The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1906-05-03
EIGHTH KENTUCKY HISTORY.



took place one and half miles east
Of us, between our cavalry and some
OF Forests rebels.
The 18th, we resumed the march,
and late that evening halted within
two miles of Bowling Green, at a
large spring, issuing from a cave.
la a short time that stream ran dirty
soap suds, as thousands availed
themselves Of the opportunity to
battle and wash dirty shirts. One
days rations we're issued, but was
barely sufficient for one meal. The
corn crop was just sufficiently soft
to be easily grated into meal. Our
men made graters Of half canteens
and every piece of old tin or sheet
iron that could be found, and these
we're kept constantly in use while
we we're at halt. The varied
sounds Of these many shapes and
sizes OF graters throughout a division
made noise that will long be re-
membered by surviving Union sol
diers Of this war. We remained
here three days. The second day
three days full rations OF damaged,
wormy -four were issued, and the ba,
con was worse than the -four.
The 10Th, We heard cannonading
north Of us, which we soon after
learned was at Mumfordsyille, Ky.
The soldiers OF our army, and espec.
tally our Kentucky boys, were impa.
tient at what we conceived 10 be use
less delays, while the enemy were
outstripping us in the race for the
city OF Louisville, and oyerrunning
the best portion OF the State. At 3
p. m, the 10Th, the welcome bugie
sounded, and We marched through
town, crossed Green River ON pom.
toons, halted and spent the night in
sight Of Bowling Green. The fol.
lowing morning the bugle sounded
the assembly. At the first dawn OF
day light, without breakfast, we
formed column aud marched quick
step for Eve miles. We halted half
an hour at a filthy pond, where the
men were allowed 10 Gil their can.
teens with what they called mule
soup" as there were several dead
carcasses lying purifying in the wa.
ter, probably Intentionally placed
there by the armed Southern gen
ilemen." BY 3 o'clock, p. m, we
had put eighteen miles more behind
us, without anything 10 eat since the
previous night, and the commissary
wagons far behind. Our boys were
too tired TO forage for something 10
eat, aud il would have been fruit
less search, as we had now struck the
recent track OF the iamishing rebel
army. About 2 O'Clock next morn.
ing the long looked for commissaries
arrived, and everybody was aroused,
in the midst OF a hard shower Of rain,
10 draw and cook one days rations.
Flour was issued, and as pans and
other means Of cooking were quite
limited, we we're being hurried into
column while a great many OF the
mems cakes were dough" We
made a quick march 10 Bells Tav.
ern. seven miles north, where we ex-
pected 70 find a force Of the enemy.
We only found the telegraph wires
cut. and some damage done to the
railroad A few miles further, and
We made halt until sunset We
then moved on up two miles 10 Cave
City. The night was very dark. but
soon the whole surrounding country
was lighted by the blaze Of our fence
rail fires. We drew three days ra.
tions, with orders TO cook them and
be ready 10 march by early morning.
The wormy -four was here cooked in
all the known ways, and many ways
hitherto unknown--at least 10 the
writer. There we're biscuits, slap
jacks, pancakes, fried dough, and
some placed the dough ON the clean.
est boards or fat pieces of rails, and
propped Il up in johnny cake style,
while great many roped the dough
around sticks, which we're kept con
stanily turning before the fire until
cooked. After all, scarcely any OF il
could have been eaten in daylight by
any other than soldiers or Digger
Indians, as the numerous long worms
one was forced TO eat or pick out
would not have suited an spicure.
TO BE CONTINUED