The National tribune., 1900-10-25

night heavy rain fell, thoroughly soak
ing US.
The morning of Dec "a our brigade
was ordered out as guard for an immense
wagon train. We marched on each side
of and parallel with the main road. About
sundown we bivouacked on the north side
of the Tallahatchie River, after marching
or running through rain and mud 10 long
miles.
CHRISTMAS JOYS.
| That Christmas evening we were with
out rations, and all we could find around
US was corn on the ear, which we shelled
| and roasted for our supper. Old Santa
Claus missed us entirely; not even coffee
and hardtack came our way to gladden.
our hearts.
As Christmas morning dawned upon US
we found nothing in our stockings but
pair of wet feet, and nothing in our haver-
sacks but vacancy. So we turned our
attention to grinding corn, using for that
purpose rude hand mills such as used by
the colored people on Southern planta-
tiOns, and then made our meal into corn
| cakes of an approved kind. These corn
cakes were washed down with a cup of
corn coffee.
About noon Christmas day our Com
miSsary Sergeant, j. Dorshimer, brought
US two beeves, accompanied by the owner.
Our happiness depended on Dorshimer's
owner for the lives of Bossy and Buckley.
But while DorShimer was parleying with
the owner one of the boys, armed with an
Ak, delivered a well-aimed blow and Bossy
fell. The owner now grasped Buckley
around the neck and made an effort to
lead it away, meantime heaping all man
ner of vile epithets upon the heads of
Northern Yankees. The flash of an AK
was again seen, and few moments later
the 6Sth boys were busily engaged in pre-
pairing n Christmas dinner of fresh beef,
broiled over our campfres on the end of
our ramrods.
Christmas afternoon we moved about
four miles, and joined our brigade near
Abbeville. Thus we spent Christmas of
1862.
About this time the Seventeenth Corps,
Army of the Tennessee. was organized ur-
Ter General Orders of Dee. 1S, 1862 Our
regiment was assigned to the Second Bri-
gade, Third Division, Seventeenth Corps
in which we remained until muster-out in
July. 1860.
At this time the Second Brigade, COM
handed by Brig. Gen. NJ. ID. Leggett, con-
listed of the Goth, GSth and 18th Ohio and
he 30th ILL.,, the latter regiment taking
he place of the 23d Ind, with which we
we're associated during the previous Sum
ner.
Gen. Leggett went out as Colonel of the
lighting Generals of the army. Beloved
ny all. of great resolution, he seemed must
at home in the widest tumult of war.
During the fierce carnage of battle of July
y, 1864, Gen. Logan dispatched to Leg
sett: General, it is all-impOrtant you
must hold the HILL" To which the brave
I.eggett replied: 'Tell Logan when the
hill is given up there won't be enough of
my division left to fight another battle"
Leggett's words were few. Noble man,
he leaves his deeds to speak for him.
FoRAGING SQUAD.
Fo- some days following Dec. 26 we re-
mained quietly in camp, except an occa-
Sional foraging detail. About this time
five OF us visited a wealthy planters do
main, and were fortunate in finding hid
den away in one corner of a cellar a sup
ply of apples and potatoes. We proceed
ed to fill our haversacks, and while so
engaged the cellar door closed with a jam
and left US in the blackness of night, at
the same time fiendish chucllle reached
our ears, There, i have you Yankee dogs
Gagged" Open that door or we will burn
our way out" was our response, and suit
ing the action to the word Comrade r.,
Of Co. \, drew a match and fired bunch
Of dry straw on the cellar floor The ruse
was complete success, as the cellar was
in close proximity to a large residence
and in an instant the door came open and
a frightened face pleaded with US not to
burn him out. We now stamped out the
fire, and then departed from our prison
The rebel now appeared to be quite
friendly, and asked us to tarry awhile, but
our ears caught the sound of distant
horn, and being some distance outside of
our picket line, we knew that horn meant
to us an invitation to visit a JEFF Davis
boarding place. We walked rapidly away,
then began to run, TO gain the protec-
ton Of friendly copse.. We made our
way TO camp, where we were amply re-
paid for our fOOt-race by square meal
Of baked potatoes and apples.
The next day the 6Sth Cav, which CON
sisted of about 80 men, mounted on mules,
had a brush with the enemy near this
plantation, and Comrade Smith, Co. *,
was wounded.
Sunday, Dec. %, we held our regimen
tai inspection, after which we butchered
Our experience in the butchering business
was quaint enough. as sometimes it re-
quired two men TO hold up our beeves,
while third man knocked them down.
During these days of trials the CHEEKY
voice of Dave Shoemaker could be heard.
Dave was sure cure for the blues, as
he used to startle other regiments in camp
around US with a perfect imitation of q
Mississippi rooster, which must have set
our companion regiments to wondering if
We were faring any better than them
selves
Dec. % the whole regiment was ordered
out On foraging expedition, returning in
the evening with about 100 head of cattle
and hogs, which were turned over to the
Commissary Department.
The early morning of Dec 30 we were
called into line and ordered to the support
Of the pickets, which were warmly en-
gagged with the enemy. But just before
the order came to move distant lusty
cheer reached our ears. There was music
in those cheers that told us the enemy-a
body Of rebel cavalrymen-werer retiring
as fast as their horses could carry them
Many attacks occurred along our picket
line, which generally resulted in a lessen
ing Of the available force OF the enemy.
and often loss on our side.
The following day all remained quiet
and the year 1862 passed into history.
Thursday, Jan. !, 1868, brought us con-
tinued trials. Early in the day our off,
cers-heaven bless them-made a raid on
our suffers stock of cigars and passed
them around among the men, How enyious
our companion regiments must have felt
on that New Years Day, as we started
out on foraging expedition enTeloped in
clouds of smoke.
The two succeeding days were quiet and
uneventful.
COLD COMFORT.
Early the morning of Jan. 3 a heavy
rain began to fall which continued
throughout the day and succeeding night
flooding the country round about us. Inst
before dark we received orders To seelr
higher ground. In few moments ,ya