Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1889-05-30

sWeetheartS. The cayalfymen dlSarmed
them and marched. them out one at time.
AS the last one passed out OF the house
nnder the escort Luke turned to 20, when
! the black face of their informant appeared
at the door, and with chuckle the negro
said
uGolly, Massa Mason, yes got 'em.n
''Whatl Blackhawk, are you herem
But that mysterious, spirit-iike parsonage
| fitted away into the darkness aud disap-
peared. nor was he seen any more for weeks
aftcrward. They conveyed the prisoners TO
camp without any trouble.
Then came another long period of in
action. Camp life became irksome to many
during that long winter of 1861 and 1862.
The field, the march, even at dead winter,
was preferable TO lying IN the camp.
II want L fight ur go home" growled
Corporal Max, one day near the last OF
January, 1862.
YEN git plenty o fightin' now, bet, fur
seed Gineral Grant N Commodore Foote
a talkn' N layin' their heads t'gether, N l
bet they git a move on 'em purity soon"
Arkansaw Tom was correct, for on the
LIST day of JANUARY, 1862 Colonel Smart's
regiment received marching orders.
The seven gun-boats under Flag-officer
Foote accompanied the advance led by Nc
Clernand, General Grant following
by hockey, boys, we're gwine ter hev it
noww said Arkansaw Tom, as he marched
aboard the transport "Nell smell pow
| der fore we git back"
The soldiers were all in the best OF
spirits, and cheered Justify as they went
aboard the steamers Poor fellows, they
little dreamed how many Of them were on a
campaign from which they would never re-
turn.
Luke's regiment, with several others,
was conveyed to point a few miles below
Forts Henry and Heinzman. Here they dis
embarked in muddy forest, and the men
being without tents, and it being dead win
ter, they suffered severely. The cannonad-
ing at Fort Henry could be distinctly heard,
| and the wild cheers that went up on the air
when the fort was taken reached their
ears.
For day or two they remained in their
position, and then received orders to adj
vance on Donelson. Through mud, rain
| and snow the long columns of infantry, fol-
lowed by baggage trains and artillery,
wendell their way along the wooded road.
"Why didn't the fool officers wait till
warm weather. growled Max, who, with
his knapsack and blanket, could scarce keep
up.
Zoos yer got tired o. layn' in camp"
chuckled old Arkansaw Tom, who trudged
along at his side. "Ye wanted somethin'
t. do N guess we've got it,
The men found travel SO slavish and diff
fcult that many of them began TO throw
away knapsaeks and blankets.
Don't throw them away said Captain
Mason. 'You will need them-keep them
Need em, thunder" growled Max,
staggering along in the mud the perspira-
ton streaming from his face; 1--WE don't
need any thing Z keep us warm on this
blasted march. I've a mind Z throw my
cloak away"
"Better change yer mind said Tom.
Luke assured them that when they
camped they would need their blankets, but
many became so exhausted that they threw
them aside Notwithstanding his assurances.
Evening came on. Luke gazed back on
the long line of men trudging silent and
gloomy through the mud, and noted how
poorly they were prepared for the storm
with which they were threatened The sky
became overcast and heavy gloom settled
over the forest.
They went into camp at dusk A fine
cold rain set in, and the men began to sore
ly need the blankets they had thrown away.
.What in thunder m | goin' T. dog'
growled Max; there's no place dry nun TO
lay on N no blanket fur liver."
"Shouldn't ha' throwed I away said
Arkansaw Tom, who had been wise enough
to carry his. Goose We didn't need y on
tn, march, but tn mint We stop ye git cold
all over, then yer want it mighty bad.'
Bivouacked in mud and rain, the army was
miserable enough The sick and wounded
were left at the houses they passed. A few
shots on their advance next morning told
that the enemy scouts were on the watch
for them
They marched all day and the next, and
when evening had come Luke was informed
that Fort Donelson was near Here, in
rayine, almost within sight of the fort, our
friends encamped for the night. 1t showed
before morning, aud many of the soldiers
had their feet frosted.
It was dark when Colonel Smart's regi-
ment went into camp, and Captain Mason
saw nothing. save few distant camp fires,
to indicate the nearness of an enemy. He
woke at early dawn, and gong up to the top
of the hill, found himself in fun view Of the
great frowning guns of the fort.
While he still stood gazing on the works
of the enemy, some one said:
"Look down the rver!'
Turning his eyes toward the river which
was in full view, he saw the Commodore's
little fleet of five guns-boats steaming
towards the fort. The St. Louis, Louisville
and Pittsburg were iron-clads, and the gun
boats Tyler and Conestoga were of wood.
Captain Mason expected the conflict TO
commence at once, but in this he was mis-
taken, for after the exchange OF dozen
shots the boats fell back and it was three
| o'clock in the afternoon before the Commo-
dore began the battle hi earnest