The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1906-02-01
Chapter IL.

Der, long before the light Of day made
It's appearance, the echoes from
Sweet Lick Mob" resounded the
music from our drums. Instantly all
became astir. Much bluster, loud
talking and hasty cooking, mixed
with considerable profanity, was in
dulged in, something not unusual
with new troops preparing to march.
Acting Quartermaster Curtis had pro-
cured the services Of few citizens
with teams and wagons for this
especial march. About sunrise the
regiment formed, amid music and
some cheering Every man appeared
eager to be moving, as if the sup
preston of the rebellion mainly de-
pended on their individual exertions.
Many Of those scarcely recovered from
measles we're in the ranks with we'll
filled knapsacks, arms and accoutre-
ments buckled on, scorning to be left
behind Many we're bidding hasty
farewells 10 near and dear friends, not
thinking it would be the last with ali,
80 many manly, ruddy boys, in the
bloom OF youth Some time was
spent in ferrying the command over
the Kentucky River, at Whites Ferry,
where many good, old, loyal fathers
and fearful mothers and sisters had
collected to take, perhaps, the last
/ look at son or brother.
Meath wars dark clouds the sturdy volunteer.
by Freedom taught his country TO revere.
bids home and friends a hasiy sad adieu
And treads where dangers all his steps pursue.
The threatening clouds began to
shed their torrents of water on US
about ten o'clock a. m, and continu-
ed to pour all day. The road, princi
pally a mud pike, soon became a
! loblolly of mud and water At four
p. IN. we entered Richmond, KY.
The loyal citizens there, not only
welcomed us 10 the spacious Court
House and two large churches, but
gratuitously furnished victuals to
DOin men anu oluceIS-
The both the rain continued TO fall.
Every soldier who drank whiskey was
allowed to purchase his canteen full
before starting on the march, 10
counteract the unhealthy effects Of
the inclement weather This we'll.
meant kindness on the part Of the
Colonel and some other officers proved
in most cases an injury TO the men, as
quite a number through the day used
this precautionary beverage too freely
while marching the thirteen miles on
the Lancaster Pike We camped
near Miller's Mills, and soon had the
woodland pasture Of I. Burnham
dotted with blazing log fires, drying
our thoroughly soaked raiments. The
wagons containing our Company tents
met us here. The rain ceased and
the Thermometer went down very fast.
Tents were pitched amidst first class
snow storm. Here we eat our first
"hard tack" The commissioned Off
GERS held a consultation and chose
from among several aspirants I.
Burnham as Quartermaster, and he
was soon after commissioned The
morning Of the 30th, Colonel b
did considerable swearing at some Of
the men, whose whiskey had proved
a hindrance 10 their alacrity in load
ing camp and garrison equipage.
That evening, the Sth, we marched
through Lancaster, county seat of
Garrard County, and camped within
one and a half miles of that place.
A good supply Of straw made our
tents quite comfortable. After dark
disturbance among Mr. Robinson's
chickens caused the Colonel to detail
guard, as the boys said, to prevent
the minks from feasting on poultry.
The first day of December we passed
through Danville and encamped with
in two miles of town. Before dark a
report was circulated through camp
that the citizens of that vicinity were
rebel sympathizers, consequently next
morning the ground about camp was
covered with feathers and occasional
ly spots of hog hair, indicating that
the men had devoured the poultry
and made a fair beginning on pork.
In Justice to the neighborhood | will
state that we aftsrward learned that
the people we're generally good Union
citizens, and proved it by their con
duct toward us the next October, after
the rebels had been eating their
chickens
Snow began to fall early the I'd, and
before we halted in camp, in the
neighborhood of Perryville, five or
six inches of snow covered the earth
We suffered much with cold feet and
fingers in pitching tents and build
ing fires. The following morning
the company officers, upon learning
thaf ola AR Rloomfald vvae a stauncb