The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-01-01

~ said. by way Of compromise, that he
would give us the post of honor next day
the 4Sth Ohio should lead the whole
army in the advance on the enemy.
This was poor comfort TO take to the
regiment, yet many were still hopeful. and
thought that as the promise was made in
apparent good faith. the through might
arrive at any moment. The cheerful
groups around the campfres were missing
that night. All turned in early; wrapped
in their blankets, without any shelter,
they lay down in an old field to get a
nights rest, after their many days tramp
ing over Louisiana. During the night il
began to rain, and toward morning il
came down in torrents.
WITH BANKs's RED RIVER EXPEDITION.
At daybreak our regiment was ordered
to fall in Immediately and take the lead
of the army up Red River instead of a
| furlough home. This was the last straw,
but there was no help for US, SO we load
ed up in the rain, many without break
fast, and, all in very i'll humor, took The
lead of the army. While trudging through
the slush and rain, some wag would cal
out, Here's your veterans going tf
Shreveport on 80 days furlougL, which
was repeated from file to file until it pass
ed all down the line.
Towards evening of the third day after
leaving Alexandria, we marched through
the Legree plantation, near where Uncle
Tom in his misery sang,
Jerusalem, my happy home,
Name ever dear to me-"
| 1t was a dreary road over which We
passed. Similar to the one described b,
Mrs. Stowe, 1T wound through the PINE
barren and the cypress swamps. Pass
ing over the same ground the 4Sth wen
tramping along at route step, singing one
of their old marching songs:
John Browns body lies mouldering II
the tomb
As we 60 marching on
The question arises, Who bad tn
greater cause to be respondent? Uncl'
Tom, situated as he was, or the 4Sti
Ohio, on account Of their great disappoint
ment and unjust treatment! Uncle Ton
was born and reared a slave, as were hi
ancestors for several centuries before him
Therefore slavery and servitude was hi
normal condition, while the soldier hat
left his pleasant home at his country
call and had taken upon himself the hard
ships and privauons of soldiers life
4 He was exposed to the extremes of hea
and cold; to the rain, sleet and snow, oil
the march and In the shelterless camp
He knew what it was to start on tn
march hungry, to go on forced marcl
through the binding dust and the noonda.
heat, to face death on the battlefield. ant
then perhaps waste away from wounds o
disease in the hospital. 1t will readily oc
, cur to the old soldiers that Tom had b.
far the easier part. Yet, rivers of tear
have been shed over the portrayal of hi
sufferings at that period, while the soldie
I,,f W
endured.
, The regiment crossed Cane River 9TH
, old channel of Red RIVER on q pOntoo
, at Monnett's Ferry, which is mile fror
the Legree mansion, and arrived at Nat
! chitoches April 2. Here we rested tire
days, and by this time the disappointment
/ had worn off, and the regiment was il
! self again. On the morning of April
? we moved forward with the bands play
! ing, flags futtering in the breeze. and tn
regiment cheering when passing th
\ droves of slaves that lined the roadsid
sta ring at the wonderful sight. The arm
' had reached a country that had neve
: heard the tramp Of the Union soldier.
y We guarded the wagon train on the It'll
1 and did not reach our brigade bivoua
I until after the drums had beat tn
{ last tattoo. 1t was near midnigh
e before the regiment finished thei
: In that old cotton field ito SLEEP
r perchance to DREAM as this was tn
; night before the battle. At $50 the ne1
\ morning. April 8. we moved forward wit
r our brigade. The enemy. who had bee
!. easily driven by the cavalry the day b.
n fore, became quite stubborn, and 1t r.
: quired the aid of the First Brigade Of on
n division to dislodge them.
At about II o'clock our brigade 9TH
4 Second was ordered forward on double
: quick. At intervals We could hear tn
heavy firing in our front. Soon we passe
> the dead and wounded by the roadsid
q which indicated plainly that the enem
= was making q stand at every favorabl
point.
: SABINE CROSSROADS.
g At about ! o'clock we reached Sabin
Crossroads, near Mansfield, where til
q lauemY In command Of Gen Taylor ha