The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-11-19

a new yidet the remainder OF the night passet
quietly, and withoHt further disturbance.
Monday, May l6.--Rclieved from picket a
noon. Rode down Though the town Fount
il full Of McArthur's men. The citizens ar,
very hostile and insolent. Soldiers venturins
out alone are frequently insuted. aud in som,
Instances fired up0n. It's the meanest towr
for this we've ever struck. As might be ex
pectcd. the boys dont love il harder than
mule can kick. ImpTecations aud muttered
curses are frequently heard among them, and
when, toward evening, the report spread
I through the command. that two Of the Ilth ILL.,
had been found hanging to a tree,
THE WRATH oP THE NEN BURST ALL con-
sTEATNT,
and they began to fire the town-frst, the
! Courthouse, then several other buildings i'm
| different parts Of the town. strong provost
! guard was Immediately called out, and the
destruction arrested for the time being.
! TUESDAY, May 1.-THE patrol guard is still
continued on every street, and / was detailed for
this purpose. The day passed quietly, and the
/ evening wore on until abont 10 o'clock. i was
! patroling about four blocks om business street
My orders were 10 arrest any men | found on
the street alter dark, aud take them to head
/ quarters. About 10 o'clock three soldiers be-
/ longing TO some Of McATthur's regiments
/ emerged from an alley and attempted to cross
the street directly in front Of me. / ordered
4 A'AN4A " AAA4As which AutN Nlu. 4 luue uU 10
| them aud told them would have TO take them
to headquarters They said they would like to
/ see me do II. There were three of them as well
armed as was. IE0y said they didn't want
any trouble with me- and advised me 20 patrol
by beat like good boy. was prudent enough
to follow their adTice but maintained a show
oi authority by warning them that unless thoy
speedily returned 10 camp they would be ar
rested. They disappored down the opposite
alley. and Hnguf half an houv az uarHT a
covered smoke rising from the rear of the
bulldlng on the alley. ! dashed 10 the place
and found the building mass Of flames. An Off
Ger arrived az this moment, aud we raised the
alarm. The citizens turned out and hundreds Of
soldiers were soon on hand fighting the flames.
Citizens get out little fire engine that worked
by hand. Lots Of soldiers helped them work
4. Others mingled with the crowd, aud, while
handling the hose, cut il full Of holes with their
pocEetknivcs. Both sides Of the street were
now on IRE, and burning fercely. All hope
oil subduing the flames was abandoned, and
the crowd went to work to save the contents
OF the buildings, in which the soldiers cheer
fully cO-OpcTated,
FORGETTING TO LAY MANY ARTICLES DOWN
till they reached camp 1t was an awful night
III was terrible 10 witness such destruction, but
the citizens brought upon themselves by their
lnsoleni, aud, in some instances, murderOas con-
buildings on the principal street, aud many
dwellings, were destroyed.
Wednesday, May l5.-Alorning daWned on
the ashes OF TaiDed city. The expedition
starts this morning on the return 10 Vicksburg
Our boats are loaded with transportation, aud
the Marine cavalry Is 10 march across the cOun-
try with McArthur Started at o'clock,
through the mud and rain, our battalion in
tho advance. Had considerable diminishing
all day, but no stand was made by the enemy.
Reached Liverpool Hights, where we biyou-
aeEed Tor the night. Considerable chailing was
INDUCED IN during the day between our boys
and McArthurs cavalry. They called us
" band-box soldiers" Save the epithet for
we are about rs seudy looking set as Uncle
sam can tTot out. We have drawn no clothing
Tor SO long that We can scarcely be said to be
IN uniform at all, unless it is because we are
uniformly dirty aud ragged. " "Web-feet" and
Horse Marines " were other pet names they
bestowed upon Us. We retOrtcd with Land
Sharks" Mud Mashers2' and
OTHER TER.is OF ESDEARNENr
which We thought applicable Once during
the day we took the wrong road, and had 10
countermarch a couple Of miles 10 get on the
right road. As we rode By certain cavalry
regiment which was halted, waiting its turn to
fall in behind they wanted TO know what we
were coming back for Said they'd bet we had
hnd some way around him; 10 which Frank
Melton, Of our company, who knew something
ol tho record Of the regiment, having served
with them under Steel, in Arkansas. called
out: " Go back TO Pine Ridge, you blowharls,
aud PICK up some Of the carbiues you threw
away there" With such badinage and rail-
lCry, and an occasional Eallop toward the firing
in 'front.' which generally ceased by the time
we got up, the day was passed. Once We
thought there was going TO be a fight. The
enemy showed considerable strength and we
mas'ed our cavalry in tho woods during a
drenching rain, preparatory 10 q charge. but
when we advanced the Johunies prudently re-
tired.
Thursday, May 10-Pa7sed n disagreeable
night on the Wet ground, under poncho, with
my saddle FOR pillow The command started
early on the march toward Vicksburg, the Ma
rine cavalry IN the rear. Our company was
the extreme rear-guard all day Rebel cavalry
lowered about most Of the day, showing them
selves occasionally, and once
FIRING yoLLEY AT us
from distant hilltop. But as they were out
Of range we did not condescend 10 return IL
The day was very warm and hard on the in
iantry, 50 about the middle Of the afternoon
tho entire command halted and prepared camp
for the night ] faw a large sweet potato
patch dug up In lew minutes with sabers and
bayonets. Our mess was lucky enough 10 get
a share. hy enteTprising chum found a cellar |
door that was loose if it hadn't been of course !
he wouldn't have taken IT, which we soon |
fixed up FOR a shelter, 10 ward or the ravs of !
the afternoon sun aud the dews of the coming /
night With our blankets on some brush, un-
der this improviscd roof We passed a comfort |
able night, almost ii not quite realizing the /
nursery rhyme,
To sleep The floor
And cover up with the door
Friday, May 2O.-At > o'clock this morning |
We were in the saddle. An order came for Us /
10 gallop to tho 'front.' which we did,
PASSING THE ESTIEE COMuASD.
We reached Iainos's Bluff, on tho Yazoo. about 1
10 o'clock, aud rode on lesurey 10 Virksburp. /
where we arrived toward the middle Of the /
afternoon. We found our boats lying al the 4
lcyce and We're soon in our old quarters. cleaned \
up our arms, cuTried our horses and took a bath /
in the Mississippi, after which we gathered
around the long table in the cabin to a regular
marine supper. We set the table ourselves, each
OF us laying down before Us a tin plate spoon.
knife and tin cup. The walters come along
with camp kettles Of black, hot coffee and fIl /
our cups Each tin plate receives n slice of cold
fat meat, n boiled potato and piece Of alleged
soft bread. And there Is tho inevitable bean
soup We don't fare quito this sumptuouslv
every day, but rs we have just got in from a
hard trip, lobe NOgler our boss cook, has made
an extra effort. His bill Of fare is not very ex-
tended, but he gives IA fSll rations. Tohe is an
expert on bread. lie got mad at me one day be-
cause ] asked him iDr a loaf To use as a sinker
on trOt line The boys nag him a good deal
bat guess none Of them could do any better