The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1901-09-26

The cotton bales on the leyee were 10
ho our beds. so we sat there until sleep
oyercame us, watching the silyery beams
of the moon playing on the water, which
WAS darkened here and there by the placR
buIks of fleet of gunboats anchored IN
midstream, grim and silent, except when
their bells tOlled the passing hours.
OF course, we had to rise next morning
with the sun to escape the glare OF ms
beams. At 10 a. M, Oct. 3, we boarded
an Illinois Central train, and ran 1oo miles
directly toward the homes of many OF our
number, so il was not surprising When we
turned toward Louisville that our pat
TALON was much smaller.
Oct. Is | reached Louisville on my way
To reioin NV regiment. | reported at
Headquarters and was assigned to pat
talon composed of 120 men returning to
their several commands. After providing
ourselves with rations of fresh beef ana
bread we marched out on the BardstoWn
Pike in pursuit OF our army, when was
in pursuit of the Confederates under
Bragg. When we reached the OUTSKIRTS
of the city we met small squads of pa
rolled prisoners hurrying into town, many
of them no doubt anxious TO meet reia-
tiyes and friends. We halted six miles
from the city for the night.
At sunrise, Oct. Z, we started, travel
ing through heat and dust until
noon, when we were brought to
A halt by an officer from Bards-
town. who told us there was no use OF
our going farther, as there We're no pro-
visions to be had on the way and nothing
at BardstOwn, 20 miles distant. Our "a
tons were about exhausted, but we de-
cided to proceed, and marched four miles,
TO Salt Greek, altogether Is miles.
AT BARDsTowN.
We started early Oct. 8 and hurried
ID, nc fast Spaury
rations and lack of drinking water would
permit. the two great armies Just ahead
of us having drained all the wells, while
the heat and dust oppressed and choked
u.s. Reaching Bardstowu at 4 p. m, al
ter an eXhausting march of l6 miles, we
found it wrecked and almost deserted.
With great difficulty we secured a rev
crackers, but not enough to satisfy our
hunger, and pressed on to the river, where
at nightfall we dropped on the ground,
tired and hungry, to sleep, regardless OF
the fact that ali afternoon we had heard
the dull echo of cannonading so contlnu-
Gus that We rightly conJectured that
battle was in progress.
We awOke next morning TO ind our
selves entirely without food, with many
miles OF destitute country yet separating
MS from our army. We sent two men
back to Bardstown for supplies Ihey
returned Mt noon with a few crackers,
Presently we met two country wagons go
ing to MILL prairie schooners' we called
them. each drawn by four mules, in charge
of white man and Il negro. We pressed
them into Our service without much per
suasion, loaded the wagons with KNAPP
sacks and comrades least able to walk,
and babe the drivers turn the mules to-
ward Perryyille.
We now moved along ut cheerful rate.
Our white teamster appeared to enjoy the
trip and laughed to think how his folks
at home would be surprised TO learn that
he had started to mill and had gone tray
cling with the Yankee army. The negro
was also in a jolly humor. This was a
picnic. In all his life as a slave nothing
so exciting had ever happened to him. No
one had ever presumed to give him any
orders contrary to those of his master.
Here he was with a lot of strange new
masters from far country who could
order even his old master around.
We made good time with our teams and
stopped for the night near the little village
of Fredericktown, where a small stream
supplied us with water, which was about
all we had, as rationS were exhausted.
We managed, however, TO get enough
from the citizens to keep from starving.
While encamped around our brightly
burning fires we were told by some Union
people that their Secession neighbors were
talking about a party of guerrillas who
arranged upon our cdUlp III
ter we had gone to sleep, and as our de-
tachment could muster only six guns we
felt rather helpless, so we held q council
of war and decided to ambush those who
would ambush us. Accordingly we left
our fires burning and concealed ourselves
in the bushes near by, hoping that our
enemies, If they came, might stumble
upon us Unexpectedly in the darkness and
be put to fight. We kept our six guns
on picket duty all night, but were not dis
turbed.
AT sunrise, Oct. 10, we started, with
our teams, anxious TO get under the pro-
tecting wing OF our army, as we did not
know what moment we might encounter
guerrillas or the enemy's cavalry. Five
miles out we We're oyertaken by the owner
Of the negro, accompanied by the Sheriff,
TO make legal demand for his property,
which included the negro as well as the
team. We did not at first comply. Al
though he had the Sheriff, we had six
guns, 50 we continued on our way without
stopping TO argue points of law with the
owner and Sheriff, who rode their horses
close after the coveted wagon, begging
more earnestly as we progressed. At
length we yielded to persuasion, because
the owner claimed TO be q good Union
man. and after taking out our baggage we
babe the negro turn his team toward
home, which, in fact, he was glad TO do,
as our talk of guerrillas had thoroughly
demoralized him.
Our white driver continued with his
team the balance of the day, but grew
very tired of his job. when rain began
falling at noon and continued until night
fall, when we found shelter at Pottsville.
Here we dismissed our teamster with
thanks.
We quartered ourselves in vacant build
ings, which We're plentiful enough Sew
eral OF us found refuge in a kitchen, where
for awhile we disputed possession in the
darkness with stove and other furniture
came in contact with Il table which be,
came my protector during the night. as
slept under it snugy wrapped in my blan-
ket. while the rain battered on the root
outside
We were awakened next morning by
the rafting Of the stove. as the colOred
servant began TO prepare breakfast for he.
masters family. The presence of unin
yited dodgers and the possibility of IN.
invited guests for breakfast did not seen
TO concern her, as she stepped over the
PROSTATE forms that blocked her way N
every turn. We did not stay for break
fast, well knowing that the scanty sup
plies left for families by the two armies
ahead would not permit of any hospital
ity. We also learned that our army wa,
only eight miles distant and fearing i
might move on and give us another lon,
chase, We hurried off without ceremony
or breakfast.
FIELD OF PERRYVILLE
We made quick time to perryvilIc, an,
reported TO Gen. Buell., whom we saw pac
ing back and forth before his tent. Ou
N.a. IL. L 4.