95                                  HISTORY OF THE SEVENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT O.V.V.I.

vacation for pleasure. It is celebrated for its fine springs of water, of which there were several varieties, cool and pleasant, warm and sulpherous. The town contained many large and beautiful residences, but now presenting the evidences of the sad desolations of war. The homes of wealth and comfort, where the youth sported in princely grandeur, are deserted and shattered under the tramp of contending armies.

           At noon an order come by telegraph for the Division from Bolivar to return that night to Corinth. It was now about 3 P. M., and a march of nearly thirty miles was not very comforting to troops who had been on duty night and day for nearly two weeks. The rumor was current that General Breckinridge was moving upon Corinth with a heavy force, if possible to capture it before the troops would return from Iuka. We immediately about-faced, and marched twelve miles that evening. We rested till day-light, when the regiment started for Corinth, marching about eighteen miles in less than five hours. We encamped in the same place we left a few evenings before, tired and nearly exhausted for want of rest and sleep. The men went to the stream and washed, and put themselves in order to enjoy a few days rest; this being promised them by General Grant, provided the enemy were willing. The idea of a week's rest was inspiring to us under such circumstances, but such comfort was short-lived. Just as we had finished dinner an orderly came for General Leggett's Brigade to report at the depot without delay, and go by cars to Bolivar, Tenn., leaving transportation to follow. Bolivar was then nearly surrounded by the enemy, and fighting had already commenced. In a short time we were on the way, and arrived at Bolivar about midnight, and found all quiet. The enemy in force were within five miles of the place, intending to make a vigorous attack in the morning, but the news of reinforcements reached them, and therefore they left for parts unknown.

           The next day our camp equipage arrived, and we pitched tents in a beautiful grove, and enjoyed the rest that General Grant promised us. After the battle of the 30th of August, General Hurlbut's Division was ordered from Memphis to Bolivar, which increased our force at this place, and relieved us of much duty. The regiment spent much of its time in drill, in which it became very thorough, under Colonel Wiles, who soon became noted for one of the best drilled officers in the service. I feel assured, from extensive observation, he could not be surpassed.

           The people in this community are now beginning to feel the effects of war. Many are becoming impoverished, and experience destitution in all the necessary demands of physical life; consequently trains go daily loaded with refugees North. The depot is crowded with men, women and children, who have fled from the tyranny of proscription, and the uncomfortable prospect of starvation. The poor and the non-slaveholding go North, the oligarchy South. Society is broken up, the men having entered the rebel army, and the women crowd together, consolidating homes, to unitedly struggle with destitution and hopeless prospects. Slavery, the great pillar of Southern society and all enterprise, is beginning to tremble, and with it must fall the whole fabric of social, spiritual and political economy. It decides the status of human society; it supports the Southern Church, which ceases here to be universal, but local and peculiar to itself; its religion extends not beyond the peculiar institution. The negro with his cotton, is king, and holds absolute control of Southern destiny. This forms the great educational force of the people, who are as devoted to it as the Hindoo to Vishnu. Slavery is connected with all their thoughts and identified with all their interests. The rebellion is one of its most direct results, and to suppress the rebellion without

Intro Previous Next ToC Index