The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1900-12-13
Continued from Nov. 80. J

midway between the lines of the blue and
the gray, and nearly in front of the posi-
ton held by our regiment, and under il
was held the conference between Gen
Grant and Gen. Pembcrton for the capitu
lation of Vicksburg and garrison.
Monday, Jan. II, more than six months
after the surrender this tree was cut down
by some of the boys of Co. G and hauled
away by one of our mule teams to the
Third Division repair shop. There it was
sawed up and made into canes. The work
of making these canes was done largely
by S. G. Carpenter, Co. G, 6Sth Ohio.
This tree, standing as it did midway be-
tween the lines of the blue and the gray,
contained many leaden balls, and in the
manufacture of the canes Comrade Car
pentcr observed the utmost care, so as to
have one of the balls retained in the wood.
Canes so made readily sold to the boys at
81 and So each, while other canes not re-
tanning ball sold at 80 cents. Many
comrades obtained chips from the tree,
which they whitfield into all conceivable
| forms, some of which, L doubt not, are still
held as keepsakes. SO much for the notable
PembertOn Oak, which so many different
comrades have cut down and carted away.
The balance of the month of January
| was uneventful.
Monday, Feb. ], heavy bodies of troops
landed ut Vicksburg from up the river,
which fact convinced us that Gen. Sher-
man was planning an expedition of some
importance. The Mississippi River was
in the possession of our forces from Cairo
to the gulf, but the enemy were i'll control
of the railroads east of us, which proved
to be continual menace. This compelled
Gen. Sherman to keep heavy bodies of
troops stationed at different points along
the river ready for any emergency.
MERIDIAN RAID.
Gen. Sherman fitted olt an expedition
consisting of four divisions, whose object
it was to destroy the railroads east of us.
The morning of Feb. 2 we moved on the
Meridian raid.
The evening of the first day we went
into camp on the bank of the Big Black.
About noon of the following day we again
took up our lire of march, and at the close
of day made our camp near Edwards Sta
ton, west of Champion Hills,
Early Feb. our brigade took the lead.
We had proceeded about two miles, when
the enemy, from the high grounds OF
Champion Hills, called US to Il halt. n
heavy line Of skirmishers was now thrown
out, and when all was ready we briskly
moved forward, driving the enemy from
the hills and sending them in a precipitatc
retreat toward Jackson. Soon after we
were following in pursuit, and late in the
day discovered the enemy in line of bat
TIC OlI LLS hOi III SiNN " A'uhANA - C'NNh'
near Bolton.
At first dawn the following day we
could see the cnemy's line of battle on the
opposite side of the creek, and soon they
began to throw solid shot into our lines.
The Third Division, Of which our regi-
ment was q part, was ordered forward
across the creek. Over the creek we went
in one wild torrent, and deplbyed to the
right of the road along the low grounds
fronting the enemy's lines. Hardly had
we reached the position assigned us when
an advance was ordered. About this time
battery of 24-pound guns came up and
gave the enemy their attention. These
heavy guns must have crested consterna.
| ton in the enemy's ranks. as they hastily
limbered up their little siX-pOund guns,
and the whole shooting-match moved off
| toward Jackson in cloud of dust.
Leggett's men now took up the chase,
and pushed the enemy with such persist
| ence that the march of the main column
was not checked. We swept ON through
the town of Clinton, and close upon the
heels of rapidly-retreating foe until dark,
when our bugles called halt.
About noon of the 9th we marched into
Jackson, meeting with no resistance. We
crossed Pearl River on pontoon bridge
that the enemy did not have time to take
| away with them. After crossing the river
we pressed forward toward Brandon,
| which we reached the evening of the fol
| lowing day.
Feb. we reached a place called Nor
| ton. About this time our rations began
to run low, and it became necessary to
| order out a foraging party. 1t was while
| out on one of these foraging expeditions
| near Morton that five of our comrades
Chas. Reynolds, Thos. Burrows, Kemus
Howard, Rob't Mayman and Joe Lewis
ran plump into a nest of Johnnies and
were taken prisoners.
The morning of Feb wp loft Morton
and turned northward, marching through
Hillsboro and Decatur, reaching the latter
place on the 18th. The 18th our brigade
was ordered to move eight miles south to
destroy bridges and trestlework at Chun-
ky's Station, on the railroad west OF Meri-
dian. Before reaching the station we en-
countered the enemy, which the Second
Brigade drove in confusion through the
town, capturing number of prisoners
After completing our mission at Chunky's
Station, we joined our division, in camp
about four miles from Meridian.
Feb. 10, after II days of marching and
skirmishing with the enemy, we reached
Meridian, 40 miles by rail, east of Vicks-
burg. We camped near the city four days
devoting our time to the destruction of
Confederate storehOuses and railroads FOL
miles each way from the city. All along
our route from Jackson railroads, bridges
machine-shop and everything in the way
Of public property were wholly destroyed.
RETURN MARCH.
Feb. 20 we turned our faces westward
and marched toward Canton, "a miles
north of Missssippi's Capital. The Goth
we reached Canton, where we remained
until the morning of March l.
/ will relate an incident that took place
on the Meridian raid. Lieut.. Richardson
had the reputation of being little sharp
in driving bargain. One evening as we
were moving by the headquarters train on
our way to camp, one of the boys picked
up an empty ham sack, and partly CON
cealing it under his blanket, numbered
along seemingly as happy as could be.
Lieut.. Richardson, then in command of
Go. f, saw the sack, which he supposed
contained sugar-cured ham. He APP
preached the comrade and said:
"Shaffer, what will you, take for it,"
oh, L don't know replied Shaffer.
What will you give2' 10
6! will give you dollar for it," said
Richardson. f-is
All right" said ShaffeFcr' fork it over"
Immediately dollar and an empty can
vas sack changed hands. lfhe boys fairly
roared. Richardsoni however, said that he
was 90 cents ahead on the trade, because
it was worth $1.50 to any man to fondle
that empty ham sack.
Soon after reaching Canton we were
met by our division train, that had come
out from Vicksbnrg with provisions For
several days previous we had been forced
to look to the country through which we
were passing for ratiOns. OF course, all
chickens, hogs and cattle along our route
were legitimate nlunIar for nnr h.,uOry