The National tribune., 1900-10-25

Continued from last week.
Preparations went rapidly forward, and
about 10 o'clock, Nov. IS, we formed in
line, each man having strapped to his back
a pup tent, and marched 10 miles in the
direction of Holly Springs.
The following day we marched II miles,
and in the evening made our camp on the
banks of Coldwater River. A cold rain
continued to fall all night.
Sunday. Nov. 80, found us marching to-
ward Holly Springs, where it was reported
the enemy would dispute our advance.
After a march of about four miles
we heard heavy firing. Our brigade was
ordered TO the support of our advance.
The heavy firing We soon learned was our
advance column, engaged in dropping shot
and shell into body of timber in which
the rebels were lurking. The enemy seem
ing to realize that a heavy body was NOV
ing upon them, quickly retired. We moved
forward, and after a march of about 10
miles made our camp in the suburbs of
Holly Springs, where we remained until
next day.
SURPRISED REBEL.
While marching through the city a halt
was ordered, when the column retired to
either side of the street, and after hav-
ing fixed bayOnets stuck them in the
ground. 1t so happened that some of our
guns were stuck in the gateway fronting
a beautiful dwelling house. Our bayonets
went down In the loose ground with
thump, which, of course, induced us TO
make an examination, when we were re
warded by finding there buried a barrel
of sugar. just about this time wound
ed Confederate officer came limping down
the walk from the house, and as he came
near US, with a gOOd-natured twinkle in
his eyes, remarked: L have heard it said
that you Northern people can find any
Ill -, hn fr.prn /
buried that barrel of sugar to test the
smelling qualities of you Yanks.'
We were much amused over the Con
federate officers views of the matter, and
at the suggestion OF Maj. Wilkes several
of the boys picked up the barrel OF sugar
and carried it to the house, remarking TO
our Confederate friend, Try again"
We moved on through the city and
made our camp in a beautiful oak grove.
The weather was cold and stormy.
Monday, Dee. l, we remained in camp
until noon, when we took up our line of
march for the Taiahatchie River. Night
found us nine miles from Holly Springs.
Early the next morning We were in line
and wading through Mississippi mud anG
water half knee deep. We marched l.
miles through q cold rain, and at night
went into camp near an abandoned line
of the enemy's works on the banks of the
Talahatchie.
We remained there in camp until about
noon of Dec. 3, waiting for our pioneers
to repair the bridge, which the enemy
had partly destroyed, when we crossed
over, and toward the close of day went
into camp near Abbevile. Everywhere
around us were seen evidences of hasty
retreat of the enemy. They had burned
the depot and other buildings containing
stores to keep them from falling into our
hands.
rIIo foIIor,;pg dow vya rayna;nad in Damn
near Abbevilie, waiting for our supply
train to come up from the rear. The
early morning of Dec. 5 found US again
moving, nor did we stop until we reached
Oxford. II miles from Abbeville, where
we remained the succeeding five days. In
the meantime everything remained quiet in
our vicinity.
Dec. 10 Col. r. K. Scott returned to
the regiment, having been absent for some
weeks on the sick-list. Late in the day
We received orders to be prepared to
march at o'clock The following morning.
The appointed hour found us in motion,
and after a march of IA miles we made
our camp in a field of wild grass on the
banks of the Hatchie River. The few
days previous had been wet and cold, but
this day was warm and pleasant. During
the night fire broke out in the dry grass
near our camp, and under a strong wind
spread with alarming rapidity, and soon
We NeIe tuSd-tu III uElIllE Hlt away
from our ammunition wagons. We suf-
fered no injury other than the scorching
of a few blankets.
Dec. II and Is a portion of the regi-
ment was engaged in building bridge
across the Hatchie. Dec. IA heavy de-
tail was made to accompany the division
train back to Holly Springs.
Dec. is we marched four miles, and
made our camp near a Mississippi cross
roads. The following day Lieut.. L. w.
Richardson and several others whose
names | am unable to give started for
their Ohio homes on recruiting service.
Late in the afternoon we received orders
to be ready to march in 20 minutes. In a
short time we were in motion, and did
not stop till late in the night, when we
made our camp near a town named Water
valley, and well named il was, because
much of the country was covered with
water.
HALT ORDERED.
Dec. 20 everything was quiet in our
vicinity; however, not so elsewhere. The
rebel Gen. Van Dorm, learning that Gen.
Grant had made Holly Springs depot of
supplies from which to draw during his
march southwark, made a rapid move, and
on the early morning Of Dec. 20 attacked
and after a spirited engagement captured
the place. burned our supplies and sorely
crippled the railroad north of US. The
enemy also captured NUMBER OF our DDyS
who were in the hospital. The boys after
ward said that they never were so sick
as when they signed their paroles; in fact,
they were so sick that they did not know
their own names, so they wrote assumed
ones.
Our camp at Watervalley was on a
high piece of ground north Of the town.
Here it was that Cen. Leggett issued q
strict order against all fOraging. This or
der was fresh in the minds of several
boys who were bounding rapidly through
n copse of jaek-oaks, close behind a long
legged razor-back pig. The pig, closely
followed by its pursuers, met Gen. Leg
gett and staff on foot, and lesurely ap-
preaching camp. The boys, seeing that
they were caught, made a quick survey
of the field, and then renewed the chase.
The pig ran close to the General, who
sprang at it, but failed 10 catch it. This
effort on the part of the General caused
all thoughts of punishment to vanish, and
soon afterward the boys captured their
prize, and bore it triumphantly into camp.
on THE BACK TRACK.
We remained in our camp at Water
valley until the afternoon of Dec. 81, when
orders came TO move. Ave were in the
extreme front Of Gen. Grants army and
when we turned back we moved by our
troops in camp along the road; each COM
mand taking up its line of march in its
regular order. We moved on, passed the
last campfire of our army, and off into
the darkness beyond, keeping up that
quick, nervous route step until midnight
when halt was ordered until morning