Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1863-12-04
OUR ARMY CORRESPONDENCE.
In CAxP, MIDDLETowN, TENN, I
November "a.
FROM MEMPHIS OUT.

PniSS awaiting OTueFs. wen, On tue IItn
orders came that the Sd brigade was to guard
. train through to Lagrange, little town on
the Memphis & Charleston Railroad, about
fifty miles from the former city. In our SIM
plicity we supposed Of course that the train
was railroad train, and so we took our Or
ders to break camp very complacently.-
Imagine our chagrin, however, when we came
to leave the next morning, to find that we
were to march and guard wagon train-the
most miserable duty soldier has to perform.
We set out, however, nothing daunted. As
we marched through Memphis, bands playing
and colors flying, it was very easy to see who
was and who was not with us in our work.
As we tramped along, everybody, of course,
run to the doors and windows to see US pass.
At some houses the 4uttering handkerchiefs
waved at us by the fair hands Of lovely ladies',
whose bright smiles babe us God speed,
betokened the loyal sympathy Of the occu-
pants. At others, and by far the most
numerous, the passive figures and the cold
looks Of the fair dcnizens told us plainly
enough that We might 90 to the devil for all
they cared about US or our cause. Little
rocked we, however, what they thought.
After leaving the city the road follows the
line of the railroad, scarcely vergng from it
half mile at any one place.
The day was splendid, the country beauti-
full and in a high state of cultivation. In
fact, l have seen no finer country in the South.
Splendid mansions and broad and fertile
plantations lined the road on either side, and
as beheld the beautiful parks and well-kept
lawns that surrounded the almost palatial
residences, l could not help but exclaim, ibid
I not live in Iowa, | would in Tennessee. -
But as [ DO live in Iowa, gu IS won't take
any stock at present in Tennessee. A sharp
walk of eight miles brought US to White
Station. Rlhe-pits were thrown up around
the depot 1.-THE only house in town. and gar
risoned by detachment of Illinois cavalry
After a short rest We proceeded on our way.
We hid gone but short distance when the
eastward bound train thundered by with a
long train of empty cars The boys swore
some at this, as it looked little like adding
insult to injury, and must confess that
marching by the side of U. 5. military road,
with unloaded trains passing you on their
way to the same destination, is somewhat
''agrawatin." Nevertheless. We jog red on
our weary way, and many were the good song
sung and joke cracked to relieve the toll Of
a march already beginning to be monotonous.
Late in the afternoon we reached German-
town, fifteen miles from Memphis. Here we
we..t into camp for the night.
After pitching my tent, | started on
suoI about town. Like other Southern
villages, Germantown is played completely
out, and at the end of an hours walk, during
which the only object Of interest l could
find was plate of oysters at d ollar dozen,
l returned to camp. The weather looking a
little squally, l tied an extra knot in my tent
ropes before yielded to the drowsy god
My precaution was useless, however, for be-.
fore morning regular northeaster" set in
The raid fell in torrents, the wind blew the
water through my canvas roof and to crown
all my accursed tent went over, leaving me to
hunt my coat, hat and boots in darkness as
thick and impenetrable as that which de-
scended upon the Heaven.accursed inhabi.
tants of old Egypt during the plaques. As
grouped about exposed to the beating storm,
fear was not in the mo amiablc mood
imaginable. While hunting for an axe to
pitch my shelter again, | found that the
Coloners big "wall tent" was in the same
condition as my more modest +" wedge."-
God forgive me, but could not repress the
wish that he might get gloriously soaked. ]
since learned that my desire was fully real
lied.
Morning came at last, and as 1 cooked m
coffee for breakfast and shivered before the
smoky, half-extinguished fire, any of the late
conscripts could not have hated military
life more heartily than myself
A little after daylight the busle sounded
the " assembly CALI and falling in, we let
out on what proved to bea
D1sAGREEABLE AND MUDDY MARCH.
The roads were execrable, the mud worse,
and the continued rain worst. Flooding
along, now marching slowly while the teams
made their way up bill, and now on dog
trot to keep up with the wagons as the train
closed up on level ground. I could imagine
but one species of all animated nature that
was in worse condition than I. The poor
mules, reekng with sweat and mud and
water, bore away the palm. As l looked at
the patient little creatures, straining every
muscle to drag their ponderous loads through
holes, gullies and almost impossible sloughs,
thanked Heaven was not an army mule.
The hard-swea'ing wagoners. with their long
" black-snake whips cracking away inces.
sanity at their over.worked animals, may be
thankful too, for had received one-tenth oil
the cruel lashes they dealt out so unsparingly,
would have kicked their brains out in an
instant.
About noon we halted at Collierville, some
six miles from Germantown. 1t was here
the I'd Iowa cavalry so soundly thrashed the
rebel General Chalmers, week or two ago.
The marks of the fight were plainly Wis BILE on
battle, and reflects great credit on the glorious
" Second and its gallant Colonel. The reg
iment is there yet, and in the few moments
we we're allowed to stay, had the pleasure
of taking several old friends and acquaint.
ancos by the hand. The boys all looked well
and hearty, and are no doubt good for any
equal number Of rebs in this, or any other
world.
Bidding our friends adieu, We again splash
ed forward, and after dark reached the little
hamlet Of lafayette, eight miles from Collier
vile, where we pitched our tents, swallowed
our hard tack and raw bacon, and betook
ourselves to bed in quick time. As it was
yet stormy, left boots and coat both on, the
experience of the preceding night having rem.
dered me too sharp to take them off again.
Long before daylight the internal " rowdy.
dow " awoke us to the fact that it was cold,
cloudy morning. Refreshed with a good
nights rest, however, we drank four cups Of
black coffee, each, and as the day was break
ing, again moved forward for
BIG MARCH
considering the roads. We drove along at a
smashing pace up hill and down until we