The National tribune., 1903-08-13

However. we made him comfortable at
the fires, where two companies We're held
in reserve: but as we did not have the
privilege of sleeping. we could not allow
him that luxury, and so we entertained
him all night long with questions about
Georgia life. which he answered pleas
antly and inteli2ently. At daybreak we
were On the alert for an expected attack,
but small parties, only. of cavalry came
in sight, and once only ventured within
range of our guns.
We kept the main road clear with log
mounted on an old pair of cart wheels,
transformed by little drapery of brush,
| into a dangerous-looking cannon.
/ In the afternoon we noticed with sur
prise and apprehension that the pontO-
niers had begun to remove the bridge, and
in short time men and boats had passed
| from our view into the watery recesses
of the Carolina woods, leaving us with the
| State of Georgia on our hands, excepting
only the posts of Savannah in the south
ern and Dalton i'll the northern extremity.
| We received several reminders during
| the day from the Confederates that our
presence was undesired. Our uncertainty
as to the number of our enemies. which
negroes in the vicinity reported as a
brigade Of cavalry, kept us in constant
vigilance and caused us to pass another
! sleepless night while exposed to cold
rain. Another cold, wet, cheerless day of
threatened attack and short rations
dragged its heavy hours until the darkness
of our third night found us still occupy
ing our posts of duty and danger. But
| the darkness also brought us relief.
A gunboat and transport arrived TO
| transfer us, and when the good news was
passed along the picket line we left our
posts with alacrity and cheerfulness 10
! board the steamer, which carried us two
or three miles up the river and landed us
on the Carolina shore. whence we marched
a short distance to rejoin our brigade.
There our comrades of other regiments
came into our ranks TO express their sat
isfaction that we had not been 'gObbled'
up, as they believed we surely would be.
The Right Wing resumed its march Oh
the morning of the Sth, our division being
| the last to break camp. We proceeded
in the direction of Augusta. along the
river road, which was in bad condition,
being intersected by many low, swampy
places, where the mud was churned into
the consistency of mortar, hub-deep, by
the wagons and artillery ahead of us.
These difficulties reduced our march to
eight miles, which brought us, however. TO
higher ground at the junction of the Ari-
/ Sustd IoduS, "HcEc we
bivouacked. Next morning we found be,
fore us a splendid road, stretching over Il
high rolling country; so we marched 20
miles with little effort, and yet had abun-
dant time to gather 4 good supply of fresh
and smoked meat, chickens, sweet pota-
| toes, and other such luXuries. These hap
| py conditions made MS oblivious of the
weather, which appeared as cold and the
wind was as clustering as that of our
OWN prairie country.
| Now was carried into execution the
| threats of our men in the ranks TO make
South Carolina regret the day she gave
| birth TO secession.
TRAIL OF RUIN.
Our brigade marching in the rear, wit.
messed the destructive work of the column
ahead. Amid the ruins of many houses
we saw but two standing. One of these
displayed white flag and was said to be
occupied by the widow of Gen. Irving
Near it was the ruins of fine brick man,
sion, the property of Gen. Early. A good
supper, good nights rest, and n good
breakfast the following morning put us
in good trim for another 20-mile march
over smooth road and through country
improving at every step. Our brigade
was again In the rear, with our regiment
and the 18th Ill. guarding the train
As before, we saw only ruins of many
fine houses. A column of smoke on ouI
right marked the progress of our First
Division On parallel road.