Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1917-07-04

rather curious inscriptions. One mar
BILE slab had the following inscribed
upon it, which was puzzler:
"To the memory Of John John,
SON was born APP. Is, 1914 dide
Feb. 18, 1863"
Another read;
ITO the memory of Hilliar, son
Of Hilliar Freeman; died June 4,
1854"
In the the afternoon we read. play
ed ball, etc., and in the evening had
drill and dress parade. Went to
church again. The house was crowd
ed.
Tuesday, May 2, 1866.
A cold morning. Drilled from sew
en- o'clock to eight. Went to town
again, but saw nothing of interest.
Returned at noon. In the afternoon
we read, wrote and had q short drill
and dress parade between five o'clock
and six, which finished up the day.
Wednesday, May 8, 1865.
We were surprised this morning to
! hear reveille sound at $3.50, but soon
afterwards Sergeant Newton came
around and told US to be ready to
march at seven .. m, which solved
the mystery and caused US to crawl
out. We packed up and at seven
started off, taking the road through
town towards the west. We made up
our minds that we were going to
Greensboro. We babe farewell to the
capital of North Carolina, after hav-
ing been there nearly three weeks,
during which time we had noticed
great deal of improvement in the
place, so that it now looked slick and
clean. We marched quite fast in the
forenoon, going twelve miles, which
after SO long q rest was hard work,
and by noon my feet were badly bis
tered. We stopped two hours at Nor
risville for dinner. In the creek,
where we got our water we found a
quantity. Of rebel artillery ammuni-
ton, which had been thrown away. /
fuse for shell, with which to re-
member the place by. We went into
camp for the night about 4:30 p. m,
having marched about eighteen miles.
The road was very dry and dusty.
The country through which we passed
was slightly rolling and in places
rocky, the stones being granite and
quartz, and the soil clayey. The
houses were few and scattering.
Thursday, May A, 1865.
Reveille at 4:30 a. m. / had rath-i
er poor nights rest, as we had no
cotton to sleep upon, and this morn
ing my feet were so sore that | could
hardly stand on them. The first divi-
sion went ahead today. We only had
enough bareback for breakfast, but
after eating half of it, and getting
ready to march / went back to divi-
sion headquarters and got a haver-
sack full, and came back and finished
my breakfast. We started off at
seven a. m, and marched quite stead
lily. Stopped an hour for dinner.
About two o'clock in the afternoon we
passed Chapel Hill, a pleasant look
ing place, where there was a college.
There were quite a good many inhabi
tants here, and many rebel soldiers.
They sat and looked at US as we pass
ed in mute silence. The "darkies"
were the only ones to show any signs
of pleasure; one fair one throwing
kisses to an officer on horseback,
which amused the boys very much. 1t
rained just enough this afternoon to
settle the dust, which made marching
better. We went into camp at five
p. m, having marched about seven
teen miles. The country and road
were about the same as yesterday.
Friday, May 5, 1865.
We drew two days rations last
night which were enough to last I'M
til Sunday night. We received orders
to be ready to march at $50, so had
reveille at four a. m. We started at
the appointed time, our brigade TAX
ing the lead; our regiment being the
third one. We stopped an hour and
half for dinner, after~ marching
thirteen miles. The army rested
quite often this afternoon and at four
o'clock reached Ruffins' Mills, where
we had to ford the Haw river, the |
water being little above our knees,
with a very stony bottom. After |
crossing the river we went about half
mile, and at five p. m. went into
camp in an open field, having marched |
seventeen miles today. After sup
per we went down to the river and |
had a good swim. There were hun
dreds of soldiers swimming, some in |
dive off the bank; some below the |
dam where the water ran over, which |
was capital place for a shower bath.
Co. B had a good swim and drew
quite crowd by their pranks and
diving.
Saturday, May 6, 1865.
By some mistake we had reveille at
four o'clock this morning, when we
were not to have it until $3.50. We
got up, however, ate our breakfast,
and had to wait an hour and half
before starting, which was seven
o'clock. There are two divisions of
our corps here, the third having gone
by railroad. The corps change places
every day, the first taking the lead
today, and our brigade going in the
rear of the division. We also march,
ed left in front today for the first
time, so that our company was in ad-
vance of the regiment. At nine
o'clock we passed through the little
town Of Graham, where we saw sew
eral hundred bales Of cotton under
shed, and we asked a darby who
owned it? He replied, II don't know
sir, ! suppose youens all do" At |
noon we stopped an hour and half
for dinner in nice piece of timber,
and at 4:30 p. m. we went into camp
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