march
more than ordinarily wearisome. Arrived at
the crossing, it was found that there was high
bluffs upon the northern side Of the river, the
only descent to which consisted Of two or
three long, slanting logs, which ran from q
mill that was not far OF to the brink Of the
stream. Under and between these were piled
hundreds Of sacks Of bran found in the mill
and thus a way WIS prepared by which the
men and horses might descend.
As rapidly as tic troops could be passed
oycri in the single flatboat which WAS found at
the terry, they were formed ia orler Of battle
along the Southern bank- twas not certain
Is known that the rebels had entirely aban-
doncd the town, or that they would not return
III force and attack Us after portion only Of
our troops had crossed. In fact intfmatiors
had already been given that a large body of
them might easily be concealed behind some
hills i mic or two back Of the town. Conse-
4ucntly the soldiers were prohibited from
building fires, making noises Of any kind, OF
separating from each other; and there these
fellows stood like statues all that long, weary
night, after marching twenty -four miles with.
out sleep or rest and almost without food!
Just at the dawn Of day the forces CON-
menced marching upon the town As it was
found impossible to take the artillery across,
| Tenth and Thirteenth Ohio, id order to pro,
! tact the retreat, in case such 4 movement
| should become necessary. Thus was the pos
sibi]ity Of 4 Balls Bluff disaster well provided
| against.
When the troops were about to start regt
| menta1 officer rode up to Col Turchin ant
asked him something concerning what hi
should do in case they were attacked "Jus
! what you do when drillinE,' was the plain AMI
| comprehensive reply.
Lieut.. Colonel Scott Of the Nineteenth III
nois becoming tired of the long, cold night
| went off toward the town, without orders, t.
seek more comfortable quarters Is soon a:
| Col. Turchin found him he took away Iii
| sword and placed him under arrest.
| Colonel Stanley, Of the Eighteenth Ohio, hat
! the general arrangements for crossing unde
his charge, and was the first officer that reached
| the southern bank Of the river; but the cross
ing had previously been effected by coupl
OF rrivates-one from the Third Ohio, III
other from the Nineteenth Il1inois-who, be
coming impatient Of all delay in the matter, ex
temporised Il raft from some Of the charTc,
| timbers Of the r:,ilroad bridge, end went owe
| on that.
The railroad bridge was partly burned by tn
rebels, partly blown up, and partly ba.tcre,
down with cannon, SO that its ruins choke Il
the river beneath; the turnpike bridgt va
| consumed to the last stick of timber.