The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1901-01-03

WOODS were illumined by the hundreds of
campfres and the waving of signal lights
from point to point. Our lines are so
well intrenched now that the rebs will
have a desperate time if they attempt to
drive US out.
Camp near Chattanooga, Thursday,
Oct. ], 1S63.-It is raining today, the first
time for eight weeks, and while safely
fixed in the dry, will send a few lines.
Things are going we'll with us now, and
We are all in the best Of spirits. week
of comparative rest, after our long march
and battle, has served to put many things
TO rights. We have the dust cleaned off
and out of our systems, clothes washed,
places made for shelter, and beds for
sleeping; rations are once more issued,
newspapers received and we are again in
communication with the outside world.
A TRUCE ON THE PICKET LINE.
We are occupying a position on a high
river hill overlooking Chattanooga and di-
rectly in front of Lookout Mountain; down
the river to our right our men guard a
ford and across the river the rebs do the
same. At first there was continual firing
at each other, but a rebel Colonel, who
commanded on the other side, came down
and made a bargain with our officer. 1T
is evident" he said, that picket firing
will never settle the war" 1t was agreed
that no more such firing was to occur, and
now the men from both sides go to the
river for water to wash, unmOlested, and
talk across to each other frequently.
One Of our boys was asked by a rebel
picket how we were getting along and
how we liked to travel that "LOngstreet."
He was told. 1t was a bad road, but if
we could not travel it We battered 1t up
so il would not be necessary again" In
the late battle Longstreets men had only
been off the cars four hours, when they
were brought right into the fight, and al
though they fought well they were badly
used up in their part of the lines and
many prisoners were taken from their com
mand During the conflict on Sunday
they would halloo to our boys, You are
not fighting Bragg's conscripts now, and
were told in reply, you are not fighting
New England Yankees, either"
Oct. Ave are still at our place across
the river, and all affairs are moving
smoothly Since last Monday the rebels
have permitted our ambulances to go TO
the Chickamauga field for our wounded,
and many hundreds have been brought in
Our Surgeons and wagons go half way
to the rebel lines, where the Confederates
take the wagons and bring back the
wounded. Those wounded report great
suffering while in the hands of the en-
emy, and but little attention given except
TO guard them. In many instances our
men with shattered limbs lay on the field
from Sunday till Sunday, without any aid
and by this neglect many persisted. 1t is
said there were over 1000 left wounded
on the field. The rebels suffered as Sc
yerely as we did, and could hardly attend
to their own wounded.
BURNING OF A WAGON TRAIN.
The next most disastrous affair / have
to note is the burning Of a wagon trair
between here and Bridgeport. By neglec
and cowardice Of those in charge trail
of 400 wagons loaded with rations anC
ammunition was destroyed by the rebe
cavalry on Tuesday morning, and 1t Il
evident that our trains have been very in
securely guarded that this happened.
This train was bound from Stevenson
the distance being about 20 miles by tn
road. At the foot of the mountains, 2
miles from here, the rebel cavalry dashe'
In. Some OF the guards fought well, Blu
the rebs got the better part of the train
plundered and burned 1t. We lost on
wagon containing our blankets and shel
ter tents. / regret the loss of our head
quarters flag, presented to US at Shelby
Vile. l packed il with our things. and
Is supposed il was lost with the rest. Th
ammunition train was fired and blown I
pieces, the rebs shot down the mules an
thew persisted in q horrible manner. A
coon as the word was received a force wa
sent out, and severely defeated the reb:
capturing many prisoners.
Rosecrans is trying hard to maintai
the army here, but he will have har
time keeping up communications; to haI
supplies for q large army over 20 mile
of mountain roads is an almost impossibl
task, and will be worse when rain
weather sets in. Reinforcements are r.
ported at Bridgeport, some say froi
Hooker or from Grant, and we cannG
learn where Burnside Is.
The rebels on Lookout Mountain ar
busy erecting batteries, and our men al
busy on Notifications opposite them. Tt
pickets still talk to each other across th
river. The rebs ask US "how we like