Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1906-03-17
Marching Through Clay.

marching through Clay.
THAT Lavergne story said Dan R.
Anderson. reminded me of another.
If any one wishes to know the locality
in which is found the clay having the
greatest adhesive capacity found in
the United States-outside of Kansas
'gumbo-I can testify that it is to be
found in field on the left side of the
Nashville and Murfreesboro pike,
about one mile north of the town of
Lavergne. The First Kentucky in
fantry was in the lead of the First
brigade of Palmer's division, on the
Nashville and Murfreesboro pike, in
the advance of the Army of the Cum
berland on Bragg's forces at Murfrees-
boro, Tenn. We had passed over the
last high ridge of ground, and were
in plain view of the town, when we
were halted in the road. We were
there not more than minute when
a white puff of smoke arose from the
left of Lavergne, and screeching
shell came our way. On either side of
the road was high rail worm fence,
made of cedar, the riders of which
were of whole logs and of goodly di-
mansions. When the smoke showed
itself the boys naturally took to the
fence, but before they had reached it
the shell had struck the end of a very
large. rider-top 1og-and made the
splinters fly and the hoys dodge.
Companies H and were right op-
posite where the shell struck and
were quizzed quite a little by the
Ninetieth Ohio, who were in rear of
us and on top of the rising ground,
about lodging, but they did the same
thing minute later, for the next shot
war far too high and went away over
them and never man of the First
Kentucky moved from their reformed
line in the middle of the road. Soon
we were ordered over the fence on
the right side of the road into woods
pasture where there was a large stack
of straw near by and the remains of
another stack that had rOtted away
all but pyramid about two feet high
and thick on which a sergeant, either
of Company H or C, had taken a seat
with his back to the 'front.'
I'VE were all on the alert for the
next shot, which did not come for
several minutes, but when it did come,
every one looking that way would see
it, for it came leisurely and straight
for the little point of straw on which
sat the sergeant. 1t struck near the
skipped around to the front side to see
where it had hit. 1t went through the
straw and into the ground, came out
again, made a bounce or two. and
stopped within a few feet of me-
viewed it with some misgivings and
shut my eyes for some time for it to
go off, but, as it did not, 1 regained
confidence, went to it, picked it up
and put it down much quicker, for it
vas hot
81 ran my bayonet through the ring
and held it up-the pea of steelyard
and told the boys to get ready to
be weighed, for the next shot would
be a hay scales. / missed my guess,
for the next projectile used by our
friends the enemy was a piece of T
rail six or eight inches long, which
came hurting through the air with a
screech like a cross between a rebel
yell and Sc pension, but you get
used to both in time Soon we were
ordered across the road and formed in
line of battle, skirmishers to the front
and l was one of them. We came to
a cotton field which we had to cross,
and there we found the aforesaid clay.
We waded in and each step added to
our landed possessions. At first it
was only tolerably easy going and we
sped along with little interfering. but
as our shoes took on more clay we be-
gan to have more the walk of a goose
We necessarily walked wide and man.
aged to get through the field all right
Every man brought his breastworks
on his feet We just lay down with
our fee to the front, and there we
were With our bayonets we punched
portfolios through the clay to serve as
points of observation. which was not
long, as the Johnnies became so in
sistent that we united our shoes and
deliberately walked out of our breast
works and chased the Johnnies down
the hill to the creek in front of La
vergne That was the limit for that
day. and that night I was one of the
picket guards and am the one that
persuaded the big Johnnie to give me
his gun 1t was a dandy in appear
ance. silver mounted rife 1t was his
individual property, but cussin' did no
good 1t was a lost gum | should
like to know if he is alive, and his
name No doubt some of his compan-
ions will see this, and it will explain
that he did not desert, but was placed
ON picket between me and cur reserve,
I being the outside left of our line and
he of bis right Chicago Inter Ocean