The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1901-10-03
PREPARING FOR THE ADVANCE.

PREPARING FOR THE ADVANCE.
Since our division was stationed, soil
| tary and alone, south of Nashville, we
have been reinforced ut intervals until
/ now we have grown to the dimensions of
a great army, with the wings extending
! TO the river, above and below the city.
Military stores of all kinds are being col
lected from various quarters for the for
ward movement that will soon take place
! Forts are being constructed and heavy
siege guns mounted for the defense Of
Nashville when we leave it in the rear
Bragg is supposed to be waiting for us
at Stone River with formidable works
and a fine army.
| The night of Dec. 4, Our camp ground
was quietly seized, surrounded and Occu-
pied by a stealthy invader, which held
possession, notwithstanding our surprise
and protest when we awoke to the situa-
ton. The beautiful snow smiled upon us
and we hailed it as the old time friend Of
our boyhood. We became boys once more
and tossed the mischieyOus SNOWFALL as of
yore.
| AT first our sport was contest between
individuals, then company was ptted
against company, until finally our regiment
united its forces against the SJth ILL.,, of
| the Sixth Brigade, adjoining ours, and
such battle we never witnessed in our
! bOyho0d days. A continual shower of
snOwballs flew over the dividing line of
our camps. A storming party would cross
the line under a fusillade of balls, seize
one or more prisoners and drag them
| away from their friends.
Charges and counterchargcs were made
| until all the ammunition within reach
had been exhausted.
At p. IN. our regiment and the Both
I Ind. were sent out on picket duty, where
we found something more important to
attend TO than snOwballing, for we had
to be on the ''qui yiye' for leaden balls
from troublesome scouts from Bragg's
army.
! That night our visitor, the beautiful
snow, pinched us with icy fingers in a
very unfriendiy way. Our regiment on
picket duty did not suffer much, as rail
fences were plentiful and furnished roar
| ing fires, but of course all could not sit
around them; it was necessary that senti-
nels should be stationed beyond the circle
of light. The Confederates did not visit
our fres-they doubtless Rugged their
own. AT p. III. our regiment was re-
lieved by the 18th Ohio, and returned to
camp. We found this the coolest day Of
our experience in Tennessee.
One of our forage trains was attacked
in the evening, not far from our camp,
and several wagons were captured.
Dec. 3, grapevine dispatches report
Bragg's army coming up from Stone
River to attack us-a very improbable
story. Indications point to a speedy ad-
vance on our part. All those sick or I'M
able to march are ordered back to Nash
vile.
We are directed to have three days
rations on hand, and arrangements are
being made to send our tents and other
bulky camp equipage back as soon as we
move from this camp.
ATTACKED BY wHEELER'S CAVALRY
Dec. 8 we were directed to escort n
forage train outside our lines. We saw
no enemy, but loaded the wagons with
forage and returned to camp a little be-
fore sunset. A forage train at the same
time from another part of our line did not
fare as we'll as we. 1t went out on the
Murfreesboro Pike, found plenty of for
age, and soon loaded the wagons, but just
as they started to return, Wheelers
Cavalry attacked the guards and kept up
a continuous skirmish until the train
reached the shelter of our lines.
Col. Stanley Matthews, the commander
of the escort, distributed his brigade In
four detachments to protect his wagons
One led the way towards camp, another
guarded the rear, while the remaining
two walked single file on each side Of the
road the full length of the train. It Is
needless to say the mules did noble ser.
vice for the Government under the per-
suasive crack of the whip. as did the
drivers themselves under the persuasive
zip" of an occasional bullet. Altogether
the teams made better time back to camp
with their loads than they did going out
empty.
i Our loss was i've killed. 80 wounded