The National tribune., 1884-06-05
A 64-DAYS' MARCH.
HOE Hatch Checkmated Hood in the
Fall of 1864.
rnyRw s,vsy. 7,A N. Car, Be,ae Creek, EsoAl

in September, 1861, by croer OF MaJor-trcD-
eral Washburne commanding the Department
OF West Tennessee, Brigadier-General Edward
Hatch. commanding LIST division, cavalry corps.
was ordered to hold his command IN readiness
tOnarch with ten days ratioas, and, If possible,
form a junction with the Union forces then
operating up the Tennessee River as far as
Esstport, Miss.
The division was composed Of the following
troops: list brigade Colonel Oliver Wells, 18th
Missouri cavalry 9Th and Sd Illinois and 18th
Missouri cavalry; I'd brigade Colonel Dates
T. Caon. ID Iowa cavalry 9th and 9th Hid
nois and ID Iowa cavalry, and company IL, ISt
Illinois light artillery Captain J. w. Curtisli
the total strength of the two brigades being
fwentv-four hundred men. rank and Gle The
expedition was fitted out at White Station, on
the line Of the Memphis and Charleston Rail
road within scyen niles OF Memphis, Tenn
Here is diary OF the expedition:
September 81. GS64.-I'he co,umn moved out
on the Germantown road; the rain feil in
torrents for over two hours; crossed Wolf
River al Pastine's plantation north OF German
town.
October Passed through Macon and ad-
Tanced on the Summervile road.
October Passed through Summerville;
took the Bolivar road crossed the hatciiie
River, where the % Iowa and 9Th Illinois had
10 construct a bridge.
October 3-Moved out Of the Hatchie bot
ton At daylight. taking the 1T. Pincton road,
southeast OF Jackson; crossed the Forkadeer
River 1t sunset in q heavy rain.
October Left camp st 3 o'clock a. m;
passed through Mi1iiin. Henderson county, tax
ilg the road leading Gown the valley OF Beach
River. leaving Lexington TO CIR left and north
some eight miles; csmped at Jones plantation;
rained al day.
CROSSING THE TENNESSEE.
October 5.-AIoved mt daylight, passing
SCOTS Hill, taking the Decaturyille read; at
sunset reached The Tennessee River, opposite
Clifton, having crossed very impracticable,
rocky picturesque country; for miles our
course had been along the high and barren
lands OF d divide. Sometimes We descended an
almost perpendicular hillside, crossing a small
stream u beautiful spring water, and then, by
hard and slow process, assembled an equally
steep and rocky enlneBce. The soil was OF so
worthless nature as 10 scarcely produce su1i-
cient vegetation for the sustenance Of a noun
tain goat ana yet here and laere could be
seen a IaIs 5rabie hut. the surroundings OF which
plaiuly tod that the inhabitants OF this region,
more productive than the SOIL faithfully
cbeyed the command Of the Scriptures to ~mul
riply and repienish" At Clifton we found the
gunDuat feet and transports. under command
Of Mai0T-Cieueral c. c. Mashburne.
October 6.-E2rly this morning we crossed
the river by means Of the transports City Of
Pekin, kenton and Aurora; at o'clock a II.
twelve miles il the direction of Waynesb0To',
on tie Nashville pike, and camped Tor the
night Cd a beautiful hillside.
October z.-I.eft camp at an early hcar. pass
ing through Naynesb0r0' 1T noon; fed on the
plantation CT -. Ii. Barnes. The latter place is
forsy-oDs miles from Florence, forty-fonr miles
from Pulaski, and Ilaety-two miles from Nash
vile. Inc country is mountainous, rugged
ana barren. covered with vast forests and filed
WIKI beautiful trout streams whose clear
Raiers germ ike pearls Ia their rocky basins.
October 6--Leit camp at ) a. m; passed
through L2wTeaceturg. county seat OF Lawrence
county, and took Military road leading to
Florence ala. When three miles ont we took
the road leading down the valley of Shoal
Greek, through lie most picturesque Of cOun-
tries
October 9.-Left emp early, returning TO
Military road and moving il direction Of Flor
ence, csinpea al night az Baugh's Mills and
there learned THAI Forrest had crossed the Ten
nessDe Iiirer and escaped unharmed.
Gct0bar I0-Lett camp II I a. 10; on zrriv-
ing at Wilson's Gross roads we changed cur
course aud moved towards Waterloo. passing TO
The north oL Florence some SIX miles: reached
ha.eEio0 az s ?. H.. and camDed fer the night.
October 1.-THE command moved down the
river sosBe ten mics. with the hope OF finding
the gaabOsts sBd feet and procuring rations
FOR the men. Major Horton. commanding "a
Iowa. was sent IN advance with his regiment
20 The Aeet with DISPATCHES. Unfortunately,
the fee. lad left few hours previous TO the
arrival Of our cavalry opposite Eastport, Hiss.
October l2.-Left camp eGTiy, moving IN the
direction Of Savannah, and went into camp one
ralie below that place.
oS sHoRT RATToEs.
October I3-Rafions very scarce; gubsisting
OF the country, which il rather thin; brigade
commanders applied 10 General Hatch, who
gave theal permission 10 send out detachments
O. men under So table officers 10 procure corn
and wheat and have il ground at the neighbor-
ilg mills.
October IL, Is and l6.-During this time
each day was indastriGusiy spent al the mills
In grind ing wheat aud corn, while parties were
securing The country IN quest Of bacon, salt
&c, 70 make Il palatable. The evening OF the
10th orders were issued to be ready 10 move.
October i7.-Left camp al : a. N, and moved
out o. the NayDesboro' road ten miles; then
turned towards Clifton and camped, having
marched over very rough section some thirty
miles, and compelled TO forage OF the country
which Is 5 very disagreeabie necessity, snd
cuts botk friends AID foes most cruelty and
taafartialsy.
October 15.-On arriving st Clifton nc boat.
were in sight The grand rounds On large
scsle-s0nle 150 mlles-Aad been made. and We
returned TO the starting point very hungry
ragged sno tired During the afternoon The
steamer Duke hove IL sight, 70 the great eatis
faction Of the whole command bot our fin,
hopes wers blasted when we learned that sh,
only had shorf rations Of hard bread and meat
which were equally distributed among the com
rl2nd, the balance 10 tie gathered from II,
country gntl the return Of the steamer frou
Johns0nvilie.
AZ EXCHANGE or CoUETEEIEs.
October 70 70 27.-The officers and men dur
Eng THIS time were iDdnstriousiy employed il
s10elng horses aud making necessary prepare
;4cns for az active campaign. Owing 10 Ia
scarcity Of biacksmiths snd tools, scoutin,
parties we're sent ont into the country 70 press
sufficient u supply the deficiency. Only few
were 0BISlrec. and many horses were shod b
tie use oil the common pocket knife and
ha.clst. The horses improved. rs forage wa
GDundant. While caInped at Clifton, Tenn
the rebels would occasionally pnt In an ap
pearance on the opposite shore and the frs
fey Gays considerable sharpshooting as
prseticed by both parties, until they mutuall'
&greed not TO FIRE upon each other liveI
conversation eusued between them across III
stream. EaiOr Graham and Or. Briggs, OF tn
7rh Illinois cavalry. procured an old canoe an
kElicoed over TO know IL they would receig
company. Tho rebs ssseuted and promised 10
70 fire upon them or detain them. Away the
went, and were greeted by the Johnnies mos
cordially. They appreciated the visit highly
aud more particularly tie good old bourbon,
bottle OF which the doctor presented 10 then
Among the Johnnies was surgeon name
Green belonging TO q Texas regiment TIL
Il. 4.