The National tribune., 1900-10-18

ternoon, dress parade, after which our
supper hour.
The cares of the day passed, now came
the evenings amuSementS. And what
dances we had; our partners appearing
with a blanket pinned around the waist
to give force and variety TO the scene. In
one of our camp quadrilleS was embodied
whole drama of lovemakIng- There was
never a scene on any theatrical stage that
eQualed the cOquetry of the gal who
danced away from her lover and seem
ingly tormented and Knocked him. only to
be won in the end and kindly escorted to
seat on the ground.
About this time the influx of colOred
men began. Many were the colOred boys
that waded swamps during the dark hours
of night to notify our commanders of the
approach of the enemy. OF these Little
Dick. Big Tom and many others are IN
separably connected with the history of
our regiment. Dick was 4 quch-wltted
fellow, and always had ready answer
when q joke was attempted at his eX-
pense. He was unlike Tom and Simon.
who were always bubbling over with lncr-
riment. These boys made a full team
aud were the source of much amusement
to us.
At the battle of the Hatchie one of our
colored boys took a position behind a
stump. A six-pound shot struck the
stump. The next moment he was headed
Tor bellNdI, anu dS ut ulSaI JtiAth AZ a
cloud of dust the boys yelled, Run, Sam
bo: it's after your This increased his
gait, and it was said he never stopped
until he got back to Bolivar.
GAINING STRENGTH.
During the days of August the regiment
gradually increased in strength. Comrades
who had been recuperating in Northern
homes, or lying in some army hospital,
were returning.
While at Bolivar Maj. Welles came into
possession of his war horse, Polk" Capt.
Polk. the former owner Of the horse. was
a wealthy rebel planter. He furnished the
horses to equip his battery, which lost
so heavily at Shiloh that the battery was
disbanded and the horses sent to his plan
tation near Bolivar. They fell into our
hands, and were sold at public auction.
Maj. Welles paid $50 for Polk. He rode
him in L general engagements and nu-
merous skirmishes.- Polk learned all the
bugle calls, was very fond of music, and
loved to prance and dance as well as a
little darky. At the close of the war Col.
Welles brought him home.
During our sojOurn at Bolivar the ut
most vigilance was maintained, as there
was every indication the enemy would
make an effort to gain some advantageous
position. or to destroy the Mobile IL Ohio
Railroad north of us. The early morning
of Aug. 30 we were called to arms. The
picket line on the south side of Bolivar
had been attacked by rebel cavalry The
picket line held the enemy IN check until
support came up, which ended the diff
Guilty.
The following day, Sunday. heavy skir-
mishing took place along the railroad be
tween Bolivar and Jackson. The railroad
was torn up, bridges burned, and ouI
cracker line cracked, if not broken. Sept
the Both III. of our brigade engaged the
De-. -, I nrrr artt
was called into line at O'Clock in the
morning, but our comrades of the Both
Ill. need no assistance.
Early on the morning OF Sept. as
sembly was sounded, followed a moment
later by a shrill voice Of command. Bat
talion-fall i'm In an incredibly short
snace of time we were peering over earth
works looking for the enemy. who was
said to be on our front and flank. We
soon learned that the force in our front
was body of the enemy's cavalry, which
after feeling our OutpOsts, withdrew in
haste.
MARCH TO wHITEsvILLE.
Friday, Sept ), we received marching
orders We left camp early and marched
out to Whitesville, u miles northwest OF
Bolivar. We reached there about noon
and remained here until the evening of the
next day, when we silently marched five
miles in the direction of Bolivar. Sun
day morning we again moved forward
reaching camp at Bolivar that afternoon.
This march, though a short one, may be
mentioned as the most dusty of any during
our service.
Many comrades We're overcome by dust
and heat We had no water to quench
our thirst. At one place we tried to get
water out deep well by the roadside, but
the effort was abandoned on account of a
hole in the weIl-bucket Much Of the way
~, tho ,l-c
on either side Of the road, yet we pressed
forward, and late in the day reached
Hatchie River.
IUKA MARCH.
Sept. Is there came a change We were
ordered into line, and late in the day
boarded a train on the Mobile & Ohio
Railroad. Early the next morning we
rolled into jackson, Tenn. We remained
at Jackson until 3 O'Clock in the after
noon, when we left for COrintb. Late
that night we reached Corinth, where we
left the train, and under cover of dark.
ness pushed on in the direction of Iuka
Miss. Our brigade moved out about two
miles. when a halt WIS ordered to wait
for the line to close up. At COrinth
George Mccoy. our Adjutant's Orderly.
and our cOlOred boy, Dick, were left be-
hind, with orders to bring on the officers
horses, which were coming on the next
train. During our halt the horses came
mp. Little Dick sprang from the Majors
horse and passed around to the opposite
side, to unite the QuarteFmaster's mule
when the latter's rear pedals shot out in
the darkness, and Dick landed in the
bushes some distance away. Dick landed
on his head and then came to a halt OF
his back. We thought he had come tc
an untimely end. but he jumped to his
feet and shouted. "Dum, DUN: who da'
knock me DOWN. 1t was a miraculou,
for H..
We're considered almost sure death.
HOT WORK EXPECTED.
The early morning Of Sept II found Us
in motion. About o'clock in the after
noon we reached BurnSville. II. miles from
Corinth. We remained there until the af
ternoon Of the following day, when We
formed in line of battle and cautioush
moved forward. We had advanced but ;
short distance when our Skirmishers be
came warmly engaged. The whole divi
sion, under command of Gen. Ord, wa,
now pushed forward, the enemy retirin.
as we moved upon them; nor did we stol
until about 10 o'clock at night, when
halt was ordered to wait for the dawn o
another day.
Tired and weary, we lay down besid
our guns. About O'Clock we wer,
awakened by heavy firing on the picke
line. Then there occurred n grabbing fo
guns and rubbing Of eyes. We looked an,
looked, until every stump and bush SCENE,
an enemy. However, no enemy appeared
the firing died away and we resumed ou
gleeD