The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-05-05
Sidelights on the Siege of Chattanooga
ger and Coda Successful Foraging Trip
to the Saquatchie Valley.


1t is an oft told tale. ''Chickamauga and
Chattanooga" by; there is yet much to tell
The Division tSherilan's) was far to- the
right of the lines, and soon every man was
buSily engaged. some with axes telling tim
Der, others digging with pick and shovel
Logs. stones and dirt were piled in lines
across the fields. and in "A hours the army
was safely intrenched against any foe with
whiciI the enemy might advance.
The reception of the JohnneS being pro-
vided for, the next was defense against
the elements. While a part OF the COM
pany went out each day to the picket or
skiTmish lines. the others began to fix up
camp. My partner soon had hole iii the
ground, over which some boards taken from
house near by made good roof. Small
huts made from the lumber of fences and
house; near by grew UP if by magic.
Our small '.shebang was just large enough
for two to sit or lie down in. We carried
in leaves and twigs from the trees near by
for carpets and beds, and then We're as
happy and contented as soldiers could be
who were constantly under tre-for We
We're not To have peace, the enemy having
moved up i'll the neighborho0d. Between
the picket lines there was but Il narrow
winding creek with heavily-wooded banks
1t came our lot to picket this line very
often. On the left was Il large tannery
q wooded building covering tan watts, III
which were partly tanned hides and tan
nng-fud. One OF the first nights on duty
here four of Us got a kettle or Goals tket-
ties that We're made for heating the build
ing in cold weather), and placed 1T ut the
cross section of four watts With man
on each side of the partition walls, we were
very comfortable. 1t our turn of.
and we dOZed in the genial warmth. Sud
denly from a short distance out to the front
there came bang and almost Instantly
a crash. then pieces of lumber filled the
building. The COnfederateS had got range
on that freight. but aimed high. the shell
going full I'D feet overhead. We four. each
startled by the crash. lodged. and each
went into vat of lime water and tanning.
There were four soldiers, four good guns.
40 rounds of ammunition in soak" And
there came other shells through the thin
sides of the building. sending splinters in
every direction. One by one the four were
fished out with hide hooks. and each one
started for the Tennessee River, mile
away, where they got fresh-water bath
but one had to grow new skin before his
body became white again The guns were
fished out next day.
The second day after the lines were taken
up near town the Confederates moved up
near. and it looked very much as though
they would try the new works. but soon
thought better OF it. They had one bat
terry of Rodman guns that made life very
unpleasant for US. The shells struck the
ground well out in front. throwing cloud
of dust into the air. then. bounding along
for mile or more, came flying end over
end through the camp. striking the high
places only. 1t kept the men guessing and
lodging most of the time. In the COM
pany was Phil, ''cOntraband" from mid
die Tennessee. He was not worth much
as cook. but was valued very highly for
+ his singing and dancing accomplishments.
He was the most flexible, loose jOinted col
ored man in that wing of the army. We
camped behind Cameron Hill most of the
time since the battle but came up one day
just as one of these shells struck the
ground far out TO the front. throwing a
cloud of dust into the air. In an instant
there was mad rush for the ditch; every
: body was out of sight except the cOlOred
brother. He started for Cameron Hill
again. mile to the rear. The next land
ing OF the shell was on top of the breast
works, covering those in the ditch below
; with dirt, then, Out-speeding the flying col
Ored boy, it caught him midway and they
passed on a short distance together. What
: was left of the boy after he got through
fOOiing with that shell would not fertliZe
a rose bush. but the remains were gathered
up that night and planted in a garden near
by.
town the soldiers had full ratiOns of bread
meat, sugar and coffee. Then followed the
days so well known TO all students of the
Chattanooga campaign. All the trees i'm
the front of the line were cut down. the
tops thrown toward the front and the
limbs trimmed sharp to catch and hold the
advancing enemy. should they charge u.s.
These limbs with other wood picked up
made the necessary camp fires then for
time, as the days passed. the larger limbs
and the bodies of the trees. until they were
all gone. The days and nights became
colder. and the trees had disappeared
Then the stumps were CUT down, and men
went about the fields digging out the roots.
Every yestige of wood about the camps
disappeared. There was plenty of wood
beyond the enemy's lines, and they taunt-
Ingiy invited us TO come over and get all
We wanted There was wood also beyond
the river TO the north but it must be car
ried on mems backs. and the foOtbridge
and scOwferry were taxed to their utmost
in the passage of trains to get over the
river. one must have pass or be detailed.
The cold rains of Fall set in. drenching the
men in their scant clothing as they went
about their camp duties. but without a
murmur sthey worked on the forts i'm the
bitches. and qua rded the picket lines With
scant fires and diminishing fuel supply also
came scant rations. The only road left
open for supplies led to Stevenson or
Bridgeport, Ala 60 miles over high noun
tains by trails. through a heavily wooded
and sparsely- settled country, crossing
creeks and rivers running bank full of
foamlng mountain torrents. Over this
mountain trail must come all supplies i'm
mule trains for the army. Bread. meat
and ammunition we must have: all else
was considered super1uous. At the first
the company lived very well, then. as the
mules gave out, the rations were reduce,
one-half. Bread bacon and coffee were all
except some corn in the ear stolen from the
mules or the officers horses.
Men went about the corrals. picking ul
any loose grain that had been dropped
Then the animals began to die of starva
ton. and hundreds of them were sent tC
the far side of the river to browse on the
trees along the mountain sides. Guards
were placed over the officers horses while
they ate their small supply of corn. Mer
became CANT and listless, yet We're full oil
courage and there was no complaint, I'M
less it was from the hungry mules who
made night hideous with their walls. The,
could not understand why the bugler die
not sound the "feed call"
FoRAGING IN THE sEQUATCHIE.
About this time a train was fitted on
In the town to go after corn far up tn
valleys to the north and east, and it be