Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-09-29
30 $50
NO $50.

and the bizarre character given It by the
humor of the soldiers has made il q striking
feature of the march. Ii is important, how
ever, to distinguish between what was planned
and ordered, and what was an accidental
growth of the soldiers disposition to make
sport of everything that could he turned to
amusement. The orders issued were of q
strictly proper military character. The sup
plies in the trains were TO be treated as re-
serve TO be drawn upon only in case Of neces-
sity. and q systematic foragiug upon the
country for daily food was the regular means
of getting rauons. Each regiment organized
foraging party Of about one-twentieth of its
numbers under command of an officer. These
parties set out first of all. in the morning,
those of the same brigades and divisions
working in concert, keeping near enough to-
gether to be a mutual support If attacked by
the enemy, and aiming to rejoin the column
at the halting place appointed tor the end of
the days march. The foragers became the
beau ideal of partisan troops. Their self.
confidence and daring increased TO won-
derful pitch, and no organized line of
skirmishers could quickly clear the head
of column of the opposing cavalry of the
eneuiy. Nothing short of an intrenched line
of battle could stop them. and when they
were far scattered on the flank, plying their
vocation, il Il body of hostile cavalry ap-
preached, a singular sight was to be seen.
Here and there, from barn, from granary and
Smoke-house. and from the kitchen gardens
of the plantations. isolated forayers would
hasten by copverging lines, driving before
them the laden mule hesped high with vege.
tables. smoked bacon, fresh meal, and poultry.
As soon as two or three OF these met, one
would drive the animals, and the others. from
fence corners or behind trees, would begiu
bGld skirmish, their Springfield rifles giving
them the advantage in range over the car
hines of the horspmen. As thev were pressed
they would continue falling back and assem-
bling, the resimental platoons falling in be-
side each other till their line OF fire would
become too hot for their opponents. and these
would retire reporting that they had driven
in the skirmlshers upon the main column
which was miles away. The work Of foraging
would then be resumed. twas of the rarest
possible occurrence that Wheeler's men sue
ceeded in breaking through these enterpris-
ing hankers and approaching the troops Of
the line, and Ms the columns approached the
place designated for their evening camp, they
would find this ludicrous but most bountihl
supply train waiting TOR them at every fork
Of the road, with as much regularity as r
railway train running on 'schedule time"
They brought in all animals that could be
applied to army use, and as the mule teams
or artillery horses broke down in pulling
through the swamps which made n wide bor-
der for every stream. fresh animals were
ready, SO that on reaching Savannah the
teams were fat and sleek and In far better
condition than they had been at Atlanta.
The foragers turned into beasts of bur
den, oxen and cows as well the horses and
mules. Here would be a silver-mounted
family carriage drawn by jackass and a COW.
loaded inside and out with everything the
country produced, vegetable and animal,
dead and alive. There wonld be an ox-cart.
loaded, and drawn by n nondescript
tandem team, equally inconSruous. Perched
upon the top would he ragged forager,
rigged odt in a fur hat of Il fashion worn BY
dandles of a century ago, or a dress-cOat
which had done service at stylish balls of
former generation. The jibes and je ,rs. the
fun and the practical jokes ran down the
whole line as the coytege came In. and no
in carnival could compare with
it for original humor and rolicking enjoy
ment.
No other work which we have seen gives
so full and clear an insight into the final cam
paign which resulted in the collapse of the
rebellion as this.