The National tribune., 1902-02-27


give up our search for the truth in despair
What we do know is that We have orders
to march at daybreak tomorrow with
Only such baggage as we can carry on our
backs, and that our first objective point
is Chattanooga. We have already pro
vided four days ratiOns in our haver-
sacks No mail came in today, which is
an evidence that something is wrong with
the Cracker line" so we think our eXpe-
dition has something to do with its repair.
Sept. 29.-Reveille at $50 n. m. Got
up and CROPPED in the darkness to prepare
breakfast. At sunrise started for ATTAIN
ia. Arriving there. found no train In
readiness, so we stacked arms and waited
until sunset before boarding the train, AZ
ter which another hour was spent in wait
ing for the remainder of our brigade t"
join u.s. When all were aboard the trains
started for Chattanooga, ours IN advance
CHATTANOOGA AND VICINITY.
Sept. 30-Daylight found us near Re
SAGA and still rolling along. The town is
insignificant in itself, but it holds large
place in our memory in connection with
our bloody battle of May IA. \ few miles
farther we stopped for breakfast at Dal-
ton, which was Johnston's headquarters
when we confronted his army at Rocky
Face Ridge. 4 run of four miles brought
us to Buzzard Roost Gap, through which
we passed. quite thankful that we did not
attempt to pass through it the other way
when the COnfederates held one end. At
noon we reached Chattanooga, where we
were surprised at the changes since our
last visit Many large store-houses and
private dwellings had been built. A new
bridge crossed the river. Old forts We're
improved and new ones built, and Cam
eron Hill bristled with cannon. But amid
all the changes of lesser objects old Look
out stands unchanged, ever looking grlmly
down upon the valley and the pigmy hills
at its foot About the middle of the af-
ternoon our train, followed by six others,
containing the remainder of our division,
with its battery, started for Stevenson,
where we heard that Athens had surren-
dered to Forrest most disgracefully; that
Huntsville was invested. and that train
which left Stevenson at noon had been
captured 10 miles out and burned.
Oct 1.-Spent the night on the train,
which stood on the main track headed for
Nashville, toward which place we expect
ed to start this morning. But at 8 a. m.
our trains were backed off the Nashville
road and proceeded on the Memphis road
toward Huntsville, Go miles distant. 1t
was reported that a large force of Con-
federates had demanded the surrender OF
that city.
We passed the wreck of the train de-
stroyed yesterday, and after various slight
DELAYS came within four miles of Hunts
vile, where ii was deemed prudent TO ad-
vance with more caution, as darkness had |
closed upon US. As our train was ahead,
we had to provide a line of skirmishers
for each side of the track while one
walked in the center ahead of the engine
with a lantern, carefully examining the
track In this manner we led our process |
sion of trains into Huntsville, arriving
about 10 p. m. in the midst of Il pitiless
rain. The garrison was delighted to see
us having skirmished during the day with |
the enemy, whose camp-fres fared omi- |
nOusly from an adjacent hill.
Our regiment disembarked, and, having |
first choice, selected the depot building for
our quarters, which proved very comfort |
able, but the other regiments as they ar
rived found great difficulty in securing |
shelter from the rain.
OPERATIONS AGAINST FORREST.
The next morning we moved out and |
encamped west of the city and made prep |
arations to stay several days. / walked |
through the city, and was charmed with |
its beautiful location and the neat appear
ance of its private dwellings, half hid |
in the foliage of many trees.
The rude hand of war has fallen lightly |
on Huntsville. We forlOrn soldiers found |
it a pleasing novelty to see once more a |
city where dcsOlation is not written upon |
every house.
Late in the evening we again boarded |
our train, but it did not move.
Our train started Oct. 3 for Athens. |
Rain was falling heavily all the time, and |
those of our number who had to ride on |
top of the cars, for lack of room inside, |
suffered greatly. A run of 81. miles |
brought us within two miles of Athens, |
where n burned bridge stopped all farther |
progress by rail, so our entire division dis
embarked and marched through the rain
into town.
Our regiment was assigned TO duty as
prOvost-guards, and established posts in |
various buildings. Our mess found quar-
ters in the railroad office, where, with a |
blazing fire in the CRATE and n dry floor |
on which TO spread our blankets. we pre- |
pared TO spend the night as comfortably |
as heart could wish. Our men placed on |
duty as guards were Hospitality enter |
tanned by the citizens in their houses, and |
furnished with supper and lodging.
We learned the details Of the surrender |
of this post to Forrest 10 days before our |
arrival. by which we lost a large quantity |
of military stores and six regiments as |
prisoners The affair was not creditable |
TO Col. Campbell, in command.
We lay down to sleep with pleasant an |
ticipations OF remaining awhile in these |
comfortable quarters, but our peace of |
mind was soon after disturbed by the un-
welcome order TO be ready to march at |
daybreak.
Early dawn found us ready for the |
march, but in no pleasant mood, for we !
had learned that our division was expect |
ed 70 founder through 40 miles of mud TO |
Florence In time to prevent Forrest from |
crossing the Tennessee River at that point |
with the plunder and prisoners secured by |
his successful foray into middle Tennes- |
see.
He was being pursued by two other col |
umns, and ours was intended to close the |
last gap; but Forests command was |
mounted and we on foot, so we consid- |
cred ours a wild-goose chase, such as we |
had frequently made in pursuit of cav
airy.
Soon after we left Athens the rain be-
gan TO fall in earnest, and the miserable |
road grew rapidly worse. Elk River we |
found much swollen and without bridge, |
so we plunged through it and tramped on |
to the little town of Rodgersville, where |
we halted for the night, having marched |
21 miles. Never did we encamp under |
more cheerless circumstances, with dark |
ness, rain and mud abounding. Being
tired, wet hungry, cold and thoroughly
disgusted, | sat down determined to make
myself still more miserable with gloomy
thoughts.
My messmates, with better judgment,
busted themselves in collecting rails TO
build fire and cook supper, and having
brought one arnful returned for more,
leaving me to watch what they had Sc
cured. With my face buried in my hands, !
apparently asleep, q soldier ventured TO
steal the rails from under my nose never