The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1902-05-22

the cars all night Today, at 3 p. m. We
again went on board the train and started
for Cheraw 5. Z.
The citizens at Darlington G. II. fur
nished our regiment with refreshments as
we passed through their city. There was
such a scramble for these things that l did
not get any. ! never was a success as
grabber We drew rations Of whisky at
Florence this morning. / poured mine on
the ground.
REINSTATEMENT OF JOHNSTON.
Feb. 27.-ArriveGi at Cheraw last night
at about 8 o'clock, and went into camp
outside of the town. Got a pass and went
into town. Respectable looking place. Our
brigade was inspected in the afternoon.
What are those inspections for, anyway!
We never got any better clothes or any
more to eat after one than before. Guess
they want to see if we are worn out TO
the FRAGILE yet. Looks like we are near
IL. Reported that Joe Johnston has been
reinstated in command. Men ali glad
of it.
JEFF. Davis influenced by ignOramuses
and stay-at-homes, had him removed at
Atlanta. and Hood has fought the West
ern Army TO Il fragile. Relnstatlng
General does not reinstate the men lost by
his removal, nor does it satisfy the men.
The confidence of the army in its Govern
ment can never be restored, no matter if
the reinstatement satisfies them. The men
of my command, II seems, thought that
Hood would accomplish something, and
approved of the removal of Johnston. They
see the mistake, and are now glad to be
under Johnston. If our corps effects
junction with Johnston's army, our COM
bined strength cannot equal the strength
of the Western Army when it was turned
over to Hood, and Sherman's army is
practically as strong as it was when 1t
captured Atlanta.
Feb. 2S-We have outmarched Sher-
mans army, but they are pressing our rear
guards. We drew three days rations, but
had to move before we could cook them.
Went into line of battle on the south
side of Thompson's Creek, and fortified
our position. Saw some Federal prison
ers which our men had captured. Rain
and mud.
March In line of battle on Thomp
sons Creek. Our line on a hill side;
very unpleasant place. Was up nearly all
of last night cooking the rations which
drew yesterday. Rain.
March 2.-The enemy made demon
stration on our position today. The princi-
pal damage done by them was the destruc-
ton of a widows residence. Still hold
our position. 1t does not seem like the
Yankees intended to make a real attack
on us. If they do, we are ready to meet
them. More rain.
March 3.-My regiment and the Sd 5. &.
were on picket last night. flank move
ment of the enemy compelled us TO evacu-
ate our lines at 4 o'clock this a. m, and TO
retreat to the north side of the Pedee
River We burned the river bridge. and
retreated along the road to Rockingham,
N c. More rain.
March Ave drew five days rations
last night; had two on hand. Guess the
mules and wagons in our provision train
are playing out, and we are being turned
into q commissary train. Good idea. Wish
they had thought of it before.
The enemy are following US up, and our
commanders are trying to avoid an en-
gagement, as we continued TO retreat or
fail back at 80 O'Clock this a. II. We
halted within one mile OF Rockingham, \.
c., and our whole brigade went on the
picket line. More rain.
RETgEATING BEFORE sHERMAN's ADVANCE.
March 5-Slight encounters with the
enemy's advance thus far. Evacuated our
position this morning at s o'clock a. m,
and continued our retreat, but halted at
Rockingham until o'clock p. m, to pre-
vent the enemy from attacking our wagon
train. At the above hour we continued to
fall back on the road to Greensboro, y. O.
We had retreated about two or three
miles, when the column suddenly stopped,
and our division commander, Gen. Nc
Laws. went to the front at gallop. Word
passed along the column that the enemy
was in line ahead Of us, and across the
road, with battery posted on hill cover
Ing our advance.
This caused considerable stir and ex-
element, but as no orders came to form
line of battle the wonder grew. After
quite waiting and anxiety the command
was given to Forward" After marching
shout half mile trrneJ n heud in tho
road, when the battery which was on the
hill showed up, and troops in battle array
Oh either aide Of the road, the whole fac
Ing us. In the woods on both sides of the
road were wagons, which had been car
ried there by the stampeded mules ard
riders. ] began TO think that we had been
surrendered to the troops IN our front, for
at the distance / could not distinguish
what troops they were. We marched on
under orders, and when we got abreast
Of the supposed enemy, we found them TO
be Confederate soldiers. They were Gen.
Blsncbard's Brigade of ola men and boys.
They were laughing, and as their faces
were black from the smoke of the pine
knot fires, they looked like the end men
In q minstrel show. 1t turned out that
Gen. Blanchard was not apprised of the
presence OF our brigade and the wagon
train in his rear, and took us for the enc.
my. He posted his guns and formed his
lines, ana when the teamsterS came IL
sight Of the battle array they took Blanch
ards folks for the Yankees and took &c
the woods with their wagons and teams
This panic spread from the head all along
the line and had it not been for the promp:
action of a few cool heads l expect
Blanchard's folks would have cleaned US
up or captured us.
We laughed out the matter with the
boys, and continued on our way. VIZ
marched 13 miles and went into camp.
March e.-Remained in camp until moor
today, when we continued our march In
the direction of Greensboro The enemy
being close on Us and our wagons JUS
ahead of US, We were compelled to retrea
very slowly, and had to stop often. WheI
night came we had gone only six miles
We did not come in contact with the enc
my, as the cavalry Of both armies ar
fighting between our lines
A DEsoLATE REGION.
March 7.-Resumsd our march thi
morning at 8 o'clock, and after falling
back about four miles we took road I
Fayetteville, n. c., as the enemy ar
working their way around our left flank
Rations plenty. More wagons and mule
giving out and the grub is being unloade
On us. This is the land of hills and pin
trees Turpentine farms as far as we cal
see. They are all abandoned, aud in som
places where. the stills are near the roa
the melted resin has nSwed across an
along the road. The whole scene is a sue
Eestibn of dssolation.
The only living thing see left behind |
the razorback hog, which is too poo
for food. Very few houses, and they ar