The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-09-25


Brigade occupied the site of the University,
which was one OF the most delightful spots
conceivable. The general forward movement
of TEomRs's Corps was on a line nearly parallel
with the n. & T. Railroad, our division and
brigade marching on a line some distance 10
the east OF the railroad. During our stay In
University Camp thrilling incident occurred.
The weather had been very prolific of rain, and
the ammunition OF the 2lst Ind battery, that
were Gncamped on the opposite side OF the road
from our regiment, bad become damaged. Tar
pauiiDs had been spread upon the ground apd
the ntents Of caissons and ammunition chests
were placed thereon TO dry. AT the time was
quite III, bnt was on duty as Sergeant on bri-
gadc guard. The guardhouse was something
like . yards from aud facing where the am
muniiion was laid out 10 dry, and on that side
there had been erected bower for shade. !
had just inspected q relief guard and started
then on their rounds when turned into the
bower, spread a blanket and, possibly, had not
completed the act Of lying down when most
terrific explosion occurred. Almost the entire
supply OF the batteTys ammunition had ex-
ploded. and seven men were killed or severely
injured. Ii never l believe, was positively
known Just what Occasioned the explosion. A
p0rta3e forge was near by, and some OF the
battc-ymcu at work and il was though spark
from IL might have caused the explosion. 1T
was also said Sergeant of the battery was
passing among the ammunition, turning It
damp lie NJ, when IL is supposed his revolver
Slipped from his holster, striking the cap of
percussion shell. thereby causing the explosion,
and that the Sergeant was torn 20 atoms. /
called IS many guards as could be spared and
went az once 10 the scene of disaster. The
force o. The explosion had set on fire trees some
60 T. % Feet from the ground, and men were
torn s-ld burned to degree that was siekenlng
60 behold.
Leaving University Place Aug. II, 1863. We
moved along the morntaiu-top, following the
Top ol dry ridge for miles, no water obtain
able along its entire length. ANY attempt on
my part 10 describe that march would be super
auous. since Chaplain w. w. Lyle, A. NJ, Of
the llth Ohio, in Lights and Shadows Of
Army Lille" published in lSU5. has given an
slm0st perfect Pen-picture of this march and
thai o. the march TO Blue Spring. present
you the picture; no effort Of mine can improve
. Let me tell you how the picture was seen.
il WAS in this wise: The column had been
marching from early morn along dusty roads
and literally in a dry aud thirsty land where
fhere was no water. Ii was now a little past
the ho"r Of noon, and the blazing sun shone
out Eeresly IN q cl0udess sky. Many
Etrony-sCarted soldier Rad tainted by the way
side, iog his canteen was empty, his lips were
dry 4sG paTched, and be WAS footsore and
WeaIy. Water, water was the great cry.
water. anything for water and some shady
place Ia which to rest More and more in-
teussiY did the sun SHINE ont from the bTazen
Sky, while the earth seemed 10 glow like a
furnace. The dry, hot dust fang up by thou
sand o.. feet irritated the throat aud lungs, at
the sasae time increasing the iutOleTable thirst
nDctE which all were suffering Onward and
stil. award pressed the men, dreariiy aud IN
pain, Waile the dust, increasing in heat aud
quantity, threatened 10 suiiOcate them at every
step Not a breath OF air seemed 10 be stirring.
The very leaves on the low shrubs and the grass
by the gayside seemed 10 partake OF the gen
era - preston and suffering. and looked drooB-
ing and oyiDg. Thus mile after mile Of the
weIy way was tr4vCrsed, and hour succeeded
hour as s! each ono was an age. and imPp-s IONS
OF s1.5eEiBg and utter exhaustion were made -
doel-y-n the minds Of ali that time vii. never
eiiac- ts,M. Suddenly We enier a Harrog de-
nc Z. sUasn which the road wound, and, if
by me@ie OF like the creations Of SOME l4iry
tale. ea'i and fragrant breeze began % fau our
chcesz.'
Jul ss we fled OF this hades" Of a ridge.
rs f e. peHsaie Us FOR our late iuforccd suf-
Ecriugs. tee road led 10 the brow - thc sBd Of
tbe iis ~, which here formed a lofty inland
prons0a cry. As the head OF the advancing
coltl...I arrived al tie summit 0f that prOul0n-
tory siOI.ane0us cieer Of delight and sur
prs harst simultaneously from the thE0ats Of
tie been.
N.Is Involuntary continuity this cheer was
tz@la EP by the successive companies and
col1sr=n4s along the iiRe as they too eaias
CpoG tE1t scene o. beauty. How IL cls.-ad
acc ids -osaied I'VE uEs a" that were behind Ia
Tie ses esi;iHe line oi tie colamn that WAS
ora@S.hz itself wcsrily, painfully aiOug is
paElH-t sad dusty tE2ll blCyed up with the
tbouE l.lat We too should participate in the
enJeyt-letst Of comrades in the front by sud by.
By asa bF," ah. shall never, no never. for
gei the tine when thzt " By and By" became
tbe EFeet Low and now" as there bUrlt upon
cur eusapured visions. nor the erstatic de-
hgbf II al as we gzzed upon one 81 the most
Beau iili sneHes u were possible for finite hu-
L1aGity 70 conceive. There, seemingly AZ cur
very iest- though Ia truth miles away Ay the
grahsl ficl and gioTiously- beautiful valley Of
tbe iflsLeEsee Literally River Of the Big
BeEe."j There are times when silence is clo-
Gueit -yDud expression, aud So % seemed now
10 D. a5 descriptive Of the broad panorama
THAT lsy spread out before US Pen cannot
Ran iiJe =, tongue WCBld palsy ere IL sue
eeece. iii Us efforts % utter the half OF the
Trans Bacut beanties that presented them
6eiFtz Jo the views Of that tOil.Bg army Of
Feary, worn, tliTst-tortured, sNeat-and- dust
begFilred veterans. II was one constant hal
lelujah - surprised delight 20 our advancing
LEe - they bore that cxiled Starry Banner,
where Tic woodland, boldly jutting, turns
aside The Tennessee" Then a silence fell
npon ibrm, while, As they marched their
vision s=cpt in, in wonder and in admiration,
The ever changing kaiedoseopie views Of homes
GBa telas aud herds IN thai paradise Ly the
PLACID waters Of the rolling Tennessee"
Twas tbem We hot only came ourselves into
eui, i'1ssi5.y, al unknown 10 Us. may have
bTou2-i to some Pompy and bis master vision
HA 1eagtiul ss that we were enjoying, as
St.i ibe south wind fondly fingers
8ila tie veterans siIyefy hair;
FL tie DoEaE4aB. eIose beside hIna,
Stands behind tlse old armchair
" AZ lIis dark hucd iaaliid uf-lftnd.
Shading hts eyes, tig bends 10 sce
" acre thc woodland, boldly IuttinR, q
Turns aside Tie Tennessee.
iius 1s watches cloud born shadows
islidg frOsf tree 70 mountain Great
HDii!y creeping, aye and ever
~ the rivers yieldIaE breast.
Ea- above tbs foliage yoIder
Something fiHtter-, syild aud freei
Ma-aas Aisls,a! Halielujah!
lie Gags come back 70 Tennessee
Pompy, hoid me your shoulder
Help stand ou foot once more
1llnt may saiuie the eolors
As they l'ass my cabin door"
Under date Of AGg "A, 1863, scrg't Joseph D.
Wynn. co. i, N letter 10 his sister, writes Of
the seene as follows: We came 70 a point on
tbe Ea0aEitalb where We cOuld eco til every
thing B5s Loot in blue mist 1t was 4 grand
EiRht. ] have been in good rnany Dlaces
whrre could stand and feast my eyes on the
beaniies Of tie Landscape, bat never 10 such an
eXteht aE II tAIs place. thought / could see
over lEet.y near ali Of Uncle Sani's farm"
Bot this was not all there was IN store for us
ss We iaoyed down the mountain aud into aud