The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1906-03-29
CHAPTER ".

ed leave of absence and started to
Kentucky.
The afternoon Of the 4th day Of
July our company drill suddenly
stopped by the reception Of an order
from Colonel Barnes for Company II
to get aboard the train that bore us
the order and rejoin the regiment
forthwith. Leaving our tents and
garrison equipage 10 charge of ser.
geant and ten men, we arrived at
Wartrace at sun set, where all the
regiment except details from each
company to guard the tents, &c,
boarded our train OF platform cars,
and, as the whistle sounded and the
iron wheels began moving South, the
Eighth gave three cheers, and bid
Wartrace and old "Pig-tracks" fare
we'll; halted two hours at Tullahoma,
and as we we're settling down 10
pleasant nap Of sleep, orders were
given TO "fall in" "fall in;" "all
aboard for Alisonl" The moon
shone brightly. A short run of nine
miles brought us 10 Elk River bridge,
or where the bridge had been destroy
ed by the rebels. Near midnight
the Eighth left the train, crossed the
stream, many getting wet by slip
ping of the treacherous old dam that
once turned the water on to the busy
wheels Of hourishing cotton factory,
the cbarred ruins Of which made us
feel sad. Viewed by the light OF a
waning moon, the desolation was
doubly solemn. We took possession
OF the score or more OF vacated houses
that constituted the town where the
toiling employees had dwelt, and were
soon oblivious to things past and
present.
Early the 9th, large detail from
the Eighth were put TO cutting tim
ber TO rebuild the railroad bridge.
Several days we're spent in assisting
the government employees. The 9TH
July the Eighth made a general
cleaning OF arms, and many washed
their clothes. few rebel citizens
came into camp, aud others. who had
been in the confederate service, we're
brought in by the Seventh Pennsyl.
vania Cavalry. Some Of them APP
peared more eager TO trade with
you ems" than they were 10 take the
oath Of loyalty One tow headed
fellow swore, IL haint he'd a chaw
NV terbaccer nor a grain NV salt in
my house fur four months"
Our accommodating sutler, r.
Keneday, followed US up the Sth with
fresh supply Of army goods, but
scarcely had time 10 unload before
we were ordered back TO Tullahoma,
and the greater part of that night
our cooks were busy boiling and fry
ing the two days rations.
Early the 9th, one OF those hot,
sultry, spiritless mornings. our men
were ordered TO pile their knapsacks
by the railroad track in charge OF the
orderlies OF each company, and thus,
freed from some Of the weight, the
regiment marched northward. The
low, distant thunder and ominous,
dark clouds came nearer. At o
O'Clock, a. m, the rain began 10 pour
down ON us iE torrents. Arriving
at Tullahoma depot, the regiment
stacked arms, and the men sought
shelter until the train and the ser
geauts, with the knapsacks, arrived.
The men had neglected marking
their property, so as TO readily recog-
nize il from that Of their comrades,
which resulted in much confusion,
swearing and overhauling of KNAPP
sacks. Meantime Colonel Barnes
added to the confusion by hurrying
and swearing for the regiment to
form. Our camp and garrison equi-
page having met us here, we pitched
our tents half mile west Of town.
As the rain continued nearly all
night, almost every member of the
regiment got thoroughly wet in erect
ing tents. The next day was spent
in summing and drying bedding and
clothing. To avoid another KNAPP
sack squabble, several of the Eighth
officers procured paint and lettered
the knapsacks.
B Here the Thirty fifth Indiana, the
Irish regiment, was added to the
Eighth and Twenty first Kentucky,
forming the Twenty-third Brigade,
Colonel Barnes temporarily in com
mand. The 18th the First Kentuc-
ky Battery and Fifth Kentucky Cav
airy, Colonel Haggard, arrived from
Wartrace. The 18th, Companies ID
and |, of the Eighth, were sent as
guard to Elk River, as the enemys
cavalry were menacing several points
north and south OF us.
Early Sunday morning, the 18th,