The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-12-30

alter cOnverSlng a short time with the
! old gentleman, we told him We had stop
| ped with the intention OF spending the
| night with him. bat under the circum-
| stances 1t was best not TO do so, as it
might result unpleasantly for all of us.
| He assured us that we were more than
welcome and that he would give US the
! best he had.
| But, Mr.. Wesson, suppose your sons
were to come home O-nigbt; they would
take delight in shooting US into mince
meat, or hanging US TO one of those limbs
| IN the front yard"
mo, my sons are not 50 hloodthirsty as
YOU think, and ] give you my word that
You shall not be molested so long as you
are my guests, or in the neighbGrhood.
| Knowing him TO be an honorable man.
we finally decided Ia accept his hnspitaii-
ty, beng the more inclined 10 90 so since
we saw signs of hog killing time" all
around the premises, and were not dis
appointed. We were treated to a bounti-
iui supper OF sausage, ribs and cracking
bread" and after supper retired early to
resi- for the next days walk
Dec. 24.-h e had a most delightful nights
sleep, undisturbed by the "Hesson boys, 8"
and good breakfast put US in much bet
ter shape for our tourney than we were yes
| terday morning. Bidding our kind host
good bye we started ont in high spirits at
the prospect pf seeing the loved ones at
home SO soon. After walking five miles
we had 10 separate, Lent. Olive turning of
TO the right toward his home.
/ travelled on alone, reaching home about
the middle of the afternoon TO the sur
prise and delight of the family as .hey
| had heard nothing from me since the bat
Ties OF Franklin and Nashville, and Of
course were IN much suspense.
Three years ago to-day We left home for
Fort Henry as IL months volunteers, lit
tie thinking then that we were entering
such long and bloody struggle. We have
endured many hardships and been ex-
posed 10 many dangers; but there is a
fascination about the life OF soldier
which compensates largely for the suffer
ing and Inconvenience TO which VIC are
subjected.
] feel truly thankful that n nlercifuI
Providence has brought me through sale
thus faT, and for the opportunity Of once
more visiting home and enioyinp its com
forts for few days.
Our prospects now look gloomy indeed
With our army demoraIized depleted and
driven out of Tennessee. where can We
make another stand II looks as though
our cause rs lost; set We must not give up
bat hope that by Spring We can recruit
our shattered columns and he ready Tor
another campaign.
II neglected TO continue my diary after
Dee. "a, 1864. | viii now endeavor 10 write
in plain way some Of the incidents that
and partly from notes made at the time
Win q view oil continuing my diary.
well remember my thoughts and feel
lneS curing that lonely wall, Of 10 miles
amer Lieut.. Olive left me. IT was pertlaps
the saddest march had made since had
lett nome an that day three years before.
Tor the memories OF past mislortunes and
The desperate condition of affairs al the
time seemed on that inauspicious ami
Versary 10 concentrate themselves in one
overwhelming weight Of woe The future
seemed, and indeed was, hopeless. Our
armies Were constantly retreatinp before
innumerable fresh and fully enIIipped
troops. Worn out with hardshps and ia
tigue, hunger and cold we were in no con
dItlnn To bear the Vicissitudes of the Win
ter, which was already upon us.
with no material from which to recruit
and no provisions for those who had sur
vlvcd, the outlook was gloomy indeed
Our Generals would probably make one
more fesDaring effort to stay the tide of
disasters. but the result was too doubtful
10 build delusive hopes upon.
On! home and native land, How costly
the sacrifice we made. How many OF your
brave boys are hurried in the widely scat
tered hattlefieids of the South while in
your now peaceful bosom unnumbered
thousands of your former foes are sleep
ing their last, dreamless sleep, To friend
and foe alike you give rest and peacet
over the Blue and the Gray alike sweep
your restless winds, aud over the graves
oil both we heavc sigh 10 the rnemorv of
those who gave their lives on the field of
battle, each belevin" in the righteousness
OF his cause and the ultimate triumnb of
his friends.
TO he continued