Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 12.djvu/403

 Diary of liev. J. G. Law. 393

we have no base of supplies we must eat what is set before us and ask no questions. We have entered the borders ol the land that flows with "milk and honey" and can live for a few days on the anticipa- tion of the coming feast.

Azigust 21. — The One Hundred and Fifty-fourth Tennessee regi- ment moved out five miles this morning. The supposed object of the expedition is to drive up beeves, though some are of opinion that we are in search of " bushwackers." The last supposition seems to be the most probable one from the fact that soon after leaving camp we were ordered to load, and a company was thrown forward as skirmishers and ordered to scour the woods and mountain sides. But this may have only been a precautionary measure. One of Captain DeGraffenreid's men was shot in the arm. At the report of the rifle some of the boys took to the trees and prepared to fight bushwackers in Indian style, but order was soon restored and we moved forward and halted for the night on the side of a mountain, where beef was issued and broiled on sticks.

August 22. — Returned to Barboursville this morning. Breakfasted on beef, a la solitaire. About ii o'clock Colonel Fitzgerald halted the regiment by the side of a cornfield and we were turned in to graze like a herd of cattle. We roasted several ears of corn, rested an hour or so and then marched into Barboursville with flying colors. Another one of Captain DeGraffenreid's men was shot on picket last night. The result of our expedition is two men wounded. Beef and bushwackers were scarce. Sixty wagon loads of captured provisions came in this evening, including flour, bacon, coffee, &c. The Yankees are overwhelming us with kindness, and their hospitality seems to know no bounds. One day's rations of flour was issued to the hun- gry " Rebs," and biscuit are again in sight. We expect to march on Manchester to-morrow, twenty-four miles distant.

August 2j. — Marched fourteen miles and halted at sunset. We have no base of supplies and are dependent upon the forced hospi- tality of the Yankees and the produce of the country. Ten days' rations of salt were issued before we left Barboursville. My baggage consists of my gun and accoutrements, blanket, canteen, and two haversacks, one for salt and the other for my Bible, note-book, and chess-men. There is a grim significance in the ten days' ration of salt. It evidently means that we are expected to whip the Yankees within that time and draw rations from the Federal Government ; or it may be that we are expected to salt the carcases of those who lall in the wilderness before we get to the promised land. We have had