The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1901-01-24

asked by the people would say, after
Longstreet."
Tonight we are tired out. We have
eaten the last of our rations, and hereaf-
ter will have to forage on the country.
At Z o'clock last night we halted,
stacked arms, and the men made a rush
for rails. Whole lines of fences were
swept away in a few minutes. 1t is an
amusing sight to see the grab game going
on if strawstack is in sight. AS soon
as fires are built coffee is made, from
water carried in canteens, and with what
meat there is supper is ready.
The night was cold, and water froze,
for the first time this season. Some of
the men, who have no blankets, remove
the fire from where it was first built, and
on the warm ground manage to sleep COM
fortably, with only a gum-blanket over
them.
LIVING OFF THE COUNTRY.
Monday, Nov. 30-Today's march has
been much the same as yesterday. Our
route lay from near Cleveland to Charles
ton, a distance of about II miles. The
country was series of valleys and hills;
we would pass up one valley for while,
and through a GAP into another. The
people were mostly East Tennessee Union
people, and had their star-spangled BAN
ners to welcome us. They live quite COM
fOrtably; have the necessities, but none
of the luxuries. They seem contented with
the society of their neighbors, and know
but little of the events OF the outside
world.
Our ratiOns are out and this was orr
first day of foraging. Capt. Roatch has
a party of men detailed to procure enough
stuff for us during the day. They prowI
ciH of 4 no
road Travelled, taking meat, cOrnmeal,
chickens and all eatables found. 1t is
hard on the rebels to part with these. but
the Union people give willingly all they
can spare.
After we had stopped for camp | start
ed out TO try for something to eat, and,
if possible, to get pair Of socks. My
feet had become so sore during the march
ing that | have been unable TO get my
boots off for four days. The house !
struck out for was a mile and half from
the road, and as / neared it / felt a little
doubtful whether it was safe TO 20 to it
alone, as there might be rebs who would
gobble me up. | felt sure none of orr
soldiers were there, as | left the ranks
as soon as we stopped. l took out my
revolver, and putting fresh caps ON ven
tured farther. The pen was full of hogs
the yard full of chickens and turkeys
| entered the house, and there were
three of our fellows asking for cornbread
| went into the front room and spoke TO
the lady, telling her what / wanted She
was all ready with her answer: "NO. she
hadn't thing; was totally out of every
thing; no cornbread, meat, or anything,
and had no socks"
| told her that / was sorry, and took
split-bottomed chair and sat down by
t,Vsn aggtsa Ill.
and looked for the latest news. Accord
ing TO it the Yankees were about to evacu-
ate Chattanooga for want of supplies.
asked her if she had heard the news from
Chattanooga. We were the first Yankees
she had ever seen, and she was much
puzzled to know what had happened. and
why so many of us were loose" | told
her of Bragg's defeat, and that we were
now after Longstreet, and expected tC
soon finish up the war. She said if We
would only hang Lincoln and other North
ern leaders there would be no more war.
After further conversation | offered &c
buy a chicken, but she made many ex
cuses, saying she had none to SELL A.
we went to the door the yard was full OF
soldiers after the chickens, and soon ouI
Quartermaster drove off two beeves from
the barnyard. l started for camp with 8
chicken, but failed to get any socks. Sc
much needed.
| The night was again cold, but by keep
| ing up large fires we enjoyed things amaz
| ingly. BY 10 o'clock our men came il
loaded with fresh pork, cornmeai, chick
ems. etc.
| Today we got glimpse OF the noun
tains, 45 miles east of us, and their peak,
were white with snow. We could Sc,
| these same peaks from Chattanooga, OF
clear days, looking like clouds on the hori
ION.
| We are now doing soldering in genuin,
| style, much the same as the rebs hay:
been compelled to all along, and we fee
as though we could march through tn,
| Confederacy in the same way. Cornbreat
and beef are better than crackers ant
fitch, but TO be deprived Of coffee is tn,
worst.
| Tuesday, Dec. I've received order,
this morning at s o'clock, and marching
couple of miles came to the town of Cleye