The National tribune., 1903-03-12

miles in % hours, but under favorable cir
cumstances we could havk marched twice
as many miles more easiltrB In my short
sightedness, l never couldHsee the neces-
sity for this killing marcfrU 1 never could
ascertain our exact loss, butsfrom the best
information did obtain Erthink it was 5
per cent. in missing andI % per cent. in
wounded. Whether it WIS necessary or
"some one blundered' I nnA not able to
say, but 1 can say that stfIis march left
the men in fearful plight I'VE had been
encouraged to the end by: tha hope Of get
ting plenty to eat there atIthe Gap, but
that evening we got only little blue beef,
and supped on beef without salt and cof-
fee without sugar. ,afs-
l made an effort on my own hook to get
some provisions, but it WINS not to be
had. We went to bed hungry; we woke
up hungrier. .9aT
We spent the ODD in camp resting. if
men can be said to rest while starving.
On the Odd we drew few clothes for the
most naked, and q little more beef-cured
beef, cured on the bones of the cattle
while coming through Kentucky's hot sun.
l never tried to eat such beef before.
Nov. "a we broke camp and started
toward home. The boys were in high glee.
They thought they were going home to
Gods country to get something to eat.
Poor boys! They were living skeletons
and could not march 10 miles. We went
a few miles into Kentucky and encamped.
Our foragng wagons came in empty again
and we got no ratons. The 25th we
crossed into Tennessee and camped on the
old camp ground. The boys fell in with
alacrity, but when their faces We're turned
away from home they looked very disap-
pointed, and l was not surprised to hear
q little murmurng We got some more
blue beef, some coffee, sugar and salt, but
no bread ration. l will now quote from
my diary:
Nov. 26-Broke camp and marched
early. When the head of the column
turned toward Tazewell there were more
murEurings by these usually patient boys.
AS we did.not expect to go far there was
no special effort to get men in ranks. If
they felt that they could march with us,
they fell in; if they did not feel able to
march in the ranks, we left them to
struggle after as best they could. As we
moved by slaughter yard l saw Bill
Fisher sitting "astraddle" of a dried beef
head that had lain in the sun many Il day,
picking among the bones for scraps of
dried meat and eating it. left him in the
enjoyment of his. to me, disgusting meal,
and l had little hope of ever seeing poor
Bill Fisher again; but he eamped with us
that night all right.
a. m. and went into camp on the hill
northwest of town. Several parties of for
ayers are out and are searching farms
and houses of friend and foe alike. The
case il getting desperate. As we marched
toward the sun to-day looked to see how
many it took to make a shadow; l found
little shadow behind the fourteenth man.
We have gone to bed breadless for the
sixth time; to be more specific, we drew
u
ing of the 18th, at Bulls Gap, and we
have drawn nothing of the bread kind
since
Nov. give are all happy. Some of
the fOragers found farmers cache of
wheat for his Winters bread. They took
it to u ''cOrn-cracker' and ran it through,
smut and all. do not know what to call
the product. 1t was dished out, about a
quarter pound each, and the men mixed
it with water-we had nothing else-and
baked it on ramrOds, tin plates or on n
board before the fire, asidIdwe called it
bread, and ate it. 1t was tough, leathery
and black, and, when co1d,das hard as a
brickbat and about as digestible. 1t was
good thing for us thatIthe ration was so
small, otherwise it would have killed
every mothers son Of u.s. The men are
reduced to skin and hone, dand l do not
think this stuff very fattening. They
have not clothing enough ito cover their
skeletons. Winter is coming On-the
nights are already quital cold; overcoats,
blankets and extra clothing were thrown
away long ago; what clothing they have
on is worn to shredS and their feet are
on the ground, with littlelprospect of get
ting supplies from, the North. ! God pity
them. can now acknowledge to a weak
ness / would not then. In secret l shed
many a tear over the then present and
prospective sufferings of my boys-sOme
of them specially entrusted to my care by
loving mothers. ~
Nov. 2S-We remained quietly in camp,
really and truly resting. More stuff called
flour was issued, but with it, and far bet
ter, some cornmeal. The mems hunger is
satisfied the first time for two weeks. AL
though it is food such as we would not
touch at home, yet no other food was ever
| so enjoyed. Four men came into camp
to-day whom we had lost on the night of
| the 20th-21st. Overcome with fatigue and
hunger they had dropped out, lain down,
gone to sleep and woke up in rebel hands
The rebels, in the same fix for food as
we, had kept them awhile and then al.
| lowed them to wander off. They had
managed somehow to get back to our lines
Every effort was made to save their lives,
but they all died. 4 s5a ~
Dec. -Four days of complete rest
except little guard duty, with plenty to
eat, has wrought wonders. The men ap.
pear their old selves; their eyes are bright
their step elastic and their songs enliven
the camp. They appear ready for the
further hardships prospectively ahead OF
us. The air is full of rumors of fighting
beyond the Clinch on the Knoxville road
''They smell the battle afar Off and are
anxious to be in it. We are under orders
! to be in readiness Mt a moments notice