The National tribune., 1901-12-19
ADVANCE TO RISGGoLD.

An order was received April 30 from
Gen. Palmer directing US TO be in readi-
ness for moving to RinggOld next Mon
day. All surplus baggage is to be sent
to Chattanooga, and thence shipped by
river to Bridgeport for storage. Only one
wagon will accompany the regiment, and
that loaded with rations, excepting five
small valises containing underclothing for
the officers. All other baggage not carried
on the person must be sent to the rear.
1t is evident from these preparations that
long and active campaign is before US;
hardships must be endured, weary marches
made and battles fought; but there is no
other way to end the rebellion, and as we
have re-enlisted for another three years
or during the war;" we are prepared to
welcome active service as the shortest
rOad 10 peace.
May 2 we marched from camp at s
a. N. on the road to RinggOld, 13 miles
distant, over rough country broken by
rugged mountain spurs covered with chest
nut and pine timber. The road follows
a tortuOus course through the valleys, and
| Occasionall., where unavoidable, scales the
abrupt sides of the smaller spurs. Short
| ly after noon we came in sight of Ring
gold, and encamped one mile northwest Of
the town on the hillside opposite TaylOr's
Ridge.
Although marching orders" may dis
| luID Us at any nun We spent lLIe GIlIi Z
day of May 3 building huts, using for
material strips Of chestnut bark, which
we strip from the trees in sections often
more than 90 feet long by foot or more
in width.
We observe the gathering of troops in
our vicinity, and already the valleys and
hillsides are growing white with innumer-
able "pup-tents."
A visit to Ringgold disclosed a town Of
about so buildings, half in ruins. Very
few citizens remain, and they can scarcely
find lodging, as every available building
is filled with army supplies. Walking out
from town, our party followed the rail
road through Nickajack Gap, along the
bank of Chickamauga Greek. We stopped
| awhile to admire the cool, limpid stream,
and then began the toilsome ascent of the
ridge from the east side. On the summit
we found a signal station, and a glance
through one of the glasses disclosed Buz-
zard Roost Gap, strongly fortified by the
enemy, and in an open field solitary
horseman on picket duty, watching to give
the first alarm Of our advance.
At sunrise May 3 we marched in the
direction of Tunnel Hill, passing through
Ringgold and the Gap below, along Chick
smauga Creek and the base of Taylor's
Ridge, over an extremely rough and rocky
road, until we reached an open field il
the valley two miles from the town. Here
! our Ndb IDELutu III COlulHH Dy
regiments In rear of MOrgan's, arms were
stacked and the command "Rest" was
given. Meanwhile other troops were form
ing in our rear, and soon the valley was
nearly filed with the infantry and artl
lery of the Fourteenth Corps in battle or
der, while the cavalry in our front wa,
slowly pushing back the rebel pickets, a.
the popping" of carbines indicated. Tn,
fog which all the morning had obscureC
distant objects was now disappearing un
der the influence of the sun, and far dowI
the valley could be dimly seen our skir
mishers advancing toward patch Of tim
ber which soon hid the combatants bu
did not smother the noise of their com
bat. Evidently our skirmishers soon Sc
cured possession of the wood, for the firin,
did not continue very long and present.!
ceased for the day.
When quiet was restored our regimen
was marched back to Ringgold to ex
; change old Enfield for new Springfield
} rifles, and now some of our boys want t,
: fight right away just to try the new guns
May u three of US visited Catoosi
Springs, a little more than two miles from
| camp, where we found lot of innocent
!, looking springs transformed by woodel
sign-boards into various kinds of stron;