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CHAPTER XIII.

Rendezvousing at Camp Butler-Southward bound-Arrival at Louisville-Arrival at Nashville-The Zollicoffer House-Arrival at Pulaski, Tennessee-Marching orders-March to Florence, Alabama-Return to Pulaski, Tennessee-Marching orders-March to Waynesboro-March to Raw Hide-March to Florence-March to Baily Springs-March to Blue WaterCompanies H and K at Raw Hide-Company Fat Cheatam's Landing-Headquarters at Baily Springs-Companies H and K at Jackson's plantation-The arrival of Company Fat Jackson's plantation-Colonel Rowett's return to the regimentCaptain Ring's detachment ordered to Center Star-Camp at Douglass'-Camp at Taylor's-Camp at Williams'—The arrival of the supply train-The attack at Shoal Creek-The crossing of Roddy-The fight at Florence-Rowett driven-Captain Ring falling back across Elk River-Forming Junction at Florence, Tennessee-The return to Florence-The march to Athens -Lieutenants Sullivan and Rowett sent to Florence under flag of truce to negotiate an exchange-The bad faith of the rebel Colonel Johnson-The regiment dismounted.

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'Southward, ho! How the grand old war-cry
Thunders over the land to-day,

Rolling down from the eastern mountains,

Dying in the west away.

Southward, ho! Bear on the watchword,

Onward march as in other days,

Till over the traitors' fallen fortress

The stripes shall stream and the stars shall blaze,
And the darkness fly from their radiant van,

And a mightier empire rise in grandeur

For freedom, truth, and the rights of man."

After mingling for a while so pleasantly with the good people of Illinois, enjoying their hospitality and

receiving from them many words of cheer, we rendezvous at Camp Butler, February 18th. While here we add to our rolls a large number of recruits. Noble men theyare who have been waiting patiently to arrive at the necessary age for a soldier. That period having arrived, they now seem to feel proud in their uniforms of blue. Colonel Rowett having been by special order, (contrary to his wishes,) assigned to the command of Camp Butler, on the twenty-second of February the regiment, under the command of Major Estabrook, takes the cars for Dixie. Arriving at Louisville, Kentucky, we receive transportation for Nashville. On arriving there, we are furnished lodgings in the Zollicoffer House. The regiment will long remember the accommodations received there at the hands of the government contractors. How the bristling bayonets clashed together at the entrance, and how they practiced their expert chicanery to work their egress therefrom.

Remaining here until transportation is furnished, on the twenty-eighth we proceed on our way to Pulaski, Tennessee. The trains running all the way through, we arrive in our old camp at five P. M.; all seem glad to get back; the non-veterans are glad to see us, and hear from their friends at home; and even the mules send forth their welcome.

Monday, 29th.-All quiet to-day; the officers all busy equipping their companies. Soon we will be in the saddle in obedience to the call of the bugle. March 6th.-Since our return to this land cotton, sallow humanity and scotch snuff, the boys

of

have been looking blue. The fond caresses and the beautiful smiles they received while among the loyal people, have well nigh spoiled the Seventh, but the bugle's blast, the whoop, the charge and the fray will soon give new vigor and point to the soldier's life; will soon draw their minds in from their wanderings and concentrate them on naught but the war line. Though they will not banish those images, they will think of them only secondary to war and victory. This evening we receive orders to be ready to move in the morning with six days' rations.

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March 7th. This morning we move early, heading as usual for North Alabama or West Tennessee; travel hard all day; pass through Rodgersville and go into camp for the night. The sky is cloudy; threatening rain.

March 8th. This morning everything is wet, for it rained hard all night. A fine introduction to the new recruits, though all seem cheerful. We soon move from camp; marching on the military road leading to Florence, Alabama. We arrive at Florence in the afternoon, capture one rebel, and one seeking to make his escape gets killed. We go into camp close to Florence to await for transports that are expected up the Tennessee.

March 14th.-We are still in camp at Florence; no steamers have yet come up; don't look for any now; the river is low. Our rations have run out, and we are compelled to forage from the citizens, who are almost destitute themselves. Our pickets at the river keep up a continual firing with the rebel pickets on the opposite shore.

March 15th. This evening `we leave Florence; travel nearly all night; go into camp early in the morning, tired and sleepy.

March 16th. This morning we proceed on our way to Pulaski; arrive in camp in the evening, very much worn by hard riding.

March 20th.-Since our return from the Northland, a dull monotony reigns in camp; nothing greets our ears but an occasional braying of some hungry mule and the rumbling of the waters over the mill-dam in Richland creek. All seems quiet with the military. We wonder if there will be any more blood made to flow in the South-land. There may be and there may not; God only knows. We would love to believe that ere long there shall be consummated an uncompromising peace, with the Union triumphant and traitors in the dust. Though things in and around camp are dull, the boys are cheerful and happy.

March 21st. We again receive marching orders; Forrest said to be crossing the Tennessee at Eastport... We are ordered to reconnoiter. Oh! how sleepy the soldiers become; some fall off of their mules while riding along the road. About two o'clock, a. M., we come to a halt at Lawrenceburg, and feed and lay down to sleep, but very little do we obtain, for at day-light the bugle blows. The command is divided. Companies H and F, commanded by Captain Ring, proceed to Waynesboro; we find nothing hostile here. The report that Forrest was crossing the Tennessee has proved to have been only

an idle rumor. We go into camp for the night. We feast to-night upon chickens, ham and honey. A scout is sent to Clifton, Tennessee river, this evening, to see and learn what he can about the movements of Forrest.

March 23d.-Still in camp in the woods near Waynesboro; we will remain here until the scout sent to Clifton, Tennessee river, returns. About nine o'clock the scout returns and reports all quiet on the river; we immediately leave Waynesboro, and after traveling briskly all day, go into camp five miles from Raw Hide.

March 24th. This morning we move on to Raw Hide; nothing to be found; we learn here that scouts from the regiment were here this morning in quest of Captain Ring's detachment. The regiment is reported to be at Florence, Alabama; we now lead out on the Florence road. In the evening we arrive at Florence, but find no regiment; we immediately move on to Baily Springs, nine miles from Florence and go into camp for the night. We learn here that the headquarters of the regiment is to-night on Blue Water.

March 25th.-This morning it is raining; we are now out of rations; report to the regiment on Blue Water, where we go into camp and draw from the teams three days' rations, and after feeding and enjoying each a quart of fine coffee, as good (so we thought then) as any woman ever made, we again receive orders to saddle up and be off. We proceed back to Raw Hide, where we join Company K,

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