Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1917-04-18

which the rebels had stored away to
feed their army with. The boys
helped themselves, getting sweet
potatoes and honey also. We went
into camp in a field about $3.50
o'clock, having marched about fif-
teen miles today. We could hear the
roar of cannonading tonight.
Friday, March 10, 1865.
1t rained hard last night and kept
drizzling away all day today. We
did not get up until five o'clock, but
as the third division took the adj
vance we found that it was early
enough, for we did not have to haul
out until nine o'clock. The roads
were pretty bad and the teams would
frequently get stuck in the mud and
had to be lifted out. We marched in
water half of the time today, it be-
ing knee-deep in some places. At
$3.50 p. m, we stopped an hour and
half to fix a bridge and at five
o'clock were told that it was only
three miles to camp and we must get
the train there it it took all night.
We made out to arrive at the camp
ing spot about nine o'clock, and in
half an hour had our supper cooked
and eaten, and were then ready for
bed. We marched twelve miles to-
day through a low, wet, swampy
country.
Saturday, March IL, 1865.
We heard the sound of battel last
night about fifteen miles ahead and
got orders to start at two o'clock this
morning. There was no reveille this
morning, but got up at 2:30, made
little coffee, and in an hour our train
started out and fell in line by the
light Of burning houses. There was
a full moon and we had good road
until daylight, so got along very
well, but soon after sunrise we came
to a creek, where a bridge had to be
repaired before we could cross, de-
laying US an hour. We finally got
across only to get stuck in the mud
on the other side, and had to lift
and pry the wagons to get them out.
We went little ways and got stuck
again in the mud; got out, made
causeway from a nearby fence so that
the rest of the train could pass, and
then forged ahead. We were far be-
hind the troops and were unable to
stop with them for dinner, so ate
dry bareback as we walked along.
The country was low and wet and
kept growing worse and the roads
grew more impossible likewise. We
became stalled quiet often, and as
we advanced we got stuck more and
more, until finally at 1880 p m. the
assistant quartermaster came back
and ordered us to unhitch and feed
our teams as it was impossible for us
to get through tonight. In our train
were twelve wagons. Two of them
fo 90 ~, L.
were strung along the road for
several miles. Once in a while we
could advance for a mile or two with
out stopping, but frequently we had
to lift three or four wagons out in
half a mile Of advance. We made
several causeways, using rails when
they were handy, and timber when
in the woods. We could hear heavy
cannonading at regular intervals
this afternoon. We advanced in a
northeasterly direction today, going
only about ten miles. Tonight we
sought rest in wagon which had
two wheels half buried in the mud
and the other half out on hard
ground. The weather was pleasant
today.
Sunday, March II, 1866.
. we were LOO uetp III the muu 10
hear any reveille this morning, so
did not get up until daylight. Found
the ground, where there was any,
white with frost, and having wet
socks and wet boots we had cold feet.
AS soon as breakfast was over we
went to work at the wagons which
were mired. Several regiments of
men were sent back to help fix the
roads and keep the trains moving.
They helped get the wagons out, then
cut timber and made crossways, or
cut roads around so that the wagons
could get through onto the main road.
They kept this up for a couple OF
miles and at two p. m. we went into
camp. having come some five miles