The National tribune., 1899-12-28

off again. But he did this once too often,
was severely wounded, and fell into Our
hands.
While We were marching across the
prairie in silence, expecting the enemy
would open on us from the Notifications
Just ahead, an old COW with bell on
came running down the line between us
and the rebs. A hundred or more Of our
boys took after her, whooping and yelling,
in plain view of both armies, TO the great
merriment of both Johnny and Yank alike.
The next day at dawn we were in line of
battle, and every man knew that Gen
Steele meant business that day. and Gen.
Price knew it. too. for when We marched
out again. in full view of him and his men
he threw up his hands and said, They
are coming in Clouds" and Immediate
ly ordered a retreat. This left the way open
for us. We at once occupied the line OF
Notifications so recently held by the enemy.
That afternoon we took up our line Of
march for Camden, and were undis tn led
by the enemy. except as they would attack
our rear-guard or make sudden dash.
hoping to capture our supply-train. Our
line Of march lay across dismal swamp.
through which we had to literally wade
Our portly Major was riding at the head
of the regiment with his wonted dignity.
He was not a great military genius, but was
very polite when IN command OF the regi-
ment, and when he wanted us to lie down
he would say: Lie down, gentlemen, lie
down" AS he was riding along, his horse
stumbled and threw the Major headlong
into the mud and water. The boys cried
out: Lie down, Major, lie down."
On the afternoon of the 14th OF April
orders came TO Gen. Rice To take his brigade
and make forward march TO the junction
of two roads ahead Of us, as the enemy was
My regiment being in his brigade, we un-
slung knapsacks and hurried on as fast as
we could, actually drawing rations as we
marched along from blankets spread by the
roadside, upon which crackers were placed,
and each man permitted to take a certain
number as he passed. We hurried on as
fast as we could, but night came on and
with it intense darkness. We were very
weary, and the question "How far is it to
campE was often asked. Finally a cav
alryman came riding from the front and
cried out. Three miles to camp" This
welcome fact so impressed one of our boys
of e poetical turn Of mind that he wrote a
poem entitled, Three Miles to Camp" and
the following are the first lines:
Onward marching, ever onward,
Through the forest lone and drear,
Now fatigue almost o'ercomes us,
Scarce our limbs their burdens bear;
Still the evening shadows deepen,
Yet no sign Of rest appears.
But horseman comes to greet us,
-hiiu ms Sid'i !>HOutS greet Jul ears.
Three miles to camp. Three miles to campr
Pass the word along the column.
Cheer the weary, cheer the solemn,
Soon now rest will come.
IT'S only three miles to camp"
Early the next morning we were on the
move. but the enemy had beaten us, and at
3 O'Clock We came upon their advance posts,
and skirmiShing began. AS we were living
| by the roadside about o'clock masked
| battery opened fire ON us and the first battle
| OF Poison Springs was begun. 1t was
| mostly an artillery engagement and lasted
| for two hours, at the close of which the
| enemy were routed and we moved on.
The place occupied by the rebel battery
was plainly marked by the dead horses and
dismounted cannon left behind. The dead
and wounded, If any, were carried off by
the rctreatIng foe. All day long the enemy
| disputed with us every inch of ground, and
! from Poison Springs TO Camden il was IA
! iline-of-battle' most OF the time through
dense woods and underbrush that the
enemy had set on fire.
| The dark columns OF smoke at times
would darken the sun and the raging
| flames threaten our ammunition uail. A
| number Of JohnnieS stopped AT farm house
where We're quite "a number Of bee-hiveS,
| with the hope oi getting some honey, but
only had time tu get the bees mad, when we
rushed upon them, more intent on getting
/ the honey than We were in catching the rebs
But We got neither; the bees were too mad
and the rebs too swift.
AT o'clock p. m. on April Is, 1864. we
marched into Camden at the one side while
the enemy marched out at the other And
so ended the march 10 Camden.