The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1896-04-25
Our First Day In Rebeldom.

As we boarded the steamer "Platt
Valley" and she steamed down the
we realized that we had then left lie
preparatory course for the stern duties
of a soldier.
Our destination proved to be Column
bus, Ky, where we arrived the next
day, and there received orders to pro-
coed with as little delay as possible to
Union City, Tenn.
At Colum bus we met a few aCquaint-
ances, members Of the 18th L. s, who
related to US the rum0rs afoat regard
ing the advance of the Confederate
Gen. Forest toward Columbus, believ-
} ing that to be his objective point as at
that time II was the seaport of supplies
and but few troops to protect it from
an inland force. There was also a
Surgeon of the 18th Iowa, a former
acquaintance, that was ordered to re-
main in order to assist in case of an en-
gagement. All of these circumstances
bad a tendency to increase our fears
or rather our anxiety. The anticipa-
ton of an engagement was often more
trying upon the nerves than being in
battle, and certainly it was not strange
that it had this effect upon regiment
OF young men that had never fired a
shot at an enemy or received one in re-
turn.
4 10 haF 4 ~
We were aboard a train Of flat ears,
moving slowly and CAUTIOUSLY to the
front. We were only allowed a blanket
Tor camp equlpage, with three days
rations, forty rounds of ammunition in
our boxes, leaving the balance of our
luggage on board the steamer and a
small detail was LETT to guard it, |
Imagined they wore smile of satisfac-
ton and | must admit that | was not so
certain but that had acted foolishlv in
not accepting the kind offer of Captain
to remain on account of my size, but
| had great anxiety to see all that was
gong on, SO | was permitted to 20 as
there were those who were satisfied to
remain.
We reached Union City early in the
day without incident and to our relic,
/ learned that Gent Forrest had already
arrived and gone even before the troops
! preceding US had arrived There was
a peculiar feeling came over me,
| satisfaction to a certain extent, that we
/ had escaped an engagement which
would have resulted in loss of life or
wounded, vet desire to have been in
an engagement just to see how it would
/ seem, but on the whole we were quite
well satisfied with the result.
We reported to Col. Moore Of the
23rd No. and were soon assigned to
| duty, some as guards, others as pcketsf
and it being New Years day, detail
was made from each company Of all the
troops to forage for a New Years din
ner. The parties returned loaded with
all the good things of the land, mutton,
! chickens, eggs, etc, in abundance.
| We had no cooking utensils and up
to this time the company cook had not
| been provided, and some Of us if not all,
were put to our wits ends to contrive
and prepare our dinner Most of us
| had tin cups so we made coffee and
cooked our meat in various WAYS, every
man to his taste. While thus engaged
and enjoying ourselves we were startled
! by the sound of musketrv in the dis
| lance. Instantly the old feeling of
alarm took possession of us. The long
roll was sounded, the meal was droped |
and every man to his rifle and into line,
officers running to and fro giving orders
But as soon as into line our scattered
wits returned, and we discovered our
macl had been run over and trampled
under foot. A few feet in our front a
/ battery of five guns was standing on
flat cars, and the men the same as we
| had been engaged in preparing their
meal. They, not like us, chung to their
grub, which we learned afterwards to
| do. Two of the men manned gun
| while the balance never left their meal.
and after firing shot or two they pro-
| cceded to complete their repast It
/ proved to be a false alarm, but 10 re-
/ tul II " pdl Illt'ti, We never ulu SUCu Il
foolish thing again but chung to our
meal under all circumstances.
Gen. Forrest make bad work Of the
railroad tracks and bridges, all were
burned and destroyed. Col. Moore
set about making repairs, but not in the
usual manner, as he had way of his
own. All whites and blacks within his
reach were pressed into service with
their teams and master and slave
| worked side by side until the work was
finished. 1t seemed harsh. but he +.
contended with those who complained /
| that If they were Union men it was a
small thing for them to do and if not |
Mon men they ought to do it, so |
heard him remark to a gentleman in I
broad cloth and plug hat then awaiting
| transportation to the work
The next day We returned to our boat
at Columbus, without loss of life or
| @hcdlng ct blood, all to our salts action. I
this first day of actual soldiery and first
day in Rebeldom
THE BOY IN THE ARMY.
The Telegram of Tuesday published I
letter from Henry Lamont, convicted +
OF the murder of one Mccarthy, and 7