The National tribune., 1903-05-07

Mich. Engineers assisted in the Work OF
destroying the railroad and bridges. The
railroad from the Oconee through Tennille
Station to the Ogeechee. a distance of 40
miles, was totally destroyed, including the
long railroad bridge over the Ogeechee and
the wagon bridges over Williamson $
Swamp Greek. --,
AS before stated, the standing orders
were to so destroy railroads, bridges.
depots, warehouses, furnaces, machine
shops. factories, cotton gins and cotton
| that the State of Georgia would be so
crippled in her transportation, machinery
and property that she would cease to be
an important factor in the further prose-
cutiOn of the rebellion. All of this work
| was most effectively done. while at the
same time the army was living off of the
country through which it was marching.
The march of the army during the 9th.
2Sth and Doth of November was practical
ly without opposition.
| The Left Wing reached Louisville on
that day and was Joined by Gen. KiIpat-
| rick with his division, which went into
camp to rest and recuperate from their
SIX days and nights active campaigning
The Left Wing remained in camp Nov
80.
PINE REGION OF GEORGIA.
The Right Wing did not pause The
weather was now pleasant the roads were
comparatively good, and the movement of
troops and trains was easy. We were in
the great pine region of Georgia. The
| forests had but little underground, and
| there was no difficulty in making new
roads. Instead of stretching our CORPS
out at great length, the divisions habituaI-
| ly moved on parallel roads, marching
| through the forests of those grand, solemn
pines. When night came on we made our
| beds upon the thckly-matted long leafcd
pine needles which covered the ground.
| and breathed the pure country air redolent
with the delicious Odor of the pine. Plan
tatlons were not so numerous, nor were
supplies so abundant, but we still had
plenty. The health of the command was
splendid. l still kept up my ong-estab-
lished practice of hating my brigade for
| good MONDAY meal, and on these occa-
| sions the field and staff of the leading
regiment took dinner with me. Baked
meats, with sweet potatoes, corn bread
and hardtack, with pie and coffee for des-
sert. usually made the meal. Frequently
| staH officers passing from column to col
umn would drop in and join in the repast
ms was necessary and an agreeable
side of war, and was thoroughly enioyed
Soldiers must be well and regularly fed
they march and fight upon their stomachs.
1t was well known that there was n
garrison at Augusta of 5000 or 5000
men; that McLaws's Division and other
troops in and around Savannah numbered
probably 1900; that the Macon garrison
under Gen. Smith, which had been order
ed to Savannah, numbered about 6.OOO
men, and that Gen. Wheeler and Gen.
wayne had an active force of some 1000
or 5000 men. The declared purpose of the
Confederate Generals, as shown by thr
daily newspapers which constantly fell
into our hands, was to bring together
sufficient force to defeat and destroy our
army.
While these accounts were read with in
terest, they excited no serious appreben-
sion on the part of the rank or file of our
army. We had absolute confidence in uIti-
mate success, but we were put upon our
guard. -
During this movement Gen. Osterhaus
exhibited great ability and care in hand
ling the Fifteenth Corps; the General
kept the 10Th Mo. MID Inf at his head
quarters, and had detachments constant
ly scouting between the columns. CARRYING
information back and forth and keeping
commanding officers well advised as to the
position and movements of the troops upon
their right and left, so that at night when
we went into camp the several divisions
were in supporting distance.
On Dec. l the Left Wing resumed the
march. Gen. Fitzpatrick, reinforced by
Gen. Baird's Division of the Fourteenth
Corps, both unencumbered by wagon
trains, marched from Louisville on the
road to Waynesboro. The object of this
movement was to protect the left flank
Of the army, to demonstrate toward
Augusta, and to keep up the delusion thar
the main army was moving on that place.
and particularly to engage and punish
Wheeler's Cavalry.
Go be continued.)