The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-02-09

which was seriously threatened by Gen. ". T. sherman's, Colonel Woods. with transporting of the division, and re- mained with his regifnent until tile last of the division were in the cars ready to be transported, which was about De-
 At this time the Union Army under Gen. W. T. sherman was threatening Memphis. The object of General Grants campaign of 1882 was to hold the Con- federate in, It's front. to force 1t to bat nensssary. while another u0 Union army under Gen. w. T. sherman, took pars- age in its transports at Memphis, Tenn, and made . dash down the river. and attempted to capture Vicksburg. while the Confederate army which really con- stituted the garrison at vicksburg. was kept confronted by General Grants army. General Grant had; an army of about 30.0oo in the vicinity of Oxford. In North Mississippi. which confronted. the Con- federate army under Gen. J. c. Pember- ton, at Grenada, Miss.
 This campaign signally failed, although remarkably we'll planned. The Confed- crate cavalry. under Gen. N. B. Forrest. broke up the lines of communication in while Gen. Earl Van Dorn raided in the rear of Grants army at Oxford, Miss. and captured the depot of sup plies at Holly Springs, Miss. These two
  back to Memphis. Tenn, to supply his army. (The campaign of Vicksburg. Miss, In 1863. by Gen. Stephen D. L,ee.j The expedition of 5000 men and sixty guns, under General sherman, had. how- ever, left Memphis, before it could be stopped. After these disasters had over taken the railroads and supplies of Gen . eral Grants army in North Mississippi, tieneral Shceman's expedition also failed He landed on the Yazoo River. Christ nav 1Ge2 and affetnnfNi i n aefya t. c hills In the rear of vicksburE. He was defeated at Chfokasaw Bayp,, near Vicksburg by a Confederate force un- Ger General stephen D. Lee. and conn pelled to re-embark his army This b.cody defeat was inflicted upon Gen .ral sherman's army of 3O.000 by General Lee with only 2,Gc men. ....
 The battle of Murfreesboro, or Stone River. was fought December al 1SG3. and January 2, 1863, with brisk skirm- is hing during the intervening day. Thus 1t will be seen that the 18th escape d both the battle of Cnickasaw Bayou and ths battle of Murfreesboro. or Stone River. ..s.. ....[' ....,. .s......
 The evening of the arrival of the 46th at Vicksburg, Company "A was detailed to go across the Mississippi River and keep lights burning all night along the levees. so that any of the enemy's ves- seen by our batteries. It was raining when 1t started. and the rain continued hard much of the night. Fuel for nres had to be found as best 1t could. This was no easy job in low riverland where most ef the timber was gone. and those who were to get 1t strangers in . strange land. on . night of rainy, inky darkness. Besides. the company had the disagree able knowledge that if their lights re- vealed . passing enemy, the guns fired tion as well. and the shots would have no respect to its friendly attitude toward the batteries. It hailed with joy the re- lief of the next day. Much of the time was spent in heavy picket duty guarding vulnerable points on the rivers above and below.
 In the winter and spring. before active operations began at Vicksburg, 1t was the custom to send several regiments to Warrenton., ten miles below vicksburg, to do picket duty, and to prevent Gen. eral Grant from landing his troops on the Mississippi side. as there was ap- prehension of such an eRort. General Barton had the general command at this of troops lasted from three to four days at & time. During rainy spell of sev- eral days duration. in February. 1883, the 46th was one of the regiments, sent troops marched down through the rain. and had to wade an overfowing bayou for a distance, and in some placed nearly waist deep to get to the bridge crossing 1t. Upon reaching the grouid occupied by the troops to be relieved. it proved to be a flat piece of ground betweent a large field and 6 small branchSt The ground WAS very muddy and, ,ueder the continuous rains nearly covered In water.
 But few had tents. flies. or other shel- ter from the constant rain. The men were wet. tired, and rather hungry. for rations were not very good at best, and what was on hand was not made better by the bad weather. There was but nt- a . too wet to put down blankets. After the soldiers had been in this condition for about thirty-six hours. an order came from General Barton requiring the sol diers to split rails and rebuild the fence around the field nearby. This was on Sunday morning Colonel Woods was on short leave of absence and Lieutenant Colonel Kyle was the commanding off1- cer. He and Major Handy being tenn porarily called away, Colonel Kyle told his return. While Captain Brewer was in command the order came. He, with several other commanders of companies was under the Colonel's fly when 1t came. sn. Asr ts s'dne s. dha M he sers ns ss ss them that while he was in command he would not issue the order, but would turn 1t over te Colonel Kyle. when he returned. and if issued by Kyle. he would not order out his compap-- for 1t: execu-
 
 present force took possession of the ground. That the order was wrong, the damage not being done by the troops then in possession. That tho men were In no condition for such work, having been wet, and without sleep all this time and but poorly fed. The officers present said the position taken was right and that they would not require ot their
 After some time Colonel Kyle returned and Captain Brewer handed him the or der from General Barton. telling the Col onel that he had refused to issue 1t. and would refuse to obey 1t. Colonel Kyle replied 1t was d-d shame. since our men had not done the damage, but that he would issue it, for he did not want to fall Into the tyrannlcal hands of Barton.
 He issued the order. but all the conn mand"rs of companies followed the lead of Captain Brewer. The order was then given to the next In command. each re- fusing. until all the commissioned off, eers were under arrest. The first ser geants were then ordered, and they re- fused. Then the regiment was called in- went to work under the orders, but badly out of humor, and In loud tones cursed their officers for not having the grit of the Aiabamians.
 eraI Tracy and stan came to the camp and having the officers before him, ex- pressed his surprise that 50 good conn mand as the 18th had hitherto been should now be found in state of mu- tiny. That unless the officers would sue eunb and order their companies to work. they would be imprisoned at Vicksburg until a eourtmartlai could be convened, when all would be punished, and the ringleaders shot. ...
 Captain Brewer replied that the fence was destroyed when the command came upon the ground. an1 he would not or