The National tribune., 1900-04-05

church bells ringing and saw people SoiilS
TO church for the first time i'll many months.
ORDERED To MOVE.
Evening, later-I am again at the rail-
road office. and we expect TO leave Tor some
place in a short time. We received orders
to move and all our calculations for a
pleasant stay here were dispelled. We
moved through town to the depot again,
making fine display in the streets, with
colors flying band playing. while the
citizens. negroes and all, thronged 10 see us
pass Around me all is noise and confuSlon-
engines whistling. bells ringing ana a
great hum of voices. l must stop writing
and be off.
FLORENCE. ALA. Oct. Z. 1864.
am here to-day and pretty well gone up
from hard marching, but Will try ana con-
tinue my story as already begun. Last
Sunday evening we got aboard the cars
bound for Decatur. just at starting a
tremendous rain came on, and continued
TO pour down all night, and about nan lie
command had TO take it sitting eroWded
on top of the freight-cars. was llslde
with my company. We shut up the doors
and Law down in the darkness. We slept
some Notwithstanding. and awoke at day
light to find it still raining hard we
were stopped by break in the railroad for
a while. and the boys tried to make coffee;
They were all water-soaked, NOISY, a, ana
trying to build fires in the ram; Inc
whistle soon sounded TO start and each
grabbed the half-heated water in his coffee
pot. and with dry crackers and rare meal
made the best ofra breakfast.
The rain ceased about 10 o'clock, ana
Capt. McLarghlin. Lieut.. Oglevee and
myself, seated in the open car, as before
were prepared to view the country as we
rolled along. If anything is needed to en-
liven one, he has bat to listen to the remarks
of the boys. ] think a crowd OF soldiers
can study out more from objects than any
other set of men. The country was grand
to look upon; it was almost as level as
prairie, and in many places almost as pare
of timber. Crops were abundant, and for
square miles fields stretched away, covered
alternately with grass, corn, cotton. or
sugar-cane, and on this chess-board, as IT
We're, the plantation houses, with their
negro quarters around, were stationed ike
pieces in half-finiShed game OF chess.
Here were the genuine Alabama planta-
tions in all their glory; travel Dixie over;
and they are not found in more orig iginal
style.
A TYPICAL SOUTHERN MANSION.
A description of one of these houses will
do for all. They are generally large.
two story hewed-log house, weather
boarded, and having long porch in front:
they are built in two divisions, like one OF
the oId-fashioned log barns in our coun-
try, The open places in these houses,
during the day. is where one can sit III the
cool breeZeS during the warm weather.
Two large stone chimneys are at each end,
and built outside. where they afford ac-
commodations for large fire-places Within;
these are the happy fireSides" and sacred
hearthstones" that the rvbels say We have
come to disturb; off in the rear is the village
of negro houses, built OF hewn logs, and OF
uniform size, running in rows like a camp
of soldiers tents.
AS We pass along the negro women
and children swarm out and appear as
innocent, pleased and cute as negroes gem
orally are. All seemed glad TO get chance
to speak to de Yankees About noon
we came TO the intersection of the Nash
vile and Decatur Railroad, six miles from
the latter place.
We then took up the Nashville road 10
Athens. and at o'clock came to halt a
few miles from Athens; a bridge over a
creek having been burned by guerrillas:
We got out of the cars in the rain and filed
into large field of weeds, and proceeded
to make fires and coffee This was the
turning point in our affairs, the last of our
riding on the cars, and the beginning OF
our hard times. Marching went very
hard on us, as we had been sitting still for
three days and were not USed to it, but we
gathered up our traps and proceeded to
march to town. We learned that Forrest
had captured the town about a week ago
with its LOO men. two pieces of artillery,
and all the Quarternaster and Commis-
sary stores. We made the three miles TO
town and camped near squar1 fort that
had surrendered with the town.
The rain kept steadily pouring and we
could hardly build fires or put up shelter
tents. and put in the night part uncovered,
wet and cold as We We're. AT daylight
came orders TO march-where we did not
know. and we had only time to drink coffee
and off "a filaH Gpi1th iufn a t1rDp
road, and kept on through a dense wilder
ness. We then inquired and found the
road led to Florence. How far? ID miles.
Surely. we thought. they We're not going to
march us there. Here we We're. 250 miles
from our camp in Atlanta, and only ex-
pected TO be gone four days.
The rain kept coming down in torrents,
and the mud was stiff and deep. With
nothing TO encol rage us. we, marched on
plodding and staggering through mud and
water. often taking TO the fields where the
road was impossible We did not march
in any, order, but like drove OF turkeys
going to market:
Why don't they tell us where we are t.
go; it would be better for us to know, so we
could make some calculations on our ability
TO make the trip. No one seemed to know.
Some men began to drop out. some
had sore feet, some became overheated,
but the majority became discouraged.
We pass farmhouses and learn the rets
We're here week ago. What is the use in
our following them?"
Still it rains; gum blankets useless.
Such is the way we put in the first half of
the day, and at L o'clock we stopped for
dinner and lay down in the mud to rest.
Ny boots were rapidly bringing on sore
feet. After dinner the march was re-
sumed in the rain; don't know how the
country looked, none of us looked ont TO
see. Saw nothing but footprints in the
mud. and tried to step where i would not
stick fast.
FORDING ELK RIVER.
AT d O'Clock we came to Elk River
There was no bridge. and We had to wade
il, and were ordered TO take off pants.
which we did. and started in. Oh, but il
was cold, and amid the yells of the boys we
slowly groped our way over the sharp
stones. Many fell down and wet their
hayersacks and clothing, and all such un-
fortunate ones would be greeted with wells
and laughter from the rest. My feet were
now badly blistered, and found was go
ing 10 have a hard time, but there wasn't
a wagon or ambulance, and had TO stand
it. Well, We all got over and struggled on.
Another pourdown Of rain, and it defied
our best efforts TO keep dry, so we all went
along feeling best by being wet all over
After dark we stopped at little cross
roads town called Rodgersville, and after
such a days hardship one would think we
should have warm supper and dry place
to sleep, but mary time" Cos. A, + and
II L L