The National tribune., 1902-03-13

marched away from Atlanta with half ;
breakfast and half-filled haversacks, oul
destination a mystery, our subsistence {
problem and our future all uncertainty-s
The other three corps had marched the
day previous. Sherman had divided his
army into right and left wings, the
former composed of the Fifteenth and
Seventeenth Corps, under command OF
Gen. o. o. Howard, and the latter COM
posed of the Fourteenth and Twentieth
Corps, under Gen. II. w. Slocum.
The corps commanders of the right
wing were P. F. Osterhaus and Frank p.
Blair, and of the left wing, Jeff &. Davis
and \. S. Williams.
Each corps had the appointments of a
complete army, and was supposed TO take
care of itself, and it did.
We Termed four columns. advancing on
parallel roads, except where we con-
verged at certain designated points. Our
front usually extended about 40 miles,
which was plainly marked by four col
umns of smoke continually arising, heavy
and black, in successive stages as we ad-
vanced, but growing lighter and whittier as
it trailed far away to our rear, where
glowing embers had taken the place of
bursting flames
MARCHING THROUGH A DEVASTATED
COUNTRY.
Led by Gen Sherman, riding in COM
pany with Gen. Davis, our corps com
mander, we followed the line of the Geor-
gia Central Railroad toward Augusta De
catur. the first town on our route, was
misunderstanding place of about 90 dilapi-
dated buildings. A few of the better
buildings were occupied, but broken doors
or shutters hanging by single hinge, or
entirely missing, rendered most of the
dwellings unfit for habitation. The in
habitants showed the effects of having
been robbed by friend and foe as the two
armies surged around Atlanta during the
siege.
They were safe enough from us. A
glance at their pinched faces, desOlate
town and ravaged fields convinced US there
was nothing to stop for, unless we want
ed to shake hands with starvation.
1t was long after dark when we halted,
after q march of u miles, during which
we destroyed much of the railroad as we
progressed. No time had been given us
for dinner, so we were ravenous with
hunger while preparing supper.
The last fugitive crumb of hardtack had
been pursued into the corners of our hav-
ersacks and captured, but we had a scan
ty ration of meal, dried peas, meat and
coffee, which proved sufficient for one
meal.
ne HtAL Ndi- HONtNtE. our empty nav
ersacks tapped against our lean stomachs
during a march of 20 miles through a
country so bare that my bill of fare con-
sisted of three small turnips and as many
cabbagestalks.
Our regiment and the 9Sth Ohio being
rear guard, probably Jared worse than the
troops ahead.
When we passed through Lithonia, the
depot and several dwellings were in
smoking ruins. The depot had been fired
and the flames spread to the other build |
ings.
One poor family sat near the asl,es of |
their home upon the remnants of house |
hold goods snatched from the flames and |
looked into our faces with suspicious fear |
that we might carry away or destroy what |
little remained to them.
We halted near Conyers, and, being |
destitute of food, we fully expected an is
sue of rations from the wagons we had |
been guarding, but we waited in vain.
Our mess lay down supperless to sleep, |
when we were quietly awakened by the
Colonel who Informed us that,t guards
had been withdrawn from the town and |
that we could take the privilege of |
searching for something to eat.
Fifteen minutes later we stood, with a
lighted candle in hand, before the cottage
door and knocked for admission. There
was no response at first. but presently q
Opening the door, we saw a frightened
little woman, with three children clutch
ing to her dress. At sight of US she drop
ped upon her knees and cried. For Gods
sake. spare me and my children"
MADAM" we replied, 1--WE do not in
tend to hurt you or your little ones, but
we are very hungry, and must have some
thing TO eat"
''Oh. have nothing" she moaned, but
just then one OF our party pushed open
the door leading to the kitchen and my
eyes fell upon hoecake, which in a mo-
ment was in my hands and a portion in
my mouth, while / handed other portions
to my comrades.
A barrel of meal next drew our atten-
ton, and. with my mouth and one hand
filled with hOecake, my other hand was
scooping meal into a haversack, when a
hand was laid lightly on my arm and
fearful voice pleaded, please, sir, don't
take all our food"
My reply assured her that we only
wanted enough for our supper and break
fast. But" she said, "others will take
what you leave"
I'VE will fix that" we replied, and pro-
ceeded to rip up the kitchen floor and hide
her stock of potatoes beneath it, and also
to conceal her barrel of meal and other
provisions in the loft, at the same time
instructing her to say to others, if they
should come, 'The Yankees have already
been here" When we bade her Good
night she smiled through her tears and
seemed pleased that she had divided her
Bcanty store with such hungry, harmless
looking boys, If we did wear the blue.
Half the night had flown when we
again lay down TO sleep, but now we had
the feeling that all the army was well
fed. Our slumber was short, as we had
to get up next morning in time to bake
corncakes for breakfast and be ready TO
march at a. N.
DESTROYING RAILROADS AND FoRAGING
With a smooth road before us, we
marched rapidly, making 16 miles little
after noon, which brought us to COving-
ton. Here, by way of rest and recrea-
ton, we were given long stretch of
railroad TO destroy, which consumed three
hours, and then we moved two miles far
ther, to the bank of the Uncofauhatchee
River.
Fortunately we were in good trim for
active exercise, as we found, during the
day, plenty of provisions in close prox-
unity TO the road, and managed to con-
sumo such quantities after our fasting
that we would certainly have "foundered"
without such exercise.
1t rained during the night, so we found
mud and occasional showers of rain wait
ing for us when we resumed the march
at daybreak, but this did not prevent us
from making % miles, TO Shady Dale. Our
route from COvingtOn led us away from
the railroad toward the factory town of
Eatonton, the termination of a branch
road from Milledgeyille