The National tribune., 1902-04-03


rocky; at many points the wide lodges o
rocks crossed the road. At these point
the mules could get but little foOthOld
and they often slipped and fell. At othe
places the way was SO steep that it wa
necessary to double the teams to pull tn
wagons forward. My examination of tn
road this day stood me well in hand whel
my brigade made the passage.
The day dragged along and night at las
came, and a considerable portion of th'
advance wagon train was still strIgglin:
I'D the mountain side. | decided not L
begin the ascent until the next morning
Gen. Smith did cross over and camp IL
Sweeden's Cove, and his wagon tran
closed up during the night.
During the night of Nov. II the weather
changed. there were strong indications oi
rain, and at o'clock a. IN. the rain be
gan To fall. | Immediately sent word t.
regimental commanders to cause their men
TO have an early breakfast and be ready
10 move out of camp as soon as they could
see the road. The order of march had
already been issued; three regiments were
TO march in front. one regiment to hold
the rear and 800 men without arms al
accouterments were detailed to aid in the
movement of the wagon train. BY day
light the rain fell in torrents, but every
body was ready for the march.
QuarteImastCr GOrgeS Strengthened out
the train, and the artillery was ready to
move.
The troops had no serious trouble in
making the ascent; they were used to
marching, and although the rain contin-
ned and great quantity of water poured
down the road, they went forward prompt
ly and soon reached the top of the mOun-
tain. But il was very different with the
teams; the animals had to strain every
nerve to drag the wagons over the best
part of the road, and when they reached
the steepest places the teams were power
less to 90 forward at such points groups
of 20 or 80 men were assembled; the mo-
ment Il wagon paused these men seized
the wheels and other parts of the wagon,
and with shouts of encouragement to the
team the impeachment was overcome. |
selected three or four resting-placeS where
teams were given little time to rccu-
perate their strength. The same plan was
adopted with the artillery, with the eX-
ception that the teams were double from
the. start. Each piece would be hauled
forward a certain distance and stopped
another piece; this plan was continued
until the artillery reached the top of the
mountain. 1t was not until 2 o'clock in
the afternoon that the brigade with all its
impedimentS had reached the top of the
mountain. 1t was a hard days work, and
the difficulties of the passage were greatly
exaggerated by the rain storm. The rain
had ceased, the sun shOne brightly, and the
scene to the west and southwest was
grand.
The brigade was halted for dinner.
AT this point the Cumberland Mountain
is 10 miles wide. When you reach the
top of the mountain yOu come upon fine
rolling country well timbered and not I'M
H&gg to the agriculturist.
he afternoon | renewed the march.
ear sundOwn reached the old camp
hnd which had been occupied by Gen.
eSegley during the Summer. Here 1
encamped for the night.
l remembered with pleasure the delight
full afternoon march along that mountain
road; the air was simply delicious, one
felt Il new sensation Of life while trayers
ing that elevated plateau. | could well
understand then how it was that the old
TeDnesseean away from home longed to
get back TO his mountain scenery and the
splendid springs that so freely abound in
that old State.
On Nov. 16, in the early morning, we
left Camp Negley for Bridgeport.
swEEDEN's COVE.
Our road followed a slight depression
in the mountain, which became more no.
ticeable as we proceeded. | soon OBJ
served that the mountain stretched grand
ly eastward on the right and left, with
Il break in the center. | concluded that
the cove lay between these rugged slopes.
The roadway now fell off rapidly. and we
soon reached the very brow of the uplift.
And such a scene as spread out before us,
Fully ! 900 feet below rs lay the valley,
very narrow at its upper end where it
was inclOsed by the mountain, but broad
ening out to almost a mile in width some
three miles away.
Winding through this valley is a small
stream with water cold and clear as crys-
tai murmuring and ripPling on its way
to the Tennessee.
But those mountain sides. steep, and
here and there broken with rayines, were
simply gorgeous, with their colOrs of
brown and red and yellow and green This
was Nov. 16, and the great forest trees
were covered with brown leaves, but here
and there the smaller growth displayed
their banners of red and yellow, while the
cedars, ever green, were thickly disbursed
in the foreground from the base of the
mountain to its very top.
This was one of natures most splendid
pictures. The eye never tires of looking
upon such a scene. Everyone who is
fortunate enough to journey over this road
will agree with me that Sweeden's Cove
is 4 thing of beauty. The descent into
the valley was quickly made and at II
o'clock we halted for the MONDAY meal.
Near the head of the valley we found
a spring - feet in diameter and quite
as deep; the water was clear and cold
and flowed into the creek with bold cur
rent On the roadside. near the head of
the valley, there was a small farm with
a comfortable building; the family, con-
slstlng Of father, mother and son, were
assembled on the porch to witness the
passage Of the troops.
| observed that the young man wore
the Federal uniform. | stopped at the
gate and entered into conversation with
these loyal Tennesseeans. | accepted an
invitatiOn TO dinner, and during the hour
remained with these good people | was
regaled with the story Of the unequal
struggle of the Union men in Tennessee
in the early part of the war and of their
JOY at the appearance of Union soldiers.
The son had but recently enlisted in a
Tennessee regiment, and was now at home
for a few days on furlough.
CROSSING THE RIVER.
The distance from Sweeden's Cove TO
Bridgeport is nine miles. About o'clock
in the afternoon Of Nov. l6 we marched
into bridgeport, where we found our COM
rades the other brigades encamped. We
weresnOw only y miles from Chattanooga,
our point of destination. We awaited or
ders from Gen. Sherman. Those orders
came the next day.
On the morning of Nov. IS. leaving the
wagons containing our camp equipage, we
crossed the Tennessee River on a pontoon
bridge. The river was Overhung with n
dense fog. We could scarcely see 10 feet
ahead of us. The bridge at its best was