Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1864-01-15
NO. 42.

operations in the immediate viciBity of Chat
tanooga. Though glorious and successful, al
most beyond hope, or expectation, they did
not complete our task. Ominous rumors were
daly coming in from the vicinity OF Knox
vile, that Burnside was in great danger-we
must hasten to his relief.
On the 29th Of November, the lIth Corps,
forming temporarily part OF General Sher-
mans command, began a march Of one hun
dred aud fifty miles. The troops were sup
4 piled with three days rationS, which they were
ordered 10 make last six. Their shoes and
their food gave out at the same time. They
we're spjeinsd 10 live cheerfully ou meal, until
their comrades at Knoxville should be reliev-
ed. This was hardly needed. With the for
tituds Of the noblest true soldiers, they
marched over the frozen ground, from day to
day, with nearly bare feet, and at night ate
ekeerfully their scanty fare. The Hiawsssee
vas crossed and the Tennessee reached at
Louden. The enemy had destroyed the
bridge at this point, and the river was not
fordabe. Dverging from direct course our
columns sought the Little Tennessee, less
farmidanls stream. Bridges Of wagons were
thrOwn across il, by which the infantry pass
ed over, the artillery fording. The evening
Of December 5tb, found us a. Louisville, |
one days march from Knoxvile. Here We
learned with regret that Longstrset had raia-
ed the siege OF Knoxville, and made good his
escape, aud that it was unnecessary for US 70
advance farther. Resting one day, we began
oar retrograde march on the 7th. We were
eighty miles from Chattanooga is,
eighty miles from supplies Of every kind, yet
very many Of the troops were barefoot, many
sick, and all compelled TO subsist entirely up
on the country. The continual labor, watch
fulness and exposure to which they had been
subjected with scarcely any internission seven
weeks began to tell upon the men. l have
seen their stalwart forms shoeless, and in rags,
PROSTATE and trembling with feverish exhaus-
tion. Yet few would complain. The Ameri-
can soldier scarcely knows the word complain.
II God has given to any man above another
a noble nature it is to him. have heard bis
agonizing groans upon the bloody field, in The
hospital, on the march, bat very rarely have
heard him complain Of any hardship or sufsr
ing that came upon him in the line of duty
Forgetting myself. cannot but say God bless
the mea who thus dare, do and suffer for the
welfare Of mankind
The night OF she 10th will be sver msmora-
bic to the third Division. Hating at night
fall, drenchipg rain set in, and 8 settled
gloom which our hundreds Of glaring camp
fires could scarce annihilate- The shelter
tents had been erected and the men we're pre-
pairing for rest, when an imperative order
came to march six miles farther al once. At
the same time the rain came faster, and the I
night grew more dismal SiE miles further 1
such night Yet it must be done, even
slough we had already marched twenty miles 6
before night-ial.
Leaving their fres their only comfort, our 6
Ioders plunged into the darkness and pressed (
onward. The lightning occasionally reveal
ID to as each others presence, and cleaning a
Ilong our waterY path. These glimpaes OF I
he column reminded me of the solemn train
'flost beings treading the gloomy regions OF r
Oante's Inferno. God pity the sick and 3
hoeleas on such march. !
At one o'clock A. M. the Division halted, \
2itiessly fell the rain, making fires next to .
impossible. The Suns eye opened at length, =
,ut saw few sleepers. Yet our soldiers com :
,lained not, but seemed rather to cheerfully a
themselves that they were men :
Ible TO cope with, and overcome such pain l
ull trials of their fortitude /,
That evening saw them again in their old
amps, or at home as some called it. They
lad reached them by traversipg Mission
Ridge, and lookout, where three weeks be
ore they had seen the enemy lodged, as it . !.
eemed, impregnably. Proud of their con
ussts and forgetting their privations, their
houghts travelled homeward in many an af-
setionate line.-a weakness by the way, even
+ !
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