Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-09-15
FORAGLNG IN EAST TENNESSEE.
BY D. /. WALDEN, OF THE 10TH GA. REGIMENT.

BY ". u
After the battle OF Knoxville. the army
OF General Longstreet marched up the
river in the direction OF the Virginia line
and spent the remainder of the winter
among the mountains, near the eastern
border Of the state, where we found food
supplies abundant, especially bacon, which
seemed to have been the speciality Of those
farmers.
The Yankee cavalry had followed us a
short distance from Knoxville, but had
abandoned the pursuit and left no forces
in those mountains to oppose US, so we
engaged quite extensively in the business
OF impressing bacon and other supplies,
not only for our own consumption, out eof
shipment to other departments OF the
army. I accompanied one OF those forag-
ing expeditions and have been thinking
that perhaps an account OF that part or
our service might be interesting to the
great modern army of war story readers.
our marty consisted Of a commanding or
ficer. Captain Whitehead, eight teamsters
with wagons to haul the bacon we might
capture and sixteen armed guards 10 pro-
tect the party from attacks OF bushwhack-
ers who were supposed to be lurking IN
those mountains. We were very unpopu-
lar with those inhabitants. and there We're
no demonstrations OF welcome extended
10 US.
A considerable proportion OF the people
were disciples OF Andy Johnson and Par
son Brownlow and sympathized with the
Yankees; the heads of some families we
visited being in the Yankee army, ana the
business we were engaged I'm rendered us
unwelcome even to those who would 9TH
erwise have been our friends Threats
OF armed resistance from organized bands
OF bushwhackers reached US occasionally
and although such an attack seemed not
altogether improbable, we never encoun-
tered them. We were required TO cali
upon every family in the territory as
signed US. regardless Of the appearance
OF the premises, and we sometimes found
large stocks Of bacon in small houses.
The news OF our approach always proceed
ed US and almost every family had their
meat hidden away, more or less securely,
before our arrival and would then deny
having any. We became expert discover
ers Of hidden meat but at the homes of
some apparently well to do families we
failed to find any.
We went one night with an old bach
elor. who lived with several negro slaves,
in some old dilapidated log cabins, re-
mote from any road except an old blind
wagon trail so INSTRUCTED by projecting
rocks, roots OF trees. stumps and wash
outs as to render IL almost inaccessible
by wagons. He apologised and feigned
deep regret, at being unable to offer us
meat at our meals. but we saw a great
many hogs Of various sizes about the
premises, as well as cattle. horses and
poultry. These and many other indica-
tons pointed to the probability OF there
being meat about the place, but a most
exhaustive search failed TO locate IL. Some
OF our men offered brides TO negro chill
dren for information about the meat, but
they had evidently been well drilled for
the occasion and gave us no clew what
ever 10 the secret. We called upon one
lady who had an unusually numerous
family OF daughters. several Of whom
were grown up women, and were exceed
ingly beautiful. They met us with the
sweetest smiles upon their faces and en-
gagged us Immediately in lively and, most
pleasant conversations, and some Of us
were so fascinated by their charms. We
began TO regret the necessity for men
tioning our business. which we felt sure
would ruin all that good fellowship. They
denied having meat and explained. with
great exactness. the causes which had
deprived them OF that very desirable ar
ticle OF diet but our search disclosed
considerable quantity Of hams. sides,
shoulders. etc, buried under the kitchen
floor, and those sweet smiles and pleas
ant words Immediately gave way to
that made the place hideous. We weighed
out their allowance, 80 pounds to each
member OF the family present, and like
amout for each OF half dozen alleged
absentees. loaded the remainder on the
wagons. settled for IL in Confederate
money and went on our way. We called
on one old lady whose son was in the
Yankee army and his wife having died,
the grandmother had taken charge Of the
g. - - unI &c INST
bitterly. and after our business was an
nOunced. she became very abusive. de-
nouncing US as traitors, thieves and rob-
bers OF defenseless women and children.
She refused to accept the proffered price
OF the meat we had taken and when the
Confederate bills were thrust into her lap,
she Indignantly threw them into the fire
and burned them. declaring that the
home OF her son, who was loyal to his
country, should not be polluted with such
filth.
On one occasion we had loaded the wag-
ems in the country beyond the Chucky
river and started back to the railroad to
unload. going by way Of the ford at the
mouth OF the Chuclzy. We reached the
1ord early one desperately cold morning,
and found the river about 80 yards wide
and about four feet deep. 1t was decided te
carry over only one wagon at time and
dAleE II lduucu 70 SAdAl TIE neat Ohcs
and so on.
After all except one had crossed over
safely and that one had reached the mid
die Of the stream, the very essential at
tachment. known as the doubletree, broke
and left the wagon stranded I'm the water.
There was only one way out Of that I'M
fortunate difficulty and that was for the
teamster to plunge down into the water,
unharness the team, ride out, borrow
doubletree from another wagon, carry it
back and reharness the team. But be-
fore doing so he stood up in the wagon
and INDUCED in boisterous strain OF pro-
fuse swearing. He cursed the doubletree,
the wagon. the mules, the Confederacy,
JEFF Davis and many other persons and
things and then proceeded with his dis
agreeable task.
A FURLOUGH.
We went TO Greenville TO unload and
as we entered the suburbs Of the town.
we passed our own old 10th Georgia reg
iment which was on a march and had
stopped to give US the road. When we
got TO my own company (EO I was greet
ed in a chorus OF voices, from comrades
with the very cheering news that Captain
Mcbride had a furlough for me. During
my absence an order had been received
Offering a g days furlough to one man
from each company and as the custom
was in our company, all who had not
been home on furlough, were allowed to
compete for IL through the chance game
OF dice. A friend won 1t for me and my
furlough had been approved before I