The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-03-09

i
horse. Nothing has been found yet with which
my present apology for horse can be replaced.
After our plentiful repast and a good nights
rest, we were in excellent trim at o'clock on the
morning of the 18th to take I'D the line of march.
AS our train of twenty eight wagons moved out
at trot to take its place in the column behind
the reserve battery, the Nineteenth Indiana, our
front driver was brought to sudden stop by a
| peremptory command to halt accompanied with
| the presentation at his head of cooked revolver
In the hands of the officer in charge of the train
| next behind. Our driver who considered dis
erection the better part of valor thought best not
TO push on, and before the matter could be
Drought to the attention of some of sufficient
| authority, our place was closed up. and we had
to tall IN at the rear for the day. This scramble
or the wagon trains for place in the line fire.
/ quently affords amusement, but it sometimes re-
| suits In bad feeling and Lloodshed.
| Our camp last night was within mile of Vel
| low river. a tributary of the Ocmulgee Both
| the wagon and railroad bridges had been de-
| stroyed by the enemy. | went forward to the
| crossing in advance of the train and found the
| stream to be deep and turbid with high banks
1t was spanned with two pontoon Dridges-one
for the wagon train, the other for troops. The
banks had been cut down on both sides, thereby
atfordng better descent TO the pontoons and
gentler ascent from them; but the opposite bank
was yet so steep that it required reinforcement
or men at the wheels to get wagons up. great
deal of time was this account consumed in
crossing.
command of Colonel Buell. carry 5000 feet
OF bridging on about thirty wagons. The boats
are mere frames, easily taken apart and put to-
gether One wagon carries four boats. For use
these frames are made into boats by stretching
/ heavy canvass covers over them. Even under
the weight Of stringers, flooring and wagons, the
leakage is SO slight that man can do the
necessary baing for four boats. On the banks
OF the river near our place of crossing were forty
or fifty bales Of cotton recently placed there,
and evidently intended for shipment by barge.
1t is scarcely necessary to say that the cotton
was not shipped. 1t passed off in smoke.
While stood observing the operations at the
pontoons, General Sherman, with staff and body
guard, passed over. He is TALL spare man, APP
parenty about forty years of age In riding he
| lncllnes forward, and most of the time is look
ing down as if in meditation. His staff far out
SHINE him IN military dress and accoutrement.
But for his military garb he might readily be
taken for Western circuit-preacher, Industrious
ly coming his next sermon
About P. NJ we passed through Covington,
one Of the principal towns on the Georgia Cen
trail railroad. 1t is place of some pretensons,
and would furnish habitation for about 500
people. Not half of that number could be
found there now, however This place has been
afflicted with a mania for the Grecian temple
style of architecture There is no house so
mean that does not find excuse for colonnade,
and the proportion of house to colonnade is often
very ridiculous. At 3 p NJ. we go into camp
about four miles from CovingtQn, having made
but fourteen miles.
1t rained during the night, but not enough to
affect the sandy soil of this country. We moved
at A. NJ. in a southeasterly direction through
more fertile region than we have heretofore en-
countered There were some sterile spots and
on one of the waste brrrens is located little
place called Sand Town. What could have in
duced people to settle in such place passes my
comprehension 1t continued to rain during the
day, and at night we camped in brisk shower,
at place were rails were abundant The sol
diers laugh at rain and cold when in the region of
rail fences. The country now affords an abund-
ant supply of food and forage without even ex-
hausting the stock Immediately in our line of
march.
There are stringent orders prohibiting the de-
struction of property or the entering OF occu-
pied dwellings,, but there are those in an army
who will violate orders, as there always
offenders against law everywhere and at all
times. l saw building in flames to-day which
makes but two within my observation since leav-
ing Atlanta. However, being near the center of
the line, L am not in situation to know much of
what goes on in the rear.
The numerical strength of the army is being
somewhat increased by the accession of negroes
men, women and children-who follow upon
foot in vehicles of every conceivable make
shape and process of dissolution, and upon
stage of ruin and decay. They make a fantastic
and ludicrouS cavalcade, but are thoroughly
good -natured and happy, even amid their prva-
{ tions and hardships. All they want is permits
no greater boon.
After marching about two hours on Sunday
morning, the 10th, we came upon Shady Dale,
| an extensive cotton plantation, at the crossing
of the Monticello and Madison roads. The
| plantation embraces large body of beautiful
and fertile land, and as the first specimen Of
cotton plantation on so large scale that we had
vet seen on the route, it attracted much alton
ton. The mansion house was large white
frame building, of MARY additions and irregular
shape. The stables cotton houses, gin houses
and other fixtures were substantially and neatly
built. village Of forty fifty double negro
cabins, thronging with sable population of
women and children, excited no little the curl
osity of men and officers What caused most
eagerness among the soldiers, however was the
unusual quantity of poultry, hogs, sheep and
sweet potatoes.
The hogsheads Of sugar and molasses found
In the store houses were also pleasing revela-
ton. Mathew Whitfield, the owner of the
premises, aged man. was at home and took
the despoiling of his farm and store houses very
calmly He owns three hundred slaves The
men had been run off and various things had
been hidden out; among others, seventy five
head OF horses and mules but the slaves made
known their place of concealment and they were
initiated into the duties of the expedition not
the least of which, IN my estimation, was to
furnish me with respectable transportation.
The country through which our course lay to-
day has been exceptionally rich and highly cul-
tivated, many of the buildings exhibiting wealth
and taste in their construction, Ornamentation
and surroundings We came upon soldiers to-
day plundering cabin occupied by woman
and three small children She evidently had
little to be robbed Of, but they took all she had
Her husband, she said, was a Union man, but.
was forced to go with the Southern troops and
was killed in battle. Some of our men supplied
the poor woman with more than she had lost,
and we left her deeply grateful.
We Travelled in dense fog all day, camped be.
fore night some six miles west of Eatonton in
Putnam county. About the time of sunset can
nonadng was heard in the direction of Macon
1t rained all of last nigh and day, making the
movement of the column very slow and labor
ious. The country more broken than we
had yet seen on the march. Our course has lain
in southerly direction. through narrow and
difficult by-roads, crossing small streams and
gulleys and making the day altogether distress
ING for man and beast Eionndernc in mud ard