The National tribune., 1900-12-27
WITH The WAGON TRAIN.
"reminiscences Of the Chattanooga Cam
paign.
BY B. L. T.

| 10 those VINO nave meyer seen train
of army wagons would say the wagons
We're somewhat similar to our present
farm wagons; built strong and heavy
throughout, the wheels little higher, and
| near each hind one was chain firmly
fastened TO the bed. with which the
wheels could be locked to make them drag
i'll going down steep hills. The top of the
| bed was nearly six feet from the ground.
| and over this arose the oval bows covered
with heavy muslin to keep out the sun
| and rain.
The regulation team for each wagon
was three span of mules hitched tandem;
the span in front the smallest, the middle
span larger, while the largest or wheel
span was next the wagon, with the stiff
mule was plain saddle, on which the
| teamster rode, and drove the six mules by
a single line.
He had TO aid him long whip and a
good supply of oaths, which he could sing
out in true teamster style and never miss a
note. In travelling, the rule was for the
wagons TO be kept one Immediately behind
! the other and as close together as possible,
and thus economic space and protection.
If you can now imagine a long line of
the teams and canvas-cOvered wagons,
numbering along on n fairly good road,
with an occasional wagon-master on horse
back, riding the line TO keep everything in
But in getting such heavy wagons up
steep hills, over mountains where no road
has been prepared, or through n wet val
ley where the mud is deep, then the real
work of life hits the teamster hard, and
| am sorry 10 say he is apt to hit his mules
the same way.
During the year 1863 Lieut.. r. A. Peso.
of the 49th Ohio, WAS Quartcrmaster of
our brigade. and had charge of about 30
wagons. ] was detailed as his clerk. and
my special duty was to make out all pa
pers and reports, carry orders, invoice and
keep account Of everything that was put
into the wagons, and take receipted vouch-
erS for the same when turned over to the
reGimental officers.
The next day after our wearied army
got into Chattanooga, after the bloody bat
tie Of Chicamauga, our wagon train, with
others, was ordered to Bridgeport, Ala,
for rationS.
We crossed the bridge north of the town
and went the short route that crosses q
spur or two of Waldron's Ridge. some five
and eight miles out OF town. This road in
some places runs close to the bank of the
Tennessee River, which is a WIDE swift
stream, though only deep enough for small
steamboats,. This trip we made without
special danger, but hard, heavy pulling for
the teams, arriving in Chattanooga the |
night of the third or fourth day out.
Next day we unloaded, made necessary |
repairs, rested some, and the following |
morning started again for Bridgeport with !
empty wagons. We had word as soon as |
we crossed the river that the ''Johnnies"
had some sbarpshoOters in the bushes on
their side of the stream. where the hills !
on our side crowded the road close TO the |
bank, and our teams We're being killed. |
Well, there was no fun in reports of that |
kind. especially if they turn out true, |
which they did. ID.
There was a train ahead of ours, and in |
short time it would halt. then move |
manner. 1t was reported the Johnnies had |
one or two extra heavy rifles that did |
some fine shooting for them, but bad for
us. No shots We're heard for n half hour |
and the trains moved along nicely until |
the head of our train had almost reached |
the particular spot where we might expect |
some compliments from the COnfederacy; |
and they came without more delay.
The big rifle rang out, and in few min |
utes two of our men came back carrying a |
teamSter who had been shot while in the |
saddle, the ball having gone through both |
his limbs and the body of the mule he rode
Well, we had to run the gauntlet by hold
ing the train back of the point, getting the
front team in snug order, then the driver
and others flashing the mules into a good
run and getting them over that place in as
short time as possible.
We managed to get our train through |
without a wound, although some shots
were fired. With loaded wagons we knew
it would never do TO try that passage, and
we were forced to return by the long route
on the north side of the mountain.
What did this long route mean? 1t |
meant the awfully slow and inefficient way
of trying to keep alive 10000 men and
$1,000 animals by carrying supplies in
wagons through muddy valleys and over
rugged mountains. Our army on the plain
in Chattanooga was virtually besiegNl by
Braggs forces in forts and breastswOrks
from the river at the northeast all along
top Of Missionary Ridge to and on top of
Lookout Mountain at the southwest,
where they could look down on our camps
as from an amphitheater, and we the prey
i'll the arena, they would come down and
capture us after watching us starve.
All were at once put on half and then
on one-fourth rations. Men went 10 sleep
hungry and dreamed of mothers and
sisters setting tables and loading them
with good home food, then to awake and
find it only dream. We stole, saved, and
guarded jealousy everything eatablc. On
good authority, | have heard Of com
papy in our brigade that ate n large kct-
tie OF soup made from the body of n dog.
The horses whinnied and the i..ules
prayed for food, and became so weak they
actually could make no noise in that way
They ate up everything within reach.
gnawing the hair. names and tails off each
other, and the Commanding General re-
ported that over 10000 animals starved
to death within our lines at that point.
The distance by rail from Chattanooga
to bridgeport is 20 miles. while the
route up the Sequatchee Valley was over
~ miles. Starting from Bridgeport with
wagons loaded we went up this valley, and
the first trip when the ground was dry
and not much cut up, We went in one day
to where we commence the ascent of the
mountain. Some trains ahead of ours were
waiting as were we for our place on the
trail.
Each Wagon master ordered the teams
from half his train unhitched and doubled
mp on the other half, making II mules TO
pull at wagon. If / remember rightly,
It was a half mile or more of very steep
Neither was it good track.
Rains had washed gullies through the
Dose stones, and the solid layers Of rock
were in steps, up which the wagons had
10 be partially pried and lifted. Every
nan had to do his best; some with stout
poles to pry, others to lift on the wheels, |
and at least one TO each wagon with a |
arge block TO shove under n hind wheel
1T every halt or failure to get over q bad
spot. Soon as wagon reached the sum- I
nit, the team wasunhitched and led down
o bring one from the other half the train.
It usually took us, ii day to get up this one
limb 10 ID =
In going down the mountain on the side
Oward Chattanooga, ittwas speedier and
much less work, but more dangerous. One