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

scouting than any other regiment in the service, and knew we could "hold our own" if they would only keep us in "hard-tacks" and "sow-belly," (which is the main stay of life in the army,) we of course consented to the move.

           We traveled back over the same ground, stopping no longer than a day or two at a place, except at Abbeville, where we remained about two weeks. There we spent our Christmas and New Year's. They were rather dull holidays to us; but we did the best we could under the circumstances. On Christmas eve a select ball was held in a negro shanty near our own camp; and on New Year's day Company E initiated Fort Gleason, which had been erected to protect an old mill where our grinding was done. For here we were entirely cut off from our usual "grub," and had to forage and grind our own corn. We lived on corn bread and beans during our stay there, which we thought was pretty hard fare.

           When we left Abbeville, in the evening, to move across on the other side of the Tallahatchie river, where the remainder of our Division was – for only our Brigade was stationed at Abbeville – it commenced to rain, and continued nearly the whole night. It was very dark before we got over, and having no guide with us, (the officers having all gone to seek shelter,) we got lost; and there we had to stand, the rain pouring down in torrents, until some one went to General Logan's headquarters to find out where our camp was to be. Having got to it, the boys never waited to stack arms, but just stuck them in the mud anywhere, and went to seek shelter. But the only thing of the kind to be found was an old cotton gin, where they were piled in about seven deep in less than no time. The next morning you can bet our field officers got a cursing from Logan, for he is just that kind of a man.

           In coming back through Holly Springs, we found a good deal of it had been destroyed, but not near as much as had been reported. Since then I hear that our troops have finished the destruction of the place, which was a good thing.

           When about six miles from Lagrange our Brigade turned off and went to Davis' Mills; the other two Brigades going to Lagrange and Grand Junction. From Davis' Mills we went to Moscow; and from there to Lafayette, and thence to Memphis, where we arrived on the 19th. Our march from Lafayette here was one of the hardest we ever had. It had been raining and snowing alternately for about a week. And as we marched nearly all the way on the railroad, (the other road being in too bad a condition) the ties being uneven and all over ice and snow, you may bet we had a hard time getting foot-holds. But, notwithstanding all that, we made first rate time, traveling thirty miles in a day and a half

.            Our camp is now situated about one half mile east of Memphis, and one and a half miles from the river. The probability is that we will stay there for some time, a week or two at least. There is no telling where will be our destination when we leave here. It may be Vicksburg, and it may be some other point. On the day of our arrival seven thousand prisoners passed here on their way North. Sherman had taken them at Arkansas Post. And yesterday it was reported that McClernand had taken five thousand more; and guns were fired in honor of it.

Intro Previous Next ToC Index