of July, and that Grant, knowing our
whereabouts, had despatched a heavy
column to outflank us and cut us off
from our base, and it was now a simple
question of speed as to who should be first
to get to Jackson, our force or that of the
enemy.

Instantly an aide was despatched to
acquaint the colonels of the brigade with
the new order, and in a few minutes the
silent bivouacs grew into life, the dark
groups of soldiers rising spectre-like in the
dim light of the dying embers of the fires.
Blankets were rolled and strapped, and
slung across the chest, and the limited
wardrobes of the men speedily arranged,
and within ten minutes the entire body
was under arms and ready to march. At
the appointed time each brigade, with the
punctuality of clockwork, filed into the
road and took up its position. It is the
peculiarity of the soldier that, so long as
he is being led towards the enemy, his
spirits are excellent, but the moment his
back is turned to the foe he becomes
depressed and sullen: and on this morning
of the 9th, there was a strange silence in
the ranks as the men marched out from
their camping-grounds, for it was already
known we were falling back. Scarcely a
sound came from these sombre masses
moving in the darkness, and the very galloping
of the aides, as they passed to and fro
with fresh orders, seemed to worry the
troops. At last the head of the column
moved, and the quiet forest woods resounded
with the rumbling of artillery, the tread of
men, and the jolting of the baggage-
waggons.

Taking advantage of the cool freshness
of the morning, the orders were to march
with the greatest celerity, for there was
to be as little rest as possible until we
reached Jackson, over thirty miles distant.
Unfortunately, General Evans's command
was about the centre of the retreating
army, and, as I rode with the staff, I soon
experienced all the inconvenience of some
six or seven thousand men marching in
front of us through a sandy soil, which
rose up in clouds under their tramp. To
escape this searching dust, I urged my horse
up the embankment, and got into the skirting
of wood, hoping to avoid the powder
which covered the army, but what with
gullies, fallen trees, and thick undergrowth,
I found it impossible to get along, and my
horse and myself sliding down the banks,
were received with taunts and execrations
by the men, whom we occasionally somewhat
incommoded by our abrupt appearance;
indeed, I rather fancy that a bayonet
or two were now and then inserted into the
hind-quarters of my steed, for by the sudden
bound and forward rush something
more than my spurs must have been at
work.

But this dust, compared with the trials
in store for us, was really nothing. It was
when the first glare of the hot morning
sun struck the column that the martyrdom
of the march commenced. Many miles
had been accomplished ere this, but the
moment the scorching rays played upon
the men, evaporating the moisture of their
bodies and blinding them with the salt
sweat that trickled through the furrows
on their dusty foreheads, it was then they
saw and felt what they had to endure
before reaching Jackson. On every side
arose inquiries for water, and every
plantation we passed was assaulted by a parched
crowd, who, defying their officers, broke
their ranks and besieged the wells. The
poor fellows midway in column discovered
to their sorrow that the men in front were
also parched and thirsty, and, worse than
all, that in their rush to fill their canteens
they had broken down the brick copings
of the tanks, or let fall the buckets into the
bottom, and in many cases had unshipped,
in the rough struggle, the windlass. Then
there were curses loud and sincere, and
the straps from blankets were buckled
together, and bits of string produced,
wherewith to lower pannikins into the muddy
moisture below; but even then the men
could only reach a disturbed and blackened
liquid which, scattering as it rose, would
furnish perhaps a spoonful wherewith to
moisten half a dozen leathern tongues.

Higher and higher soared the sun, stronger
and stronger grew the heat of its fire, and
how the men managed to endure the oven-
like temperature I cannot imagine, for even
I, well mounted, and with nothing to carry
but my haversack and canteen, suffered
greatly. What must it then have been for
the men who marched with thick blankets
round their shoulders, haversacks filled to
bursting, cartridge-boxes, and over thirty
rounds of ammunition, weighing on their
loins, and who were burdened besides with
rifles of some nine pounds weight?
Besides, many of the men were badly shod,
and the hot sand worked its way into their
broken shoes and irritated the blisters on
their feet.

As the day grew the want of water was
more than ever severely felt. The men