ers on the
correct way to handle troops. As we pushed on through the underbrush and
debris of the forest, the smallest stick trod upon would crack like a
rifle-shot, and the unearthly howl of a dog, in the yard of a hut near
by, made our hair stand on end as it echoed through the woods. The hours
passed tediously as we peered through the darkness across the sluggish
stream to the opposite side; but a little after midnight movements of
the enemy, which they did not try to conceal, awakened our fears; the
noise of bodies of men moving from different points, mingled with the
sound of voices and frequent shouts, led us to feel that life would be
safer and pleasanter behind our battery, when an officer came from the
rear and ordered us to come out in a hurry. We didn't stand upon the
order of going, but "got, right smart,"--not a word of fault was found,
nor a complaint made, out of harmony with the officer's wishes. Company
was formed at once, and the retreat up the road commenced, many an eye
peering back into the darkness to see if the expected pursuit had begun;
and had we waited an hour longer, our march would have been towards the
prison-pens of Georgia, for our opponents then crossed the bridge with a
force that would have swept us away in a moment; and the longer we live
the happier we feel that our curiosity remained unsatisfied. Upon
reaching the regiment we learned that our corps, having been unable to
accomplish the object in view, as so many other expeditions failed to
do, were in retreat, with heavy forces fresh from Lee's army in pursuit,
and that it behooved us to cover the three-mile interval in double-quick
time if we would join the procession in safety. We had been without
rations all day, and for drinkables had only the water that lay in
puddles by the roadside; but, wearied as we were, we kept pace with the
other companies, muttering bitter imprecations against everybody in
general, as we stumbled into holes or tripped over sticks in the intense
darkness of the forest road. At early dawn we fell into the line of the
retreating corps, but not till near midnight did the army halt with the
feeling that it had placed safe distance between it and our adversaries.
Then we 'broke ranks for rails,' and, with coffee and pipes, sat beside
the cheering blaze recounting the incidents of the engagement. Our
little encounter, so insignificant beside the story of great battles,
was yet full of interest to us, and some we