Putnam patriot., 1911-08-18

The road over which we were travel ling had already become historic. Ad- yances and retreats had rolled back and forth upon 1t, leaving a blood stain upon every mile Banks, Shields, Fremont, Jackson, Stewart, and Ashly had fought along this highway, in these fields, and in these beautiful groves. Yet what had gone was but beginning to what was yet to come. All along the route the huge stone chimneys, standing amid the ruins, showed where once had been some home hearthstone. Bleaching bones and decaying remains of horses and mules lay along the roadside and in the fields. Very frequently the unsodded mounds in the fence corners or beside the road showed where some soldier lay who had fallen exhausted, and died, deserted and alone, or had been killed in some skirmish Several times we passed longer mounds where the dead of some little battle had been buried The shal- low trench, the bodies rolled in or dragged to the common grave with a crotched stick, thin covering of earth and the work was done Much of the scanty covering would be washed away by the rains, and protruding limbs, hands and feet were ghastly evidences of wars cruel work
 About five o'clock in the afternoon the white thunder heads appeared above the western mountains. Ris- ing higher and higher, they changed into threatening darkness. The re- verberating thunder, the swift light ming darting from cloud to cloud and from cloud to earth, showed that storm of no ordinary power was rapidly advancing Soon came the sound of a heavy rain in the distance, and we saw the oncoming line of the flood charging upon Us. It overwhelmed us in the worst deluge of rain, wind and hail l ever experienced. About twenty minutes We stood there in the road. soaked bv the rain and beaten by hail. When the fury of the storm had passed it settled into a drizzling rain. With clothing completely saturated. we resumed the march, splashing through the puddles which now covered the road. and about seven o'clock passed through the village of Strasburg.
 lust beyond the village We crossed Cedar Creek on the bridge that on the memorable 18th of October 1864 be- came the holocaust of death for EarIv's fleeing men. A little further on we rounded point of Fishers Hill. the scene of Sheridan's victory over Early soon after the battle of Opequan. Sept l9, 1864.
 About dusk the column turned into the tlelds for the night. Here. cold. wet hungry and footsore. we biyouacked the wet grass beneath. and the rain still falling upon us. About midnight tbe wagons with the rations came up. and we were routed out to receive our allow ance This was a pint of flour and a small piece of bacon to each man. Then in darkness and rain, we started fires and did our cooking the best we could mixing the flour with water without salt or rising. Tin plates and half canteens were used as utensils. The product of 'his hTst attempt was unfit for hogs 10 eai' but 1t was all We were to have for the next 'wenty-four hours. The guard drew like ration, but they had salt, oakihg powder and Dutch ovens-also experience.
 After supper, we lay down again tal get what rest we cosld. the rain s,;il gently falling.
 ]. H. SAWYER.