The National tribune., 1901-11-07
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Soldiers Diary Of the Civil War.
By LYMAN S. WIDNEY, 34h ILL.,
Copyrighted, by HE LTR1BUx
A Soldiers Diary Of the Civil War.
Copyrighted, 1901, by THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE.
By LYMAN S. WIDNEY, 34th III.

Copyrighted, 1901, by
Our army IS grouped along the west
ern base of Lookout Mountain at the sey
eral gaps where passage can be effected
extending from point scarcely siN mile
from Chattanooga to Valley Head, II
miles distant
Gen Morgan. commanding at Steven
son. arrived Sept 10 to inspect the forti
fcations on which we had been working
so assiduously. He reports that Bragg
has left Chattanooga, but it is not known
whether he has rctreated toward Atlanta
or will attelnIt to throw his army upon
our communications, which Is our greatest
fear. We are required, therefore, to hurry
our work, and every man fit for duty
must either work on the fortlncatlons OF
stand guard. The great length and weak
ness of our line of communication are
more apparent to us than they are to the
officials at Washington, or they would
not have forced RoSecranS, contrary To
his advice. to advance so far without sup
port If the other crossings of the Ten
neesSee are not guarded 10y larger force
than ours il viii not be difficult for Bragg
to seize them The necessity Of keeping
up the effective fighting strength Of our
army in front prevents Rosecrans from
derachiug more men to guard his rear.
ScTt II the 60th III. and Il section Of
Edgarten'S Battery pitched their camp on
the west bank Of the river to assist US
in the building of Notifications and guard
duty. Our camp being located on low
ground. in the shade of heavy trees, has
proved unhealthy, and the sick-st has in
creased with alarming rapldlty. We are
now ordered to remove cur camp where
Gods blessed sunshine, we hope, will dis
pei malaria.
We learn that our comrades of the 92d
III. Mounted Infantry, belonging to VIII
der's Brigade. were the first to discover
that Bragg had left Chattanooga. Rose
Grams. on receipt of this information, be
lieving that Bragg was hurriediy retreat-
ing. ordered all his columns to advance
Immediately in vigorous pursuit In at
tempting TO carry out this order our COM
manders soon discovered that they did not
have flying enemy to deal with, but
compact army concentrated at Lafayette
and prepared to assault either one Of our
isolated corps.
UNION REFUGEES.
The country people continue TO apply
to us for passes to cross the river and
make their way into Tennessee or Ken
tucky Many of them beg for something
to eat, as they have been robbed of food
by friend and foe All claim to be Union
lists, but we know they are not all to be
trusted. The real Unionists are suffering
greatly. One instance among many Is
that of the wife of a soldier in a Union
Tennessee regiment. She came to US
with a babe in her arms, having walked
five miles. Two children waited at home
without food for her return. After pro-
curing her pass she trudged through heat
and dust to Stevenson, three miles far
ther. We have given all our surplus ra-
tiOns to these suffering people, and our
l. I g.. 70
rations in extreme cases of want.
Many conflicting rumors reach us from
the front No battle has occurred up to
Sept. 16. but the cavalry brigades Of MIN
ty and Wilder have had severe Skirmlsh-
ing. as these commands are depended upon
TO find out what the enemy is doing, and
they have discovered by the resistance en-
countered that Bragg is not at all disposed
to retreat, but rather to take the often
sive against our unsupported columns.
At midnight. Sept. II, the monOtony
and suspense of our position at Caperton' 5
Ferry was broken by an order to move
our pontoon bridge to Battle Creek, is
miles nearer Chattanooga.
There was urgent necessity for haste,
the order stated, so we all assisted the
pontooniers in slowing all the plank and
timbers in the boats and then took
charge of them, six men to each beat, TO
row them up the river.
We soon grew tired of this laboriOus
work. and therefore hailed with delight
a suggestion TO use our shelter tents for
sails, as the wind began TO blow strongly
up stream. Presently a feet of 40 sail
was sCudding before the breeze, but be-
fore we reached our destination the wind
died away, so that our appearance was
not nearly 50 imposing when we passed
Bridgeport, as poles and oars had taken
the place of swelling sails. Our cheers
died away with the wind; we found that
We had no breath to spare in our struggle
with the river current.
Spears Brigade Of TenncSseeans, from
Jasper, were waiting at the mouth of Bat
tie Creek for the arrival OF our p0ntoons,
in order TO cross the river. We soon had
the bridge ready. when they crossed on
their way to the front. We are now
about 20 miles distant from Chattanooga.
From Our point Of view our army is
buried in the mountains that interpose be-
tween Us and the open valley south of
Chattanooga, where Bragg IS manuvering.
But we know that our columns must be
struggling with the natural difficulties that
separate them; mountain roads, inaccessi-
bic under ordinary circumstances, must
be traversed with baggage trains and ar
tillery before their concentration can be
effected.
A BATTLE on.
We crossed the bridge and laid out
camp at the eastern end the morning Of
Sept -. a large white house with many
outbuiidings, the property of a ''skedad-
died SeceSh, drew our attention as soon
as we broke ranks. and dreadful racket
soon indicated that the work of demoli- |
tlOn had begun Boards and timbers, win
dOws and doors, took to themselves legs
and logged into camp TO be thrown into
heaps ready for the builder's use and
when the original buildings were stripped
10 the ground, they rcappcared as shan
ties the size Of pig-pcns-not beautiful to
look upon, but oh, so comfortable for
Summer-clad soldiers exposed to chilling
mountain winds.
Our pickets report cannOGading all day
south of Chattanooga, which we did not
hear, or at least did not notice in camp, |
owing TO the din Of building in which we
We're engaged.
Sept 20, we were so much absorbed
IL the construction of our cabins. and es-
pecially IN the completion of our fireplaces
and chimncys, that we could warm
them with cheerful fires. that we failed
TO recognize the day aS Sunday. or to no
tee the faint echo Of cannon, which our
plckets again report continued all day
without cessation; but now that our build |
ing Is completed, we are at leisure 10 re
fleet upon the consequences that may fol-
low battle Of two days Duration so
plainly Indicated by the continued firing
At last accounts battle appeared immi-
nent. and we can only hope that our army
was prepared for the contest. Darkness
now hides the intervening mountains from
our view, ami doubtless has ended the
roar Of musketry and cannon, for no sound
$40.