The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-03-17


the seth, who had been
North, returned to their regiment. Col.
| Woodlord, of Woedford'S famous Kentucky
cavalry, called in our camp. Feb. Is Gen.
| Which left his brigade for visit North. A.
B. Plat, T. n. Morley, and Nels Christensen,
who had been absent in hospital, Joined their
regiment.
Feb. 10, marched to Rockford, on Little
River; went into camp late at night on a very
steep side-hill, where our nights rest was be-
tween "roost and perch" While here We
drew our first rations of beef after five weeks.
]. d. Kern. of Co. II, s9th, went North on a
| furlough. On the 9th Woods Division march
ed to Strawberry Plains; Longstreet's forces
being at New Market. 90 miles distant The
Ninth, Twenty third, and Fourth Corps are all
| in the vicinity of the Plains, following up the
| retreating hordes of Longstreet. Gen. j. III.
! SchGfeld was commanding our forces at this
time On the 26ih moved east to New Mar
! ket. Longstreet having retreated. March 1
marched to Messy Plains and Talbot, where we
| occupied barracks constructed by Iongstreets.
! forces. Remained in this camp until the 18th,
| when we marched IL miles TO Panther Springs.
! Marched on the 18th to Morrist0wn. Hero
the 68th Ind. and the 32d Ind. were ordered
| to 'Chucky River" to relieve the Ninth Corps,
ordered East. March Is retraced our steps to-
ward New Market. On the 18th marched ~
miles TO Strawberry Plains On the Goth Cos.
II and of the S9th Ill. were detailed to
guard and operate steam saw and Touring
mill six miles out to Thorn Hill. Here Serg't
A. NJ. Boomer and myself formed the acquaut-
anee of the famous Southern lady, Mother
Long" Even now-30 years since-the COM
radcs of the regiment upbraid us Sergeants"
about our friendly relations with Mother Long
and her seeesh daughters, nine in number.
On the 22d, the second day of our garrison at
this mill, We had a six-inch fall of snow-a
terrific and unusual storm for this section.
While at this mill and in its vicinity we drew
rations OF -four made of "sick wheat" East
Tennesseeans called it. In taking it into the
stomach that locality of the Union soldier
would Immediately turn upside down aud re-
volt, making fellow feel as though he ought
to give vent to his riled-up feelings" by
spewing the vile nausea" from him. Many
times was this experience ours while this :" sick
-four" was dealt out to us. But in due time we
were treated to good, healthy flour, which We
would carry out to our neighbors and get the
housewives to bake into bread for us. Frequent
rations of eornmeal would be treated in the
same way.
While at this mill we'uns availed ourselves
of something unusual in army circles, such as
writing school. debating clubs, fashionable
evening calls, afternoon visiting, etc. Our de-
batcsI refer TO Co. III, s9th Ill.-were held
weekly in the large spacious Office of the steam
mill. The first question submitted for discus
sion was
ReSOtUed, That any person opposing the en-
rollmeBt OF negroes In our army should not
hold Office in the UHion army.
Disputants on the affirmative, John C. Sher-
win and Richard Field. On the negative,
Serg't l. K. Young and z. w. Willett. Discus.
sion decided by Judges A ID. Curran. A. n.
Boomer and w. McCloud in favor of the mega
tive. Bnt before the close of the war the
colored man was very numerous in the Union
army. This club has gone into history as
Thorn Hill Debating Society Of Co. Ii, Seth
Ill"
On the 25th J. D. Kern. who had been absent,
Joined the regiment. Remained in this camp
at the mill until April 6, when for once both
companies were under arms on the picket-lines
because Of scare, VIM. II. Delaney of Co. H.
having carelessly discharged his Springfield
while on picket duty. Capt. Z. NJ. Hobbs, of Co.
II was commander int chief of this engagement.
Left this mill on Tuesday. April II. taking
up our line Of march toward Knoxville. On
the 18th we passed Grassy Valley. six miles,
and camped for the night. On the 18th marched
Is miles to Lenoir. On this march we passed
through Campbell Station. Here was where
Burnside encountered a portion Of Longstreet's
forces. Buildings were perforated by shot and
shell. On the 10th we reached Loudon and
went into camp. On the 2lst we crossed the
river Hoiston on the steamer Kingston, marched
out about three miles and camped Marched
On the Pod to Sweet Water passing through
Philadelphia, small town on the K. & ID.
Railroad.
On the 23d marched to Athens; went out
short distance, ana went into camp on Forest
Hill. Athens at this time was garrisoned by
the Tooth H. of Sheridan's Division Marched
on the oath, with the S9th ILL., and 32d Ind. as
rear-guard Of Woods Division; went out Is
miles and cgmped at Charleston, in a low val
ley, near the river, where there was no earth
but plenty Of small broken rock-none too
Fa4n fg1n
passed Riceville, on the X. & ID. Railroad,
passed Cleveland after march Of 20 miles, and
camped. Here Alex Patterson was taken down
with smallpox. lie was at once isolated with
Joe Buckley, OF Co. III, as attendant The
fact OF smallpox having broken out in the regi-
menf, our Surgeons set about the task of vac
cinatIng all those who had not been thus forth
fed against this pest. On the 26th Col W. H.
Gibson took command of the First Brigade;
Col. u i. Hotehkiss took command of his regi-
ment, the Seth H., and Lieut. Col. w. ID. Viii
liams who had commanded the S9th I'D to this
time, left the regiment on leave Of absence
for his home in Rock Island Ill. Remaining
so long Ia this camp, We were daily drilled in
battalion movements, and no doubt this same
military practice led to the remark often made
by Rosecrans, McCook, Howard, and Wood
that the 6Sth Ill was one OF the inestdriled
regiments in the Army Of the Cumberland.
On the 9th there was placed about the First
1risd1c an extra guard, In order to stop, ii pos
sibie so much visiting by S9th LII. boys outside
the picket-lines-with what success our narra-
tive will fully illustrate. Speaking of visiting
reminds me of sumptuous meal / partook of
on the afternoon of this day--we had duck and
other delicacies that wonld have graced the
kings table A Mr.. johnson was our host
On the 2eth Gen. Howard, Corps Commander.
reviewed Woods Division, speaking of the pro.
hcieney of Hillich's First Brigade in glowing
terms and afterwards in field orders
On the 29th Which inspected his brigade,
arms, aceouterments. clothing, and camp. He
found the rations of soap issued 10 the Both far
below the regulations, and he called up the
Regimental C0mmissary and gave him a cur.
tam lecture, and thereafter the boys received
! plenty of soap. In the afternoon Lieut. VIM.
darkness came up aud joined the company.
Gen. Which again assumed command of his
old brigade, the First
Monday. May 2. the bugle-c call was sounded
for The 69th TO fall in. After forming on their
color-line Gen. Which instructed them in the
facings and manual in person, drilling us in
battalion drill in the forenoon and in the after
noon. and later ordered Lieut.. Greenfield of
| Co. 4, 10 drill the non- commissoned staff of
the regiment So il went day after day, drill,
drill, drill, and it came TO pass, as we have
already stated, the seth Ill. was accounted the
best drilled aud disciplined regiment in the
Nan si.arfa odd