The National tribune., 1901-08-08

tufts Of gras at the bad boy In his apple
trfA before rsscsttpg to more effective
afntnunit6h. II brinS han doYp.
rcra ne.. aoo 5stu 1sSou to As ssSS
exchanged couTtssiss with cur friends the
enemy.
Shortly after We were ordered out to
join the division on review by Gen. Buell..
We Aoundersd through Kentucky mud a
foot deep, to reach our position on the
through all our eyolutions and returned
with US to our quarters.
GREEN RIVER BRIDaEp.
Jan. 8, 1S62-Ths railroad bridge over
Green River is now completed and trains
pass over it, but do net run any distance
beyond, as our pickets are only out three
miles.
A regiment is detailed each day to
guard the approaches to the bridge from
the south, and heavy earthworks are be-
ing thrown up to make its defense more
sure.
We expected to be ordered forward as
soon as the bridge should be completed,
but we see no signs yet Of an advance.
although rumor has it that 4 gunboat Px-
petition up the Cumberland and Tennes-
see Rivers is contemplated, which, if sue
cessfui, will cause Bucknsr to fall back
to Nashville.
JAN IL, IOO&-OuT regiment IulS MORN
ing was posted at the south end Of the
bridge, on picket.
We crossed on the pontoon bridge, a
wonderful invention for the passage Of
troops, baggage wagons and artillery. 1t
is constructed, first, by stretching a cable
from shore to shore, to which boats are
anchored at intervals. These boats are
simply wooden frames covered with can
vas. Beams are laid from one boat to
another and plank laid across the beams.
All the parts of the bridge are carried
on wagons, ready for bridging any stream
in a few hours.
Jan. u. 1SG2-The weather yesterday
was warm and cloudy, but changed last
night, while we were on picket duty, to
chilling rain, rendering our situation
very uncomfortable, without tents or shell
ter of any kind. We had to keep a vigil
liant watch, in spite Of the inclement
weather, because of the possibility of the
enemy taking advantage of it to attempt
a surprise in the hope of finding US out Of
position, sacrificing safety for shelter.
Our company was held in reserve on the
fore open fires to sleep, with arms at our
side, ready to spring to our feet at the
first alarm.
In my endeavor to get as much heat
as possible, l doubled up like jackknife
and fell asleep. Presently l dreamed that
my feet were caught fast in red-hot wise,
and the pressure increased until l awoke
to find my feet were in the fire and my
shoes smoking and twisting out of shape
1t did not take me long to tear the leather
strings loose and relieve my suffering feet
but my shoes were so terribly warped that
l had to convert them into Roman san
dals.
We returned to camp at 5 D. IN.
through the rain, and when dismissed to
our quarters we crawied into our snug
tent, kept warm and dry by our treasure
of a stove, and sang Home, Sweet
Home, my messmates and /, with pro-
found appreciation of its charms.
Jan. IL, 1S62-COld and freezing this
morning, but we did not mind it, as we
sat around our stove, with nothing to do
but bake hapjacks TO satisfy healthy APP
petites. We draw meal and -four in place
of bareback, which furnish material for
hotcakes, that only require some of the
suffers 25-cent butter to make them de-
licious.
Jan. IA, 1S62-Ground slightly covered
with snow, which disappeared early in the
afternoon, leaving a sea of mud surround
ing our tents, which stood in the midst
like white coral islands.
Jan. To- 1S62-Rained necessarily all
day, but VIC Rugged the stove, argued poll
ties and religion, laid out campaigns for
our Generals, played cards, checkers and
chess.
Jan. 1G, 1S62-Four Of us visited the
town of MunfordSville, but saw nothing
but soldiers. There was a time when we
would have Travelled far to see 4 lot of
soldiers, but they have been so plentiful
around us for six months that we are
now almost willing to swim Green River
to see a plug hat and a swallOw-tail coat.
TO be continued9