Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1865-01-20


kind of pen with rails or poles, which'they
call Ga dead fall" spread some rubber blankets
overhead for root, aud then cuddle in togeth-
er in what they call spoon fashion," so as to
keep warm. Mother, sister, wife or sweet
heart, know You would take good hearty
laugh TO see your own best beloved soldier.
wedged between a couple of big stalwart fell
lows whose permission he must ask before he
can turn over. Numerous mistakes are said
10 have occurred among the boys in reference
to the ownership of legs and feet &c, but l
cannot vouch for the correctness of these
statements. November 18th up early, march
ed steady through fine rich country, abundance
Of forage, reached Monticello, a tolerabIe sized
town of about 3,eOO inhabitants before the
war. The houses were nearly all deserted and
many of them going to ruin. November 18th
passed through Hillsbore, small town, most
ly deserted and ruinnus, 18th corps one dav's
march ahead of US. Forage abundant in the
country. November 20th did not get on the
liue of march till 10 a. m, raining briskIy,
roads soft and slippery, mud to inches
deep. Marched all day and continued on
ward still onward at night. Oh ye braves of
fire and pudding how would you like to
scramble over logs, briaFs, and brush; to wade
swamps and morasses and alternately climb
slippery hills or cross rapid creeks of drak
night on single log! Yet onward over all
these impediments, chilled and supperless:
loaded with knapsaek and traps, through a
drenchiug rain, Sherman's noble army moved
the whole night. Oh ye crusty rusty dollar
loving misers, who grumbc about your taxes,
what would you think Of such a march ever
and anon Jou could hear the cheerful Joke. the
merry laugh rise from the ranks of these faith
full and noble weather beaten soldiers. Away
to the right fOunderiBg in the swamp one
man haliows lin imitation of boatmen) "FIve
Feet!' another less fortunate indiVidualr eplies
mime feet T' while far to the left, you hear
the hoarse response mo Bottom !' each an
nouncement producing boisterous laughter
among those fortunate enough to find better
path. The swamp is crossed at last, and
then through cornfelds or woods or any place
but the road (the road is reserved for wagonsl
the troops defle, loosely interrogating each
other thus: chow many falls did you get ?"-
"Are both your feet wet ?" did you get
your knapsack hurt ?" &c, &c.
November 2lst, aa we did not go 10 bed
last night we were ready to march early, but
did not start until Ii a. m, marched 6 miles
and went into camp about 16 miles from Ma
con by 10 p. m., delayed on the road to let
our teams come up. Nov. 32d very cold,
marched in an eastery direction, to Gordon
Station, and camped 20 miles from Macon. on
the Ga. q. R. r. At night the whole Divis-
ion extended along the road and tore I'D the
stringers, making piles at regular intervals,
and then setting the whole mass on fire. The
yellow pine readily igIites and in short time
the road presented the appearance of vast
sheet of flame. The road which we here COM
meneed to destroy, tone of the first in the
South we followed nearly all the way to Sa-
vannah, burning in our course, brNges, depots
and water tanks. Nov. 23d up at a. m,
marched through a fine country containing
abundance of forage. 1 will here give your
readers some idea of soldiers fare in a country
like this abounding in variety of edibles.-
Here it is:
A SOLDIERS BILL OF FARE.
We march ill P NJ then comes the well
know "halt !'' +" front !' " right dress !" stack
arms !'' '' make coffee !" Each command is
promptly Obeyed, but the moment the last is
uttered there is grand rush for fence rails
In few minutes hundreds of blazing fires
attest the industry Of patient cooks. The fire
once ready operations begin. Sweet potatoes,
mush, pancakes. short cake, beans, pumpkins
or squash, and the soldiers favorite beverage:
rich smoking coffee !" are soon prepared
Then one man has mOlassees in his canteen,
another has strained honey and yet another
has some butter or eggs. From these articles
they make hearty meal, the most fastidious
having the wherewith to nOurish the outer
man.
On the night of Nov. 23d we had just got
into camp about 9 P. NJ. but DO rest for the
Twentieth. The regiment was ordered back
to guard the train, which could not all pass
over the swamp before morning Nov. 24th
the regiment returned by A. NJ. and the
brigade moved out Immediately. Passed sew
eral fine plantations at one of which we de-
stroyed 1900 pounds OF salt Went into
camp three miles from the Oconee river. Our
advance cavalry, the lst Alabama, had quite
a skirmish with the rebs, who attempted to
stop US at this river. Nov. 25th up at A.
N. to start at A NJ. our regiment had to 90
to Toomsboro to burn rail road bridges near
that station. Finished by 10 A. NJ. then
marched miles to the river making detOur
so as to leave the door open. In camp by 4
2. M. in wretched pine swamp.
Nov. 26th crossed Oconee river and camped
6 miles from the river. Next morning, 9th,
our whole division went to work tearing up
track and burning Worked with will until
3 P. NJ. when we reached point where the
18th Corps had left their mark We then
marched about three miles and went into camp.
Nov. 28th, fine pleasant day marched Is
miles and got into camp by halfpast eight P.
NJ. 1 should here state that party of twen-
ty men, under command Of Captain Humiston,
went out to forage for the regiment every day
At night they generally came into camp with
plenty of fresh pork, sweet potatoes molasses,
corn meal, -four, chickens, sugar and occasion
ally plenty of honey. We were marching
through the richest part Of Georgia and the
country must needs support US. Nov. 29th,
on the war-path at A. M. punctual, marched
with vigor and made 20 miles passing 18th
Army Corps went into camp eight miles
from Ogeechee river. Nov. Both, up ut 3 A.
NJ, but did not start till IL p. NJ. Ogeechee
river rather sluggish stream and for half
mile we had TO corduroy through swamps TO
get il. Succeeded in pontoonirg and
crossed it about dark. Dec. Ist marched
about 8 miles and camped on Joe Jones plan-
tation. He is a member Of the Georgia Leg
islatare and concluded to keep out of our way.
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