The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1905-05-04
THE BOOMING CANNON
RECITALo OF CAMP AND EAT.
TILE INCIDENTS.
Survivors Of the Rebellion Relate
Many Amusing and Startling Incl
dents Of Marches, Camp Life, Forag.
ting Experiences and Battle Scenes.

|
ing Experiences and Battle Scenes.
This talk about army foot races"
said the Sergeant, reminded me that
I had a daily journal Of the expert
ence of my regiment and division in
the race between Buell's and Bragg's
armies in the summer and fall of 1862.
looked up the old book, written in
pencil, day by day, and 1 have won
dered If the boys wouldn't be interest
ed just now in that plain record Of
the strangest march made by an army
during our civil war. When Bragg
started On his march around our left
flank we were in Nelson's division, sta
toned at McMinnville, Tenn.
ION the 21st Of August the first
train came over the reconstructed rail-
road from Murfreesboro, and there
was great rejoicing in the town and in
the camp. This meant that things
were getting in good shape, and that
we would remain in our pleasant camp
a long time. But on Sunday, Aug. "a,
the men were reused at o'clock in
the morning and ordered to strike
tents, pack the baggage and be ready
to move at daylight. Knapsacks and
tents were loaded In wagons, and these
were driven hurriedly away. Old arms,
surplus supplies and extra baggage
were burned, and at o'clock the pick
cts and outposts were drawn in, and
the whole division moved toward Win
chester. After marching and counter
marching for five days we returned to
McMinnville, where we remained until
Sept. 3. and then marched hurriedly
toward Murfreesboro.
On Wednesday, Sept. 3, we marched
fourteen miles and went into camp at
noon with our trains up and KNAPP
sacks In hand. The next morning we
started at 4 o'clock, marched fifteen
miles, and camped at Reedeyville,
without tents or blankets. Friday,
Sept. 5, we were up at o'clock, and
that night we were twenty-eight miles
from Nashville, Thomas division pass
ing us at what seemed a run. The
next day, Sept. 6, we were at La
vergne, fourteen miles from Nashville,
and on Sept. were at Nashville.
''This, we thought, was the end Of
the race, but before daylight Sept. s
we marched through Nashville, crossed
the Cumberland on the railroad bridge,
which had been planked over, and
moved without rest to our old camp
four miles north Of the river. Rested
until 8 o'clock and moved three miles,
stopped two hours and moved two
miles further and went into camp.
Clearly the divisions were in one an
others way. We were quiet until the
morning Of Sept. II, other divisions
passing us in the meantime, marching
all night. On the 18th we were
aroused without reveille. We passed
McCook's division and then struck out
at breakneck speed for fourteen
miles, rested in battle order until 5
o'clock and then. to the sound Of can
non in front marched ten miles fur
ther, most Of the distance in the dark,
going into camp at 10 o'clock.
| Next morning the division moved
forward in battle order. skirmishers
In front and on either flank. An officer
wearing little straw hat was super
Intending operations, and some Of the
boys yelled at him: Where did you
get that hat? just as they discovered
that the man in the straw hat was
General Buell. himself. That straw
hat, by the way, got lots Of men into
trouble. We moved In battle order un-
der the eyes Of Buell. for eight miles
and settled down, still in battle order.
In camp. But Bragg decided not to
fight and the next day we cut out
after him, marching twenty-seven
miles On half rations. On Sunday the
14th, however, wagons came up and
full rations were issued. On the 18th
we had our knapsacks, and thought
We would stay a while, but that night
we changed our minds. All baggage
was thrown out and twenty days ra-
lions were packed In the wagons.
ION the 10th we started at 6 o'clock
In the evening, moved to the road.
stacked arms, and waited until 8
O'Clock the next morning, the boys put
ting in the time visiting with old
friends in passing divisions or In the
camps near Marched the next morn
Ing at 8, passed through Bowling
Green, and then swept past the long
wagon trains, chasing a prospect of
battle In front. Kept going in the rain
and the black darkness until 8 o'clock
at night. Stood then an hour in the
rain, turned from the road squarely to
the right, marched over the fields.
stumbled into line, and bivouacked. AS
fires were built we discovered that the
whole army was in line for fight.
"As we stood in the rain we felt
very dismal, but as the coffee began
to boil the rain stopped, and, drying
their clothes at the big fires, the men
were as jolly as II on frolic at home.
-Four days rations Of -four were is
sued, and as we had no cooking utep
sils, all Jollity disappeared, and the
men Of the division swore in chorus.
Later they fell to, officers and men,
and baked all sorts of sin,sers, hoe
cakes and ash cakes, and cussed Uncle
Sam in a cheerful way. The next day
we were rear guard for the army, and
marched after the long trains and the
droves of beef cattle, and had the
tough time of our lives in keeping