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

had destroyed) could be repaired. Here we were in sight of their first fortifications, which they abandoned on Sunday night, not getting them entirely finished. There is one consolation we have in stopping so often, and that is, there is plenty of fresh meat in these parts.

           We thought that by daylight next morning we would be able to cross the river, but it was fully noon before we got over, having to go around a big swamp. Their main fortifications were on the banks of the river, and appeared to be very formidable. When they leave places like this, you may bet they will not stand anywhere. They say the reason they left was that Steele was coming in their rear and cutting off their supplies, and that they couldn't stand. From the river we only went about three miles until we camped, to await the arrival of our train, which had not yet got over the river. Here our camp was in sight of Abbeville, a station on the railroad, and at which place the rebels had burned the depot containing a lot of clothing, provisions, etc. They had all been newly clothed lately, but were badly in want of shoes, which they say they cannot get. I was told by a lady that they had been encamped around there since about the 18th of last June, when Villipigue's Division came there.

           When we left Waterford we were ordered to leave our knapsacks behind, to be hauled by the teams, taking only our tents and blankets. At Abbeville we remained two days in consequence of our teams not coming up. When our things came they were mussed up in every kind of shape, a great many not being able to find their knapsacks, you humble servant being one of that number, which, I suppose, will be a total loss. Consequently you can't think hard of me for not writing very often, as my portfolio is gone to the "spad-weasels." Here, as well as before, we found fresh meat in abundance. It rained nearly all the time we were there.

           We left Abbeville about 6 o'clock on Friday morning for Oxford, a distance of eleven miles, which we reached about 4 P. M., through one of the muddiest roads that ever was traveled. But there was a strife gotten up between Quimby's Division and ours, to see which would get there first; General Grant promising the advance in future to the Division that reached Oxford first, and of course we won the laurels. But is was done by some awful hard marching. They had one side of the road and we the other, and it was "nip and tug" all the way, except about two miles, when they commenced lagging behind. Some of the officers had a pretty warm time, such as drawing revolvers on each other, etc., but no serious damage was done.

           We are now encamped about a mile from Oxford, in the woods, but are clearing it out as fast as we need wood. Oxford, I think, is the prettiest little place I have seen in the South. It is a place of about fifteen hundred inhabitants, and everything appears to be kept so neat and clean. We are now about fifty-five miles from Lagrange, and by New Year's you may expect to hear of our being in Jackson. We have received no papers now for over a week, although we get our mail every two or three days.

           We have quite a joke on some of our Company E boys. Yesterday six of them went out "jayhawking," when the cavalry caught them and brought them to headquarters,

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