The National tribune., 1903-04-23

in case of need. They knew. of course
that the army WAS not far distant, and
that support would soon come up if need
ed. They kept the officers in charge OF
the heads Of columns fully advised as tC
what was going on in front.
The fOraging parties brought in horses
and mules in great numbers. These were
at once put to use; each company had its
pack horses. so that the men were relieved
from carrying much of their baggage.
A few men would club together ant
have a pack horse, to be managed by one
of their number or a negro; their blank
cts, haversacks. and cooking utensil:
would be securely placed on this animal
and he would bear the burden instead OF
the men. This was a great relief to the
soldier.
These pack animals would be kept to
gether and move along with the regiment
1t will be observed that Gen Sherman's
order of march provided that the wagons
should be given the roads and the .mer
should march on one side. This plar
was habitually practiced, and was found
to work well. For the most part the
march lay through an open country, where
the troops could march through the woods
without material obstruction; where heavy
thickets and marshes occurred the roads
might be used.
My rule in marching my brigade was tC
rest NY Ieh every HOur by uiICuihs
through the woods by the side of the
road l could make these halts without in
terrupting the movement of the wagon
train. ~,
1 l many times stopped my command fol
the noon-day meal while the wagon train
continued its advance on the road. We
often marched with troops on both sides
of the road. with the wagons in the mid.
die, thus. forming the best possible pro-
lection to our trains.
/ On tla long march of the Fifteenth
Corps from Memphis to Chattanooga we
pursued the old plan of distributing the
wagon train amongst the troops and all
marching on the road, but the Georgia
plan was great Improvement; it short
ened the length of the column and brought
the fighting men closer together.
Gen. Sherman's aim was to have at
least four heads of column advancing to
4 the front. Where an entire .cerps
marched on one road the column was very
| long. We, however, were usually able
to find two or more roads running nearly
parallel with each other. 1t happened.
therefore, that a single corps would
often have two or three columns march
ing forward in easy supporting distance
of each other. 50 that in case of fight
a heavy force could be brought into action
at short, notice.
| GEORGIA NEGROES.
A most interesting feature of this
march was the universal exhibition of
| friendship for and confidence in the Union
soldiers by the negro population. The
slaves of Georgia evidently had a clear
conception of the import of the great
struggle as far as they were concerned.
| These people had no education, they could
not read the newspapers, they did not
travel. they were confined to the planta-
tons, but they had learned from CONVEX
sation, amongst the white people, which
they had overheard, the essential facts in
regard to the ISSUES of the war to enable
them to conclude that the question of
their freedom was involved in the strug-
gle. This knowledge was not confined to
q few intelligent house servants, but per-
meated the entire mass of slave popula-
ton. Many of the old people were i'm
bued with deep religious sentiment,
and gave expression to the opinion that
the hands of the Lord was in this work.
This was not new to me. l had observed
the same thing in Mississippi in 1868 dur
ing the campaign against Vicksburg.
| The most remarkable thing in connec-
ton with the slave population was that
they did not exhibit the slightest hatred
or ill-will toward their masters; and when
an opportunity came that they could at
tain freedom by marching away with the
| OHlOi dTIuy luey uiu uOC cOUlHl1t uepTe-
datiOnS of any kind before leaving. While
they remained at the Old home they were
absolutely faithful to their masters. I
have never heard of slave betraying a
| Union soldier who had escaped from
prison, and was seeking safety in fight.
l recall an interesting incident Of this
march which illustrates the feelings of
the negroes. While marching along a
lane, through plantation, quite a num-
1 har pf Nh;
dren and old men, gathered in the road
to see us pass. One woman bad an arm
full of tobacco nicely cured and tied into
bands Of four or five leaves. This she
handed to the soldiers a band at time
as they passed along; the soldiers ac-
cepted the tobacco with thanks and the
whole crowd of negroes seemed delighted
that they could do something to crafty
the soldiers. Finally young fellow, IS
or 20 years old called ont: May go with
you" A soldier near him replied: Come
| right along" and the negro, without furth-
er preparation, waved his hand in good
! bye to his people and marched away with
| the soldiers. AS an evidence of his faith in
| the young man, the soldier Immediately
removed his knapsack from his back and
placed it safely on the shoulders of the
negro, who seemed delighted with the idea
| that he was at once given something
| to do.
No other race of mankind, similarly
situated, in any age of the world, acted
| towards their masters with such loyalty
and devotion as did the negro slaves Of
the South during the civil war. These
slaves remained upon the plantations
peacefully and quietly, laboring for the
support and protection of their masters
families, while they, their sons and retain
ers, We're away in the Confederate army
| fighting to maintain and extend the insti-
| tuition of slavery.
These slaves did not form a conspiracy
to aid the Union forces, or in any man
ner to embarrass the plans of the Con-
federate leaders. 1t was not until the
Union armies had penetrated the South
that any portion of them sought freedom
by joining the Union forces While loyal
to their masters, they were also true to
every, Union soldier who escaped from a
rebel prison and called upon them for pro-
lection and food.
(TO be continued.)
The Death Of Gen. Mcpherson.