The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1906-05-24

VIC -Aots we ittulHtQ 10 utdl WI. /
Vernon, aud on the 22d passed |
through that place, There we took
the direct road toward Somerset,
bivouscked within thirteen miles of
the latter, and arrived there the eve
ming Of the Odd
The Kentucky troops began to
think little pay from Uncle Sam
would be in order. We had many |
married men in the command who /
bad not heard a word from their
families for three or four months,
and knowing that even il the inyad-
ing rebels had left them unmolested, !
the cold weather was beginning, and
admoDished them TO Try and send
their anxious, loving wives and chill
dren few dollars, to make them
somewhat comfortable for the winter.
We had passed by our homes Tor the
majority had) without a murmur; but
now tidings began to reach them by
loyal fathers and friends just from
home, who, being anxious TO see sons
or brothers, began TO overtake us,
that in many instances Union fami-
lies had been stripped by the inya.
ders OF what little some of them had,
and in many instances entering their
houses and taking their meat, cut
ting out and carrying of cloth from
the loom, that the frugal soldiers
wife had toiled to spin and weave to
clothe their dependent little ones
There was in Kentucky no organ
lied relief for poor soldiers wives
and children, as was the case in
more Northern States. and in the
terror and excitement OF the presence
OF the two great contending armies
every one at home appeared to think
that seeing after the safety and com
forts Of his own was all that patriot
ism or seiiishness required. These
well confirmed rumors made many
OF the married men of the Eighth
and Twenty irst Kentucky consider
the probable condition Of their de-
pendent families. But on the 2Sth
the column formed without COM
/ plant, and many sad faces and anx-
ious hearts were moving on further
from the loved ones at home, who
needed the long expected pay. The
snow had fallen several inches deep,
aud the young timber bent over our
road with the unshed foliage weight
ed with wet snow. Our supply train
had been sent on to Columbus, in
Adair county, thirty-six miles from
b Somerset. We were two days in
reaching there. Our rations were
there, but the long promised pay
master again disappointed us, and a
good many Of the men began to com
plain bitterly about their pay. Col.
Barnes called the line officers togeth-
er and asked us to persuade the men
TO refrain from any words OF actions
that might bring the command into
disgrace. The company command
ers collected their faithful soldiers
around them and readily admitted
their wrongs and grievances to be
such, but said that we now had a com
mander who would, when appealed
to on their behalf, not only have
them paid but would, on the colonel's
request, grant the men who had
families short furloughs. After this
advice, and Col. B. saying be would
use his influence to obtain furloughs
for the married men, the LIST day Of
November the boys shouldered their
muskets with more cheerfulness,
saying: ave will still do our duty
and see il this new general will do
US justice, and give us a chance to
fight little instead Of wearing our
bodies and patience out trotting
around after the enemy without
getting chance to fire gun"
TO BE CONTINUED