Williston graphic., 1902-09-18

resauga valley, our brigade taking
possession of large grist mill. Vol
unteer millers were called for, and a
dozen responded. Heavy detachments
went into the farming districts near,
and gathered all the wheat and corn
available. This was ground into flour
and meal, and bread and corn pones
ard sinkers were baked to take us back
to Chattanooga. We remained at the
mill about week, eating up nearly
everything that was get-atable, but
re sumed the march with full stomachs,
at least.
Before we were out two days on the
re turn trip we were again short OH
rations, and were compelled to resort
to parched corn. We were shorter
than ever on clothes, and as this was
in December, and the weather was
cold, there was much suffering. Many
of the boys had no shoes, and the
line Of march of our brigade could be
traced by the blood on the frozen
ground from almost sh hoeless feet. To
save our feet we made rough mocca-
sins of blankets and pieces of cloth
ing, or made soles of two or three
thicknesses of cloth, and tied them on
with strings. Some of the boys, how
ever, were barefoot, and swore that
their feet got so tough and hard they
could strike fire out of the tlinty rocks
along the ROAD.
'Bur, hard or not, the feet bled, and
as we could Aor fall out we let them
bleed, and plodded OF. There was in
clination, however, to find the softest
spots on the road or in the fields near
the road, and this brings me to my
messmate, Haynes. One day, as we
were passing through piece of tim
ber land, Haynes and others went
about 200 yards to our right into an
open field that fanked the timber.
company of cavalry in blue uniforms
rode in among the stragglers without
exciting much attention until it was
discovered the cavalrymen were con-
federates in Yankee dress. Many of
the stra gglers made rush back to our
line of march, but Haynes and score
Of others were carried off as prisoners.
''The confederates hurried their
prisoners off as quietly as possible
three or four miles to an old house
in sheep hollow or gorge. Late in the
evening they took all the prisoners
away except Haynes and a unionist
civilian, who had been marching back
with our army. They bound the hands
oe Ia ~.
of one guard. During the night they
were permitted to go outside, and
Haynes, STOPPING down. worked his
hands loose, caught up club, and,
springing suddenly on the guard,
knocked him down. The refugee fin
ished the business, and he and Haynes
made a bee-line for the Tennessee
river aiming to strike it just above
Cleveland.
''The refugee knew the country well
and where to find union people. The
first night they were hidden in a house
which was searched early the next
morning from top to bottom by con-
tederate cavalry, but the East Ten
-nesseeans of those days knew how to
hide fellow, and Haynes and his
friend were not found. The next night
shey were lucky enough to get across
the river and worked their day cau-
t:ously toward Chattanooga. In the
Meantime our brigade had marched
back - the camp on the North Chick
amauga, which we had occupied before
the battle of Missionary Ridge. The
Gay after our arrival Bob, Lou and
Dave made a scout up the creek abo ut
eight miles and located calf, which
they intended to return fer that night,
cut its throat and carry the carcass
quietly into camp.