The Richmond palladium., 1862-12-19
PeRcilings en- the Nmrcd.
A NIGHT MARCH.

For twenty-eight hours out of thirty-two
Woods division had been the toilsome
march or waiting At Springfield without
shelter from sun or frost. in the filth of a
recent cavalry caup-wating, much OF the
time, under arms. and several times during
the night. as well as during the day. formed
| for the march-waiting and tcearying, for
the soldier can not rest when the bugle is 1t
the lip--wai,ing till the noon before the
battle of Chaplin Hills. At last. withou,
rest, sleep. dinner. tired, drowsy, and hun
cry, we take the dusty resr of column Of
thirty thousand men aud whole leagues Of
transportation trains. But not to march
20 start, to stop, to fall in." to wait, to
" forward !" to " halt T. Two hundred
artillery carriages, eight hundred ammuni-
ton, baggage, and supply wagons are to be
helped up aud locked down the rocky
ravines and along the water washed gullies
of the worst of Kentucky country roads
For full fifteen miles the road is jammed.
At snai's pace We creep along a wag-
on's length. rod. furlong. quarter mile
or halt. but seldom-never more without
the vexing halt. Thus wears away the
tiresome day, and from noon till night FIVE
miles are made. Five hungry. thirsty.
weary, dusty miles. For the thousands
on before had drank the springs. aud wells,
and cisterns dry, and the very gravel was
ground to binding. choking dust.
The night has come. The moon is up.
We are creeping on. We are lying by the
road side. We march at common time
We march at slow time. We march at half
pace. We shuttle along at a quarter pace.
damned up In the narrow road We stand q
moment, move yard. stop again-five
b1y< ha
side-sit down in the shoe-top dust Of the
narrow lane =" forward - again. But
men are exhausted and march heavily
The drums are beat. but the weary foot
refuses to keep the time The camp-song
is sung. but the lively chorus struggles
family in dusty throats. The rallying joke
fails to start the singing repartee for it is
bed time now, aud tue stoutest limbs have
grown sore, the merriest heart is sober, the
hottest blood is chilled by the frosty air.
But we are trudging on
-sIt is ten o'clock. Every bushy shrub
shelters a way-worn volunteer The moon
is getting low The night is getting cold.
We are halting, waiting, waiting, starting.
sto opping still. but toiling on.
alt is eleven o'clock. The moon is down.
The night is dark. Every fence corner
shows the PROSTATE form of some soundly-
sleeping soldier. Officers, guards. mess
mates are weary waking the sleepers SO
halting. waiting. starting, and stopping, We
go creeping
1t is one O'Clock. I wait at the root Of
tree. My horse. my regiment. tke column
is prostrate in the road all sound asleep
For an hour they have lain there--oficers,
men. mules -beltcd. armed, saddled. har-
nessed-all sound asleep. But a distant
buge, nearer note, a rafting drum, .
sonorous :" fall in fall in !''-shaking har.
ness, rumbling wagons. grumbling men
and We go staggering on.
1t is two o'clock. The rumbling of wsg-
ons has become a dreary roar Of babble.-
The unsteady ground has become the floor
Of a wearying tread mill. The fog of Gust
spread through the valley seems q limpid
lake, the wo.m fence curtain -bsngings. the
weather bleached lime rock a snowy pillow.
Yet, still halting. waiting. starting, stop
ping. we go dreaming on.
1t is three o'clock. The solid column
has become struggling gang. The nod
ding horseman is almos. thrown by the
stopping of his sleepy horse. The sleeping
mule-drlv is thrown from his seat by the
b halting of MS drowsy team. The line-offi-
Ger is aroused by staggering against the
fence corner. The automateu
soldier is awakened by dropping his mus.
ket under his feet. As we all go nodding on.
1t is DAYBgEAK ! How hurried the COM
mands Close up files cover front fix
bayonets stack arms break ranks march!
0, what a sound, sweat, delicious sleep on
the stony hill side, without blanket, fire, or
choice of ground. till the sun is way up,
the air warm. and the appetite SO keenly
relishes the tlinty cracker and unsweeteusd
Cor. Western Chris. Advocate.
A BRAVE BoY--Near Lake Shetek, sixty