and this shows the mercy of Sherman’s
order, depopulating the place. We waited
on the outskirts of the town for the wagon
train of the 14th Corps,-to which we were
temporarily attached, the 20th having left the
day before,–to get ahead of us. At 4 P.M.
we started on the Decatur road and
camped at 10 o’clock four miles beyond
that place. We were guarding the wagon
train, and this, I must tell you, is the
most unpleasant kind of marching poss-
ible. You have to wait for Every wagon
to get over a bad place in the road, &
this occasions constant halts and getting
into camp at a late hour. It is disagreable
about dark to commence, the movement
known, as “hitch–a-long by battalion” i.e.
go a hundred yds & then halt for 15 or 20
minutes, and keep it up . f till midnight
knowing that you will have to get up at
5 the next morning.
Thursday, 17th we left turned to the right,
passed Stone Mt. on our left, struck the
R.R. at Lithonia, and kept along near
that to Conyers’ Station. The next day we
kept along by the R.R., which was totally
destroyed all the way from Atlanta.
Saturday, 19th. Wet day, and the roads being