The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1901-08-22

ment. Then, our regiment was man,
times divided, and often one detachmen
would be hundreds of miles from the bal
ance of the regiment.
The 18th Ind. Cav. was recruited in thu
State-at-Iarge. 1t consisted of u com
panies of 100 enlisted men each, besides
commissioned officers.
The regiment went into camp in the
Summer of 1868, at Camp Shanks, In
dianapoliS.
Hon. ]. P. C. Shanks, of Portland, Ind
was commissioned Colonel, and Hon. t. NJ
Brown. of Winchester, Ind, Lieutenant
Colonel. The Majors were Christian Beck
S. Y. w. SimOnson, and John g. Febies
Adjutant, James A. Price; Quartermaster
John w. Martin: Commissary, - Hol
lida Chaplain, James Marquis; Surgeon,
William Freeman; Veterinary Surgeon, l..
f. Ingram, and Hospital Steward, David
B. Roether.
The regiment remained at indianapolis
drilling and preparing for active service
until Dec. 6, 1863.
OFF FOR TIE FRONT.
Perhaps no regiment leaving Indian
epoliS made 4 grander appearance than
the 9Th Ind. Cav. that December Sunday
morning, as it marched down Washington
street to Union Depot, 1900 strong,
mounted, and in full uniform, with all
equipments belonging to the cavalry, with
regimental banner and each company
carrying its colors.
The streets were thronged with citizens,
many from other sections of the State,
all wishing us Godspeed. What con-
trast, as the regiment marched up Wash
ington street on its return, March, 1856,
numbering only about 500.
With the exception of very small per
cent. the regiment was made up of boys
In their teens, anxious to go to the front
aa11l H.. \
1t.
We went by rail to Cairo, ILL.,, where
we embarked on steamboats,, thence down
the Mississippi River to Columbus, Ky,
where we disembarked, and marched out
into the country a few miles, and went
into camp, with no shelter.
FIRST NIGHT IN CAMP.
Our camp was in an old deadening, that
had grown up with weeds, and was dry.
spread my blanket in a depression in
the ground in order to keei; 'yarEi. About
J O'clock / was awakened by tie water
pouring in around me. 1t was raining as
1t rains only in Kentucky. That was the
first night we lay out, as we had been in
barracks at indianapolis. It rained all
night. and drowned all our Tres. so we
had to sit up on logs and chunks like
turkeys. We began to think we had en-
countered the elephant" sooner than we
were expecting.
When daylight came sorry looking set
of boys we were; wet through, with moth
ing to eat; horses in mud to their knees,
and no feed for them. Maybe we did not
have the blues. We saddled our horses
and struck out southeast, the rain falling
In torrents until about 3 o'clock, when it
commenced to snow. In the evening we
went into camp in the woods, near Union
City, Tenn, wet, hungry and cold, with
the ground covered with snow, and no
tents, no rations, and no feed for the horses.
A little before dark we drew rations,
forage for our horses, and dog tents"
We pitched our little tents, and built fires
IN front of them.
When the bugle sounded lights out"
we crawled into our little tents, and were
soon fast asleep, dreaming of home and
mothers cupboard.
DOG TENTS.
For the benefit of some Of your Young
readers, l viii describe dog tent" They
consisted of two pieces of muslin, should
judge about five feet square; one piece had
buttons on one side, and the other had
button-holes, SO that the two could be
fastened together. At each of the four
corners there was a loop with little stake
In each one; then for each tent there were
three little pine sticks, or poles, about the
size of hoe handle. One was about FIVE
feet long, and the other two about three
Feet long The two short ones We're set
on end, the other fastened on top of the
two stakes, and the tent stretched over
them and stakcd down to the ground at
each corner, making the tent about five
feet long, and three feet high in the center,
and open at each end. One of these tents
was intended to accommodate two soldiers
When we were ready to go to bed, we
had to get down and crawl into the tent
Of course, when our heads were under
cur feet were out, and when our feet were
under, our heads were out
The portion of the regiment was with
operated in Kentucky, Tennessee, Missis-
sppl, Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, Indian
Territory, Louisiana and Texas
Our first campaign was from Union City
to Dresden, Tenn. 1t rained night and
day. When we reached Dresden the rebels
had evacuated the place. One night on
this trip the writer and three or four
others went to a negro cabin, cold, wet
and hungry. The old auntie baked some
corn dodgers and dug up some sweet pota-
toes that were buried under the floor, and
cooked them for US. We still owe that old
woman for that supper. The 7th Ind
Cav. had good credit. They generally
bought On credit. They sometimes found
persons who objected to trusting them, but
1t would not be long until they would
SbdhEe tuejT mluus. POSSIBLY they mad TO
trust us.
On this trip had my first experience
In foragiDg, but not my last. success
full foragcr has TO learn the art.
A CAMPAIGN AGAINST FORREST.
Dec. %. 1868, large force under Gen.
4. J. Smith, started after the rebel Gen
N. Is. Forrest, whose headquarters were
then at jackson, Tenn. The 7th Ind. Cav.
was among the regiments taking part in
the expedition. We went through a very
fertile country, which we left almost de-
vastated. The weather was pleasant,
especially on Christmas Day. We arrived
at Jackson in the night, but Gen. Forrest,
PIKE the old sly fox that he was, had fed
The 7th Ind. Cav. was quaTtered in an old
brick college, where one Of our Supreme
Court Judges graduated.
The day before New Years, 1864 (which
is known as the cold New Year'g.") q
large detail was made from my regiment.
under the command of Lieut.. Hill, TO get
forage. We were drawn up in line in
front of the yeranda of the old college:
Col. j. p. G. Shanks came out and said to
rs, Boys, get all you can carry, for it is
an old rebel that lives there" pointing TO
large mansion not far off.
The Lieutenant marched us to the
house, and went in at the front door.
Why be did SO l have never been able to
learn. was well in the rear, and when
got in the house was full of soldiers, and
the lady Of the house was sitting in the
parlor crying. walked on TO the pantry,