en the putrified form
of a human creature in Union garb. Sometimes the skull and other
members of the body were seen detached along the road-side or on a
stump, having been taken from their peaceful repose by ruthful hands or
hungry dogs.

The entire field was yet cumbered with great numbers of our dead, and,
in most cases, the flesh had fallen from the bones, leaving nothing but
the mere skeleton. Years hence, children yet unborn will find, in their
sports upon this field, a skull or a bone of these poor victims, and
wonder and ask what it is; then, some grandfather will tell them of the
great battle of Chickamauga.

But to return to Camp McAfee. For awhile at first, the boys were
obliged, in a measure, to furnish their own supplies. Every day, some
one of each mess had to go six miles to mill and try his hand for
flour, sometimes being extremely lucky, but more frequently, to return
without a mite. These were, with propriety, called our "milling days."
Thus our time dragged heavily on.

On the evening of the 27th of January, our division received orders to
march the next morning at daylight, with three days rations in their
haversacks. Accordingly, on the morning of the 28th, it led out in the
direction of Ringgold, still under the command of General Jeff. C.
Davis. General Batie's brigade followed Morgan's, and Colonel McCook's
brought up the rear. The evening of the same day the command camped at
Ringgold, a distance of twelve miles. Here it remained until ten A.M.
the next day, waiting the result of a reconnoissance which was being
made in the direction of Tunnel Hill, when it returned to McAfee. The
enemy was found in force at that place, and his strength tolerably well
ascertained, which was the real object of the expedition. This
reconnoissance resulted in the capture of forty prisoners, besides five
killed and seventeen wounded.

Again, on the 14th of February our brigade marched to Chickamauga
Station to relieve the 1st brigade which was there on outpost duty. The
weather was now cold and wet, and we were without shanties, but the
boys, with their usual energy, set to work and soon constructed
comfortable quarters. The houses in the vicinity of the camp were made
to suffer badly; in many instances not even a nail was left to mark the
spot where once stood a neat frame building. Colonel Magee returned to
his regiment while it was here, having been home on furlough, every one
being glad to see his familiar