andersonville-第4章
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then。 The young men who have annually driven cattle to the distant
markets in Kentucky； Tennessee and Virginia； have brought back occasional
stray bits of finery for the 〃women folks；〃 and the latest improved fire…
arms for themselves； but this is about all the innovations the progress
of the world has been allowed to make。 Wheeled vehicles are almost
unknown； men and women travel on horseback as they did a century ago；
the clothing is the product of the farm and the busy looms of the women；
and life is as rural and Arcadian as any ever described in a pastoral。
The people are rich in cattle； hogs； horses； sheep and the products of
the field。 The fat soil brings forth the substantials of life in opulent
plenty。 Having this there seems to be little care for more。 Ambition
nor avarice； nor yet craving after luxury； disturb their contented souls
or drag them away from the non…progressive round of simple life
bequeathed them by their fathers。
CHAPTER II。
SCARCITY OF FOOD FOR THE ARMYRAID FOR FORAGEENCOUNTER WIT THE REBELS
SHARP CAVALRY FIGHTDEFEAT OF THE 〃JOHNNIES〃POWELL'S VALLEY OPENED
UP。
As the Autumn of 1863 advanced towards Winter the difficulty of supplying
the forces concentrated around Cumberland Gapas well as the rest of
Burnside's army in East Tennesseebecame greater and greater。 The base
of supplies was at Camp Nelson； near Lexington； Ky。； one hundred and
eighty miles from the Gap； and all that the Army used had to be hauled
that distance by mule teams over roads that； in their best state were
wretched； and which the copious rains and heavy traffic had rendered
well…nigh impassable。 All the country to our possession had been drained
of its stock of whatever would contribute to the support of man or beast。
That portion of Powell's Valley extending from the Gap into Virginia was
still in the hands of the Rebels； its stock of products was as yet almost
exempt from military contributions。 Consequently a raid was projected to
reduce the Valley to our possession； and secure its much needed stores。
It was guarded by the Sixty…fourth Virginia； a mounted regiment； made up
of the young men of the locality； who had then been in the service about
two years。
Maj。 C。 H。 Beer's third Battalion； Sixteenth Illinois Cavalryfour
companies； each about 75 strongwas sent on the errand of driving out
the Rebels and opening up the Valley for our foraging teams。 The writer
was invited to attend the excursion。 As he held the honorable； but not
very lucrative position of 〃high； private〃 in Company L； of the
Battalion； and the invitation came from his Captain； he did not feel at
liberty to decline。 He went； as private soldiers have been in the habit
of doing ever since the days of the old Centurion； who said with the
characteristic boastfulness of one of the lower grades of commissioned
officers when he happens to be a snob：
For I am also a man set under authority； having under me soldiers；
and I say unto one； Go； and he goeth； and to another； Come； and he
cometh； and to my servant； Do this； and he doeth it。
Rather 〃airy〃 talk that for a man who nowadays would take rank with
Captains of infantry。
Three hundred of us responded to the signal of 〃boots and saddles；〃
buckled on three hundred more or less trusty sabers and revolvers；
saddled three hundred more or less gallant steeds； came into line 〃as
companies〃 with the automatic listlessness of the old soldiers； 〃counted
off by fours〃 in that queer gamut…running style that makes a company of
men 〃counting off〃each shouting a number in a different voice from his
neighborsound like running the scales on some great organ badly out of
tune； something like this：
One。 Two。 Three。 Four。 One。 Two。 Three。 Four。 One。 Two。 Three。
Four。
Then； as the bugle sounded 〃Right forward！ fours right！〃 we moved off at
a walk through the melancholy mist that soaked through the very fiber of
man and horse； and reduced the minds of both to a condition of limp
indifference as to things past； present and future。
Whither we were going we knew not； nor cared。 Such matters had long
since ceased to excite any interest。 A cavalryman soon recognizes as the
least astonishing thing in his existence the signal to 〃Fall in！〃 and
start somewhere。 He feels that he is the 〃Poor Joe〃 of the Armyunder
perpetual orders to 〃move on。〃
Down we wound over the road that zig…tagged through the forts； batteries
and rifle…pits covering the eastern ascent to the Flap…past the wonderful
Murrell Springso…called because the robber chief had killed； as he
stooped to drink of its crystal waters； a rich drover； whom he was
pretending to pilot through the mountainsdown to where the 〃Virginia
road〃 turned off sharply to the left and entered Powell's Valley。 The
mist had become a chill； dreary rain； through； which we plodded silently；
until night closed in around us some ten miles from the Gap。 As we
halted to go into camp； an indignant Virginian resented the invasion of
the sacred soil by firing at one of the guards moving out to his place。
The guard looked at the fellow contemptuously； as if he hated to waste
powder on a man who had no better sense than to stay out in such a rain；
when he could go in…doors； and the bushwhacker escaped； without even a
return shot。
Fires were built； coffee made； horses rubbed； and we laid down with feet
to the fire to get what sleep we could。
Before morning we were awakened by the bitter cold。 It had cleared off
during the night and turned so cold that everything was frozen stiff。
This was better than the rain； at all events。 A good fire and a hot cup
of coffee would make the cold quite endurable。
At daylight the bugle sounded 〃Right forward！ fours right！〃 again； and
the 300 of us resumed our onward plod over the rocky； cedar…crowned
hills。
In the meantime； other things were taking place elsewhere。 Our esteemed
friends of the Sixty…fourth Virginia； who were in camp at the little town
of Jonesville； about 40 miles from the Gap； had learned of our starting
up the Valley to drive them out； and they showed that warm reciprocity
characteristic of the Southern soldier； by mounting and starting down the
Valley to drive us out。 Nothing could be more harmonious； it will be
perceived。 Barring the trifling divergence of yews as to who was to
drive and who be driven； there was perfect accord in our ideas。
Our numbers were about equal。 If I were to say that they considerably
outnumbered us； I would be following the universal precedent。
No soldier…high or low…ever admitted engaging an equal or inferior force
of the enemy。
About 9 o'clock in the morningSundaythey rode through the streets of
Jonesville on their way to give us battle。 It was here that most of the
members of the Regiment lived。 Every man； woman and child in the town
was related in some way to nearly every one of the soldiers。
The women turned out to wave their fathers； husbands； brothers and lovers
on to victory。 The old men gathered to give parting counsel and
encouragement to their sons and kindred。 The Sixty…fourth rode away to
what hope told them would be a glorious victory。
At noon we are still straggling along without much attempt at soldierly
order； over the rough； frozen hill…sides。 It is yet bitterly cold； and
men and horses draw themselves together； as if to expose as little
surface as possible to the unkind elements。 Not a word had been spoken
by any one for hours。
The head of the column has just reached the top of the hill； and the rest
of us are strung along for a quarter of a mile or so back。
Suddenly a few shots ring out upon the frosty air from the carbines of
the advance。 The general apathy is instantly； replaced by keen
attention； and the boys instinctively range themselves into foursthe
cavalry unit of action。 The Major； who is riding about the middle of the
first CompanyIdashes to the front。 A glance seems to satisfy him；
for he turns in his saddle and his voice rings out：
〃Company I！ FOURS LEFT INTO LINE！MARCH！！〃
The Company swings around on the hill…top like a great； jointed toy
snake。 As the fours come into line on a trot； we see ev
