The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1863-02-26

night of it for we were not permitted
to have any fires on account Of ths
enemy being so close to us that they
might easily have got the range and
shelIed us in the morning. go = 9Voes
On the morning of the 27th Of De-
cember, at about o'clock, we descend.
ed the hill and halted near the pike,
stacked arms, and waited for two or
three Divisions to pass us. We had
not been halted buta short time before
onr skirmishers engaged she rcbei
skirmishers, but they soon retreated
and in a short time we were marching
on towards small town by the name
of Triun, about FIVE miles distant
When we had marched about miles
our ambulances commenced stopping
and the troops in front forming in line
Of battle. We expected little brush,
our Brigade formed on the right Of the
line of battle; the gallant old 42nd
was in the front line then, the whole
column marched by the left Of Com
panies to the Front. All of this time
the rain was pouring down in torrents,
and we had to march through corn
fields, over fences and through woods;
it was bad marching. But the boys
did not finch. Each were eager to
send leaden messenger in pursuit of
the flying Bntternuts.J After we had
marched half mile, We were ordered
to halt, but few minutes passed be-
fore the news came that the butternuts
had already started off at gait which
had the resemblance of q skedaddIe.
The boys thought this rather tongh af.
ter marching through the mud and rain
40 far to get chance to give them q
volley or two of musketry and then
slip upon it. but instead of doing that
we went into campin a beautiful piece
of timber that lay on our right. We
had not been there long before one
could see hundreds Of fires scattered
here and there all through the piece Of
timber, and abont sunset it ceased rain
ing. In a short time, thousands Of lit
tie stars could be seen in the blue sky
-one can not imagine how cheeringit
was to the soldiers Sunday.
Sunday, Dee. 2sth, we did not have
to march, but we had orders to fire of
our pieces, clean them mp for inspect
ion, some of them had been loaded for
many days, Consequently the powder
had got damp4 1t was beautiful day
and tho boys enjoyed themselves well,
and as nothing of Importance trans
pired during the day, I will hasten to
Monday, Dec. 2stll. 5.f.'...
This morning We were ready to
march at daylight, but did not until
nearly o'clock a. m, then we started
for the Nolenville Pike, which was
about 4 of mile distant. I'VE were
a long time in reaching the Pike; then
we started for the Murfreesboro Pike
that was about 10 milessdistant. After
marching about seven miles, over some
as rough country as our Regiment has
been over since it has been in service,
and through some large Cedar Swamps;
the roads being SO rough that it
was very slow getting our Artillery
along, we came to a small Pike by the
name of Selbyvile or Six mile Pike.
after marching about I of mile on the
Pike We turned off 10 the left through.
a corn6eld into the woods about 4 of o
mile distant. There we bivouacked,
and we being SO close to the enemy we
could not have any fire that night and
all that we had to eat was hard bread
and but very little of that.
/ Tuesday, Dec. 30th.-This morning
after eating what little Hard bread We
had, aud drinking warm cup of cof.
fee, the order came for our Brigade to
march TO the front, and after marching,
about I miles, our advance engaged
the enemy's pickets; then we were or.
.lered to halt, load, (at that time some n
of the boys on our right were heard to
say, "What is the nse of loading We
will have to draw our loaIs, as we al
ways have done" but they had to draw
! them in different manner than they
thought they would at first,) and in .
!. few minutes the 42d were ordered for.
ward abont quarter of a mile to de-,
ploy as skirmishers. The first seven
Companies. A, F, d, I. 6, H, and e,
were deployed, there three Comps.
MES left, X, G, and B, were held a.
a reserve. After we were depIoSed wS
advanced considerably to the right. 90
that our line Of skirmishers extended
northeast and south.west. The LEFT
resting on the pike above named and
also in the edge of q Cedar swamp
that W as full ofrocks and butternuts, snd
the right resting in an open field. Co. e,
- .tit IF 4 L.. - r.-I.....r