The National tribune., 1903-08-20

was too wide for our pontOons to reach.
Accordingly we were ferried over on boats,
to build Notifications, in expectation of
an attack while the bridge was under con-
struction.
Our foragers discovered the enemy not
very far away, and lost number cap
tured, including two members of our regi-
ment. They belonged to the regular de-
tail, whose standing orders were to get
provisions, regardless of risk, as the army
must be fed. 1t was not surprising that
our little band of fOragers should return
reduced in number 1t was surprising
rather, that any should return from such
hazardous service. In order to forage ef-
fectively it was necessary to divide into
small parties which might easily be over
powered, so it appeared, but in fact they
escaped Cay after day, either by showing
. bold front or by skilfully avoiding SUI
)eror numbers of antagonists
The bridge was completed the following
afternoon, when we marched out FIVE miles
to the Columbia 4 Greenville Railroad,
and destroyed a long stretch of it. after
which We proceeded to Winsboro Oh the
21st.
GEN. HAMPTON TO GEN. GEARY.
Geary's Division had preceded us, and
when it entered the town note was hand
ed Gen. Geary by the Mayor, from Gen.
Hampton, asking that n guard be left to
protect private property after the depart
ure of our army, until the Confederate
forces should arrive, and pledging the safe
~ and good treatment of such guards by
his troops.
We found two of Geary's mounted men
left for this purpose, and after our division
had also passed on, these guards, in con-
junction with the citizens, prevented any
depreciation by stragglers. and when the
ConfederateS entered our guards were
courteously treated. When they babe
goOd-by to their friendly enemies the citi-
gems and soldiers crowded around them to
express their thanks and good wishes.
We reached the Catawba River Feb. %,
after a hOundering march through mud
and rain from Wnsboro. There we had
to wait for the Twentieth Corps to cross,
after which our division passed over and
moved out two miles to await the crossing
of our wagon train. This we found was
no small undertaking. The banks were
very steep, and the road narrow and very
slippery from frequent rains.
A dozen men to each wagon were re-
Quired to move them. and the work, which
continued day and night, was tedious and
laborious. On the second night after we
had crossed rain began to fall early in the
evening. much harder than before, and the
work of crossing the wagons was suspend
ed owing to tie darkness and the chilling
effect of the cold, drenching rain ON men
and animals; but the pontOniers warned
Gen. Davis that the rapidly-rising river
was endangering the bridge. So the ex-
hausting work had to be resumed and
continued until midnight, when large
portion of the bridge was carried away
and entirely lost, leaving two divisions of
our corps and one-third of our wagon train
on the wrong side of the river.
FACING STARVATION.
Our corps was now divided into two
helpless fragments, and the question of
subsistence suddenly assumed threatening
prominence. The country around us be-
ing swampy and thinly settled, scarcely
afforded one days ration, after which We
were reduced to cowpeas alone, and at last
even these were exhausted, although our
foragers secured the land with tireless eff
fort. Gen. Slocum, the commander of our
Wing, had gone forward with the Twen-
1ieth Corps to superintend the building of
corduroy roads through swamps that ap-
peared interminable, and had spent hours
of unremitting labor to accomplish 16
miles in distance when informed of the
condition of our corps.
He returned in haste to devote his en-
ergy in reuniting our column.
Another bridge was completed during
the night of the 9th, and the remaining
men and wagons crossed the next day.
COLD, DRENcHING RAINS.
Then, after five days of delay, exposed
to continuous cold. drenching rains, worn
with exhaustng labor and reduced to
quarter rations of cowpeas, we were all
hurried forward with forced marches for
another five days to the Great Pedee
River. So miles distant from the Catawba.
Under ordinary conditions, we did not
consider it hardship to march 20 miles
q day, but cur route from the Catawba
to the Great Pedee was beset with ex-
traordinary difficulties. There was rain.
continuous rain, all the way. Dry land
became swamps, and swamps lakes. When
We were not building bridges we were
building corduroy or lifting wagons bur-
led hub-deep in the treacherous quicksand.
Every hour of daylight found us moving
We bivouacked long after night, and de-
parted long before day. Our clothing was
never dry and our stomachs never full.
The land was too poor to support the
few natives who encountered it, so our
portion was light indeed. We had no need
TO be told that General Starvation was
not many PAGES behind, and that little
delay on our part would cause us to be
cvertaken.
Over this wretched trail we dragged
our wagons and our bodies, with an effort
that knew no relaxation, until the limit of
our endurance was reached each day.
BRIDGING THE GREAT PEDEE
Fortunately for our endurance, we were
forced to halt at the Great Pedee when
We reached it March 4. A bridge nearly
1000 feet long had to be built and our
poatoons could not reach that distance
This difficulty was surmounted on the
9TH, and We resumed oar forced marches
over country of swamps, quicksand and
scant forage. We passed about one
squaiid cabin in each FIVE miles.
The next day our division marched near
u 80 miles, in a rain, 10 reach Lumber
River and secure the bridge. Our for
ayers reached it first, and unexpectedly
swooped down upon the Confederate
guards. and drove them away before they
could destroy the bridge, as intended.
THROUGH THE GREAT PINE FOREST.
Our route now traversed q great pine
forest, and although forage was scant, we
enjoyed tile soft carpet of pine needles,
upon which we could walk with easy COM
fort, or rest at night as on a downy
couch.
Pine knots were unlimited, and these
We gathered each night of our bivouac and
burned with lavish prodigality.
We kindled such roaring fires that the