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

US, we never enjoyed sweeter rest or
sleep. 80 the evening and the morning
were the first day."
Reveille sounded at o'clock. and all
were up. A clatter arises in camp from
the men MASKING their coffee grains in
tin cups with their bayonets. Breakfast
of coffee and crackers over, and wagons
loaded, We We're ready. Col. Reed and
staff, and another regiment, Joined u.s. and
our force now consisted of the First and
Second Brigades of the Reserve Corps
nine regiments and two batteries in all.
Then came in and followed US a train of
2OO wagons and a pontoon train of 100
wagons from Nashville. and there was an
ammunition train of 800 wagons follow
ing; all this Independent Of the railroad,
which is kept as busy as its facilities will
permit.
We left town at o'clock, raising n
cloud of white dust, and thus our course
would be traced for miles, appearing like
fog arising from a river. The roads
were terribly rough, being a succession of
deep ruts, rocks and wornout corduroy
For many miles there were neither houses
nor water, but by noon we got through
the level country, which was all woods
came TO a stream and stopped for dinner
Here again the whole creek originated
from a large spring coming out from the
rocks, and 1t sent forth an abundance Of
clear, cold water, and nearly everyone
went IN and washed off his heavy coating
of dust.
IN SIGHT OF CUMBERLAND MOUNTAINS.
After dinner we pressed on to Elk
River, which we waded and resumed our
hot, dusty march, hating at dusk at De
cherd, station on the railroad. 1t was
quite an inviting place, and we We're not
sorry TO stop there over night. There
was an immense amount of Government
property here, piled up and covered with
tarpaulins. From our camp we had our
first view of the Cumberland Mountains.
extending blue line for great dis
lance.
fitch, we lay down our blankets and
closed our eyes on the stars for needed
sleep. Awake in the morning to find the
grass and blankets dewey wet;' started
at daybreak, passing through cool. shady
woods and near the town af Winchester,
with its neat-looking houses and church
stccples. We soon reached COwan, q sta
ton at the foot of the mountains.
The country was good around Winches-
ter, but no one seemed to raise anything
The old farmers sit in their split bot
toned chairs and watch us go along, with
smile and chuckle, as much as to say,
81 am too old for you Yankee vandals,
and ! haven't seen two years of war for
nothing" You would like to have field
of corn, or NOW OF hay for your mules,
or garden to overrun, but / can get along
so long as you are disappointed" No
wonder Bragg hated to leave Shelbyville,
where there was plenty, for it is starva-
ton here.
We now started to climb the noun
tains, and found it laborious work, but
the men went on, with big effort. After
rising slope was passed we came to q
steep ascent, and almost despaired of see
ing the wagons follow. Toiling on, with
many rests, we at last reached the top,
and there had q fine view to the rear.
Near the summit was q spring, from
which flows stream called Crow Creek.
We never saw such roads for wagons
TO travel. The limestone rocks lay around
thick, and as large as cottonbaies, around
and over which the wagons had to be
driven, and the road was strewn with
wrecks of wagons and their contents. We
saw where the rebs had cut trees to bar
ricade the road, but the Yankees only
had to chop them out again, which was
done rapidly, and from o'clock until
noon we were engaged in this arduous
duty, and we stopped for dinner at the
first place we found good water. We made
four miles more that day and stopped at
the Crows Nest. as so many wagons had
broken down. We camped In a valley
without supper and anything to sleep on
We built fires and roasted corn with the
husks on, in the ashes, and lay down to
sleep, tired and sore from the days doings
got two rails for bed, and with my hat
over my eyes went in for sleep. The boys
got very little sleep that night. The wag-
ons came in by morning and we got ra-
tons.
CROSSING THE ALABAMA LINE.
We marched at z o'clock five miles to
Anderson. Resting, we went through the
dust and burning sun until we reached
the Alabama line. 1t was viewed By us
with feelings similar to those of