The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1905-10-19
the rebel works 1T this point were not

the rebe! works 1t this point were not
During the evening the road was
torn up. the ties burnt and the rails
bent, to the extreme point Of our ad-
vance. At dark came rain and sleet
| and very cold wind set In, and having
| no shelter our condition was certainly
disagreeable. We did not unsaddle our
horses, but built fires, around which
we huddled, while the merciless sleet
and pouring rain pelted us during the
whole Of that long. long night. l slept
but little, and then lay on the wet
ground, using a black mans knee for
pillow.
litiorist by some, but never dreamed
that the force of circumstances would
make me glad to avail myself of the
opportunity to use black mans knee
for pillow; but this war is a great
| leveler, and fatigue, loss of sleep and
tc rest your head-all these together
ore calculated to break down many a
prejudice. We might have stuck up a
tent, but the order was to move at any
moment. That movement did not come.
however, until 5 a. m. of the 10th. AL
together it was certainly the most un-
comfortable night of my life, yet we
took it in good humOr, and remember
ing it is all for the flag, we had many
hearty laugh.
AT a. m. the command Prepare to
move was given, but everything. even
our hats and gum coats and ponchos
that hung over our shoulders, and our
saddles were covered with a half-inch
thickness of ice, all of which added
nothing to our comfort. at daylight
we recrossed Three Creeks on pom
toon bridge and then halted three hours
until the whole army got under way.
Our regiment was rear guard for
the day, and had scarcely gotten under
way when the rebS made their appear
ance and evinced a disposition to an
noy us. The effort. however, was a
very weak one, and they were easily
held in check. They sent a few shells
bowling over our heads, and we heard
IL few minies zip but we only lost in
our regiment two men killed, nine
wounded and five missing.
The evening of the 10th found us
within two miles of Sussex Court House
on our way back to camp, where we
had a good nights sleep, the rain only
succeeding once in disturbing our re-
pose, and then for but short time, for
we just drew our blankets over our
heads and fell asleep again.
LAS we passed Sussex Court House
preparations were being made to hang
a rebel in retaliation for two soldiers
who We're found near that place with
their threats cut. In addition to the
hanging of the rebel, the Court House
was burned and every building for
many miles.
I'VE recrossed the Nottoway at / D.
m. on pontoons. and were halted for
several hours until everything was safe
ly over. At this point one division of
the Ninth Corps met us as a precau-
tionary measure in case the rebels
should venture to attack us at that
point. Soon after we left the river
night set in. and as we continued our
homeward march our way was illumi-
mated by the flames of burning man.
sions, some very elegant ones, that
We're destroyed in retaliation for the
soldiers that were murdered by the
rebels.
ION the morning OF the 18th at 10
o'clock we arrived at our old camp.
The wind was blowing a perfect gale,
and / think 1 never felt it colder in my
life; and here we were, without tents
or fire. Some had their feet frosted
and our clothes and blankets were
frozen stiff. and how to pass the time
until morning was the question.
Think of this, you who enjoy the
comforts of home, and sympathiZe with
the suffering soldier who stands as a
wall Of iron between your homes and
a heartless foe. We huddled together
as best we could. and in spite of the
cold We slept little. Morning dawned,
and in due time we had our tents pitch
ed and are again comfortably fixed.
THE whole raid was u decided Sic
cess. We effectually destroyed 20 miles
of railroad and demonstrated to the
enemy that we are not only able to
hold or lines here, but can at any
time turn loose an army of 80, 900 old
veterans TO raid through the unpro-
tected parts of their country. During