The National tribune., 1903-06-11

tive here given is Transcription Oh my
"War Journal" beginning at
GRAvELLY SPRINGS. ALA.
Jan. %. 1S65-The weather is a mix
ture of rain, snow and sleet; therefore we
are building shanties, the pup tents brought
from Louisville, Ky, being comfortless
habitations, even at Graveliy Springs, in
the alleged Sunny South
Jan. 29-The boys who have completed
their shanties are fortunate, as the meteor
ological condition is similar to that of yes
terday. We are weary, and l presume
wicked as well, as we are having no rest,
although it is Sunday. We are compelled
to assist the mules in hauling rations and
forage from the river, the roads being so
miry that the patient, long suffering ami
mails are almost useless. However, we
must have supplies, and necessity is the
mother of invention; therefore, we tie a
long rope to the tongue OF wagon, from
100 to 200 men grab the rope, and the
wagon goes.
Jan. 30-Still wet and cold. Rations
are short, although they are superabund-
ant down on the river. The conditions in
camp are excessively disagreeable.
MUTUALLY ANGRY.
There was a sensation in the encamp-
ment this morning. Gen. Wilson rode in,
and some of the boys made mistake
Hard tack and sow-bellyr' The General
became so angry that he ordered the Of
tenders, of whom there were many, out
in line, directing that they should stand
in battle array all night. The other boys
became so mad at the tyrannical act that
for time it seemed there would be mu-
tiny in camp. Gen. Wilson is unpleasantly
despotic.
Jan. 31-It rained all night, but the
completed shanties make us more comfort
able.
MOUNTED INFANTRY.
The four regiments of our brigade were
ordered out to drill as cavalry. When we
arrived upon the drill ground Gen. Wilson
and staff were there in all their glory. The
drill master had a veXatiouS time putting
us through cavalry eyolutions. We were
awkward. of course. Before the eXpira-
tion of the two hours the officer became
discouraged-probably tired. He excused
us until a future day-when the mud
would not be so soft.
Feb. 1.-The boys are in no enviabla
alrymen are many. They are on half ra-
tiOns, while their chargers" are provided
with abundant forage. A detail was
made to build sheds for the horses, and 4
detachment sent to the river to unload
forage from a steamboat. Some Of the
boys purlon corn from their steeds and
make hominy. There are abundant ra-
tons at the river, and plenty in camp. but
they are not issued to the men. Why?
The boys, perhaps, unreasonably, attrib-
ute the shortage to Gen. Wilson's despot-
ism.
Feb. 2-The Tennessee River is full
from bluff to bluff and overfowing the bot
tom lands two miles from its bed. A COM
rade went cunning, and killed deer.
Feb. Still building sheds for the
horses. A squad Of detectives" from
headquarters, in quest of n missing bar
rel of meat, unavailingly searched all the
shanties this morning. noticed however.
that our cook. Uncle Billy Martin, served
a plentiful supply of pork.
Feb. I've were ordered to be on the
drill ground, nearly two miles from camp,
by $50 o'clock. The four regiments,
mounted, foundered out there on time, but
had to wait until 10 o'clock for the Cen
eral. There was nothing graceful in our
movements. The curriculum in the school
of cavalrymen" was Greek to our untu-
tored minds. In fact, it was a severe
ntuocls iHc iuud ulIiIS Jul JcuD-cs.
The impression upon the General was un-
favorable. Said he: ''If you fellows do
not fight better than you drill, it will not
take the rebels long to clean you out"
Some daring soldier replied: General, we
enlisted to fight. We want to fight, but
we did not come out here to put Oh style"
Lieut.. Rhodes, of Co. d, 123d ILL.,, asked
of the drill-master: Are the teachers at
West Point men or womenT
Feb. 5-Eleven men from each company
were detailed to go to the river and by the
usual modus operandi assist the mules in
hauling the supply wagons to camp. 1t
being Sunday, the remaining men who
were so inclined went to hear the Chap
lain, whom all love for his so,dierly de-
meanor and Christian character.
Feb. C. Some improvement in the
weather, and rations somewhat more plen-
tiful. We have cornmeal, ground on an
old overshot grist mill, the motive power
being big spring gushing from hillside
Feb. THE weather is Spring-like, the
mud drying up. We took another lesson
In the school of the cavalryman." How
ever, we are not learning the drill, nor are
we caring TO learn it. We know that we
are all right in battle, having fought at
Hoovers Gap. Resaca, Chattanooga,
Pennington. Atlanta, and on other fields
Feb. S-Nature is clothing the earth in
vernal apparel, and the boys are happy,
singing their favOrite songs, playing
euchre, seven-up, poker and occasionally
three-card monte. Co. L, noted for its re-
ligious predictions, plays marbles. There
are q number of preachers in that COM
pany, and the Lord usually blesses them
with an abundance of rations. In fact.
those boys are high livers. They do not
steal anything. but in some mysterious
way, while they are singing and praying,
never swearing, choice hams and poultry
grace their mess tables. Those fellows are
known as the Christian Band from Hi
uois'
Feb. 81 accompanied a detail under
Lieut.. McManis, Of Co. G, on an inconse-
Quential expedition, going nine miles down
the Tennessee River. Returning to camp
at 8 o'clock, we found the boys in fine
spirits enjoying the sunshine and the in
ereasing supply OF Inner man" refresh
mepts.
A DIVIDED HOUSE.
Feb. 10-Myself and three comrades OBJ
sained permission to spend the day outside
OF camp. When about six miles out we
ate dinner at farm house where .'the
old man" charged US S5 apiece Without
demur We paid the bill in the "currency
Of his realm'-Confederat scrip. His
two sons and three sons-in-law were in the
rebel army, but ''the old woman" was still
faithful in her allegiance to the Union
surreptitiously ministering to the wants of
our men upon every possible occasion. She
had the Star Spangled Banner secreted in