he two divisions (really, they were only _parts_ of two
divisions) moved southward. The expedition was designed to be a secret
one, and there were no bugle blasts to awaken the echoes of the still
night--bugle blasts that so thrill through the trooper's blood and nerve
him for the mount, the march, or the fray.

The 3d Division had the advance, and with it was the 10th Wisconsin
Battery of four pieces. The 2d had two sections of the "Chicago Board of
Trade Battery." Quietly as all had been planned, the movement was
already known in the rebel camp and our advance encountered an impeding
force early in the march. These fell back as we advanced but continued
harassing and delaying the column, and skirmishing was kept up all
night, a bright moon rendering some aid to both sides.

Friday morning, the 19th, the 2d Division struck the Atlantic & West
Point Railroad. Men from the advance division were already at work
tearing up the track, and one regiment--the 1st Ohio--was detailed from
the 2d Division to assist. A mile of track was soon destroyed.
Meanwhile, the rear of the moving column (Minty's Brigade) was attacked
by a force from the woods on the left with musketry and artillery. The
fighting soon became heavy. The 1st Ohio was ordered up to Minty's
relief, and a systematic attack made with good results, the enemy
retiring from sight. The march was resumed, but the enemy again showed
himself, and, selecting a good position on the flank, opened up a lively
salvo of artillery, playing his pieces well. Shells screamed through the
air over the moving column, and the 3d and 4th Ohio suffered seriously.
Considerable time was consumed in brushing off this force, whose evident
aim was to harass and not fight, but they were finally routed. From
prisoners taken we learned that Ross' Cavalry Brigade was our principal
opponent.

A detachment of 400 men was now sent forward to Griffin to destroy the
track there. The 2d Brigade of the 2d Division was ordered forward and,
on the Jonesboro road, struck the enemy. Skirmishing continued nearly
all day, the enemy falling back slowly and showing a disposition to
impede our progress as much as possible. At Flint river a strong force
was in position on the further bank and at the town of Jonesboro.
Pressing them with energy and our artillery playing lively airs they
were driven from their works, and we advanced across the bridge which
they had attempted to burn. Moving into and through the t