Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1864-12-24
B. G.. HAMMOND,
Chaplain 9th Wisconsin.
From the FOrty-Third Regiment.

The Campaign IN Iennessee-A Change of Base
Jacksonville Abandoned-A Forced March
Cut off from NashoiAe-A rest at Ozarks-
VHe-RaoGges of Var.
Correspondence of the state Journal.
HEADQUARTERS 43D REG. Wis VOLsl
GAINESVILLE, Tenn, December 6, 1864. (
MeSsrs Editors, This beautiful morning
finds the headquarters of the 43d very pleas
antly located on an eminence overlooking the
town of GAINESVILLE, on the Cumberland riv-
er, at which place VIC are supposed to be but
temporarily stopping, to recruit after a long
and weary march which has just been COM
pleted
On the 29th of November we were ordered
to pack knapsacks and be ready to march
Long before the break of day our old quar-
ters and the town of Johns nville were a
scene of confusion. About o'clock A. NJ.
we started. Our long train was seen to be
moving in the direction of Nashville, and be-
fore shutdown the town (which one month ago
promised to be one of the most thriving
towns in the South) was a scene of desola-
ton, such as always follows the war trail, and
is now left to the whole control of the rebel
hordes which have long surrounded it. Our
train consisted of some 5000 soldiers, 500
teams, 800 cattle and mules, and many citi-
three miles in length, which it was no easy
task to move through the almost unbroken
wilderness that lay before US.
The first days march brought US to halt
some nine miles from our starting point. The
next day, long before daylight, we were con.
vineed forced march to Nashville lay before
us, and were ordered to prepare for the task,
which was indeed no light one, as every SOL
der had nearly 20 pounds weight to carry on
his back. But the order soon came to throw
away the heaviest part of our clothing
as we were to march through at all haz-
yards, both night and day, and thus we
pressed on, and before our stopping had
made our way, over the mountains of Tennes-
see a distance of twenty-three miles, which
under the circumstances ia which we were
placed, was indeed heavy march for mex
perienced soldiers. Dropping ourselves
down wherever we could find dry spot TO
lay upon, we eouehed upon the ground and
sweetly slept, though the rain poured down
in torrents, and many did not awake until we
we're again ordered TO start, notwithstanding
they were sleeping in complete mudhole,
with every thread of garment drenched with
rain, s
shortly, we were again striding onward,
in haste to reach our destination, to render
Hood, when the news came that we were cut
off from Nashville, and we were ordered to
change our course backward to the present
place of.encampment, which we reached Dec
5th, after march of five days. fa
During the whole march, we passed through
broken, mountainous region of wilderness,
only trod by the guerrilla seeking his usual
prey. The mark of desolation was every
where visible, and would have shown the
weary traveller that he was upon the war
trail and he would have been more firmly
convinced had he followed our path, for
nearly every house we passed was thronged
with .Jayhawkers from our ranks, helping
themselves to the best the house afforded
DayhawkiDg is trade easily learned by every
soldier, most being very apt and willing to
learn Many ladies of Wisconsin could have
provided themselves with good feather beds
had they followed our track, as every hem
coop, goose-pen and turkey-roost was left va
cant, and many houses and barns emptied
of their contents, and many farms of their
houses and fences. Such is the result in ev-
cry country through which soldiers pass
The end of our journey finds US destitute of
clothing, blankets, tents, and every article of
value soldier possesses, as we were obliged
to throw all away. The loss of the AID may
safely be set down at SO, 900 in articles thrown
away and burned up, which may be lesson
to new soldiers in the future, in drawing
large amounts of clothing, as many do. The
Cumberland river is closed at present, as
Hood has batteries planted above US, pre-
venting all navigation, but viii soon be open,
as some monitors are soon expected up from
below, to open upon them.
We are expecting lively times in Tonnes