The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1908-10-15

the campaigning in Kentucky, Tenncs-
see. Georgia and Alabama was in a
rough, mountainous country. and long
trains, taking in the aggregate hun
dreds of wagons, were moved over
mountain trails that were little better
than bride paths. l have seen fifty
men pulling at rope attached to u
wagon drawn by six mules; mules and
men tugging at their best to get the
wagon up some mountain road
When it was up the trouble really
began, because the sliding down the
other side was harder on the wheels
and frame than going up. The same
method was employed in getting artil-
lery over the mountains. A stout rope
would be attached to a gun carriage
fifty or more men would take hold of
1t, and, with the mettlesome horses
under the whip and the men at a run.
up the cannon would go. People at
home used to wonder why an army was
held so long at Il difficult pass. They
did not know that while il was com
paratively easy for the infantry and
cavalry to scurry over the mountains
II was slow work to get the artillery
and wagon trains over. So it was the
custom for the advance brigades to
move through the pass and camp, and
the rear brigades to camp on the other
side for two or three days to get ar
nj fr.,f
vision or corps was ready for business
Transfers and wagon masters had
all sorts or adventures. On one occa-
sion a six-mule team with loaded
wagon attached was rafting along a
narrow mountain road. in front of me.
the teaInster whipping and swearing
when the wagon and mules and team
ster disappeared. The whole outfit had
rolled down the precipitous mountain
side. / rode uD and looked over fear
ing the worst. The wagon 1ad turned
half over and was resting on the
branches of tree about twenty feet
below. The six mules were dangling
In various positions from the branches
some head up. but all kicking. The
teamster and Il dozen cracker boxes
were on the ground, and so far as
could discover, the teamster had never
stopped swearing.
1T looked like bad case, but army
transfers were resourceful fellows.
This particular teamster proceeded to
ct his mules TO the ground, then he
gathered up and repaired the harness.
This done. he called for assistance, and
fifty or hundred laughing. shouting
soldiers came back with ropes, and in
half an hour the wagon was on the
/ road below, tie boxes of bareback had
been gathered up. and the teamster pro-
ceeded on his way as though nothing
had happened 1t was very rarely that
teamster LETT his wagon or his team.
He was generally an enlisted man, and
carried his ride in his wagon, and very
rarely forgot that he was a soldier, as
well as Il teaNster."
II have case in mind" said the
Major, that illustrates that quality.
After the battle of ChickamaSga, Long
street posted his sharpshooters along
the south bank Of the Tennessee river
from Lookout mountain to Shellm0und.
with intent to control the river road on
the north bank to Bridgeport. For n
day or two the transfers ran the CANT
let, going past the points commanded
by the sharpshooters at a full run. But
L0ngstreet's men soon got the range,
and made the road impracticable. They
would blaze away. and sometimes kill
every mule attached to a wagon, If thev
did not kill the teamster When it
came to this the wagons were ordered
eff to the longer road and over the