The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1900-12-20

a level woods along the railroad, over
regiment is strung out along the railroad
10 guard bridges and occupy the road six
or eight miles up and down.
Bridgeport Ala, Sept. II. 1SG3.-Since
] last wrote we have been drifting south
ward. and | will proceed with an account
of our travels. The monotony of our So
journ at Wartrace was broken at an early
hour last Sunday morning by orders TO
move. and we at once commenced prepar-
ing for the march. Reveille was sounded
at ) O'Clock, and the camp was aroused
and noisy with shouts of the boys. Fires
We're soon blazing, skillets and coffee pots
were brought into requisition, and break
fast was ready at 4 o'clock. 1t was our
last meal in that camp, and we babe adieu
to soft bread" butter, vegetables and
fruit, which the accommodations of War
trace had afforded us, and made calcula-
lions for bareback and bacon for the fu-
ture- Tents were struck, property and
baggage reduced TO the regulation stand
ard, ratiOns drawn and wagons loaded
After getting ready as early as we did
we were kept until II o'clock waiting for
the troops to relieve us, and we started
on the Tullahoma road. which was rough,
dusty and hot, about the time you folks
nj home We're going to church. Such is
the way we have to spend our Sundays.
We passed a few comfortable docking
farm houses, with peach orchards and
clusters of negro-quarters around them.
We soon came TO the bad roads which
Bragg's army cussed so much when be-
ing pursued by our men last July. They
were series of deep ruts, mud holes
huge rocks, corduroy work and everything
else but what good roads ought 10 be-
Arriving at Duck River we found it a
beautiful, clear stream, with plenty of fish
III 1t, the sand bars covered with white
mussel-shells.
While the regiment rested here got
into conversation with desertcr from
Bragg's army. He belonged to the SD
Tenn, which fought directly in front of
our regiment at Perryville and he de-
scribed their share Of it very particularly.
FOLLOWING IN THE PATH CUT BY ROSE
CRANs's PIONEERS.
We continued our march and wenled
our way up beautiful creek full Of clear,
cold water. About n mile farther we
came to remarkable spring. 1t came
rushing out from cavern in the rocks in
m immense volume, and was as clear and
rold as ice water. The old man who lived
in cabin above came down with q
gourd, and as he gave it to us TO drink
from said: If everything in this world
was as pure rs that water there would be
no war now"
We passed on, crossing and recrossing
the creek, all the time enjoying the de-
hghtful shade. Almost every house or
cabin we came TO was deserted and every
suitable spot showed the camping grounds
formerly occupied by troops. The road
at last turned up the hill and through
level wood, dense with small blackjack
and underbrush. The road had been made
by the pioneers OF Rosecrans's army, and
at the time they advanced the country
was running over with water, and all
through the wood it was swampy. The
pioneers had cut down small timber, and
laying 1t crosswise had corduroyed the
road. 1t was now about wOrnout and full
of deep holes. Wrecks of army wagons
were TO be seen all along the way The
road was dusty now, and the men, re-
signed TO circumstances, "plod il down"
at q rapid rate, and soon began to feel
the effects of it.
a comrade and myself were ahead some
distance, and we sat down TO rest and cool
off. The sun was but half-hour high
and fast sinking among the hills. All
around was q vast wilderness, and looked
as though no one Ind ever entered it a
hundred feet away from the road With
The consolation of knowing we yet had to
go four miles before we would "gct out
Of the wilderness" we began to mediate.
"This was the way to put down the re-
DEMON. rev ut nome VINO were tnen en-
Toying q peaceful or pleasant Sunday
syening, and who do nothing but watch
the latest news from the papers, and
doubtless grumble at the slowness OF mill
tary events, ever think of how war is car
pied on in its details. Here we were, tired,
thirsty, covered with dust, far away from
home, performing one of the duties of
war, and with the knowledge that we were
marching Oh TO victory or RUM"
OUT OF THE WILDERNESS.
We got up at the bugle call of "For-
ward" and with stiff limbs and sore feet
trudged on. We soon limbered up and
made fast time, emerging at dusk from