The National tribune., 1902-01-16

before sunrise. \ division of the Fourth
Corps was filing in rear of ours, and aS
soon as we moved out of our works ii
moved forward and took our place. Our
Division moved two miles To the left, and
at noon halted in rear of Johnson's -Divi-
sion. where we pitched tents for prUtec-
tion from the rain.
There was lively skirmishing in front
of us all afternoon, and after sunset IL
grew ficrcer, yet we paid but little atteIr
ton to ii; but when we wrapped our
selves Smugly. i'll our blankets aud lay
down to sleep we were startled lay the
zip of bullets about our ears, All
awakened to the fact that the COnfeder-
ate SharpshoOters had the range of our
quarters. Some of our men arose to
gather loose rocks and built Il rampant,
others pulled their. blankets over their
heads and slept on. During the night two
men in the brigade We're wounded, and
many others had very crosse calls, but
escaped.
DAY OF QUIET.
At 0 Il. H., June >, our division moved
forward into the intrenchments of John
sons DIVISION, which moved at the same
time to the left. Our regiment occupied
some intrenChments Il mile TO the lett,
where we spent the night, and found the
location very pleasant as the troops we
TeIlGNtu udu ulilli SllduA dltBtlSs III MlliNh
We sought shelter from the hcrce rays Oh
the sun as soon as we had broken ranks.
But we found something lacking to cur
reception III new quarteIS-the usual
zip of the mimic BAH that betOKens The
watchful presence of our neIghbors oYel
the way. Quiet reigned instead, and
rumOr announced anOIner evacuation, and
later we found that the elaborate works
confronting Us We're empty. Our move
ment to the left, which had been III prog
ress several days by the slow but sure
process of moving one division after an
other, had pushed our flank so close to
Johnston line of communication that Ole
more shifting of divisions from right to
left like the ''wriggie' of a huge serpent,
would have brought our fangS within
striking distance of the railroad, and
Johnston's army would have been para
lyzed. As ii was, he retreated to hene-
saw Mountain to await our attack Ill an
other elaborate system of fOrtlhcatIons.
After 10 consecutive nights of marches,
skirmishes and alarms we enjoyed the
luxury OF one night of undiSturbed slum-
Der. But our rest was not for long.
We were ordered to march at sunrise
June q, i'll pursuit of the enemy. We fol-
lowed our line OF works toward the left,
slowly at first, but III the afternoon we
We're led at a rapid rate until many drop
ped from the ranks exhausted, and there
were several cases of sunstroke. Tins
proved to be the hottest day of our CAM
paIgn. The air was sultry, and the sun
shone with a fierce, strong heat. At D
%. m. We halted two and a half miles
from the railroad and six miles from
Marietta. Our division was posted on the
right of the Fifteenth Corps and parallel
to the railroad, but at right angles with
the main line of our army.
As soon as our line had been establish
ed we began to build intrenchments. The
raH iuclpSiup SnVnral largo fields
of growing corn furnished the material,
and at nightfall q long line of works
stretched across the fields and the young
corn lay trampled on the ground. We en-
camped in a patch of timber Immediately
in rear of our works. No enemy was i'll
sight but u few small detachments of cav
airy.
MAIL FROM HOME.
We enjoyed the luxury, June Z, of haY-
fng nothing to do for Uncle Sam, so we
devoted our time to our personal affairs.
Fortunately a large mail came, and there
were few, if any, who did not receive al
least one letter. Then, what busy time
We had in answering them. Pens, ink
and paper We're at premium, the sup
ply being far short of the demand. Many
who had no paper wrote between the
lines of the letters they received and re-
turned them to the sender.
A Lieutenant and Corporal Of Barnetts
Battery went out to forage and were cap
tured. II was a fortunate performance
for the COnfederates, as the Corporal is
the best gunner in the battery.
McCooEs Cavalry Division was sent
out June 8, and drove back the enemy's
pickets far enough to observe the Con
federates in force on Pine Mountain, and
discovered that JOhnstOn's army had fOrtl-
fed series of hills extending from Kene-
saw to Lost Mountain, with Pine Noun
tain, strongly fortified, in the center. The
ground we must traverse to reach him is
much broken by ravines and heavily wood
ed-a very disadyautagecus situation~for
US.
We were ready TO move at sunrise
June 10, but did not start until s a. m,
and then just in time to catch a heavy
downpOur OF rain, which was ERE agree
able than the fierce rays of the sun that
soon after streamcd down upon our de
fenseless heads while we We're halted for
two hours in an open field. We then
moved toward Lost MOuhCain, and pres
entity were Overtaken by a severe storm
and thoroughly drenched.
Our way now led through swampy
ground covered with heavy timber and
thick underbrush and across numerous
streams much swollen, while the mud was
almost knee deep. We foundered labor
iously Il distance Of five miles and halted
at p. m. in front of Lost Mountain and
remained the balance OF the day, the rain
meanwhile falling almost necessarily.
These streams are the headWatcrs of
ProctOr's Creek.
At q. IN, June II, We moved TO a
position a mile TO the LETT, where we
formed our line in the brush with orders
20 be ready to move At a moments notice.
Shelter tents were pitched just in time
for us to escape dreaching by a heavy
shower. There we remained until sun
set, then moved a half mile nearer the
railroad and within mile of Big Shanty
Station, with Kenesaw Mountain in front.
The left Of our division rested AT the rail
road. Our regiment was assigned to the
second liue, and in order to get into
proper position we had TO thrust ourselves
into the thick brush, which shut out the
few struggling rays of light left behind
when the sun went down. This difficulty
was finally overcome, and we prepared TO
pass the night as best we could. The line
of men in front of us Immediately began
to build intrenchments and all night long
we heard the chopping of axes and fall
ing of trees.
Our pickets were considerably ad-
Yanced, and exchanged but few shots
with the enemy.
Rain, rain, rain, mud here, there and
everywhere, the order of the day and
night as well of June -. Roads in nor
ribe condition. Mighty thankful are we
that our wagons are not obliged to haul
our rations very far, else we should 20
hungry. The friendly locomotive draGs
his burden to the front line and screams
defiance to the rebel locomotive often
mara than tlraa ,,,iloe