us could tell in the darkness.
The road and the woods on each side of it were full of troops,
ambulances, ammunition and head-quarter wagons, artillery, and, lastly,
stragglers hunting for their regiments. Now and then a wounded man,
whose hurt did not prevent his walking, came along inquiring for the
hospitals. There were not many of these, however, for the hospital
service was pretty efficient, and the surgeons were located near the
ground where the fighting had been.

Winding about through such surroundings for what seemed a long time, so
slow was the movement and so frequent the halts to allow the
staff-officer who was directing the march to verify the route, Palmer's
division at length stacked arms on a slightly rising ground not many
hundred yards in front of the Rossville road. There were troops to the
left of us, and soon after we halted troops came up on our right. We
knew by this that we were in the main line of battle as it was being
formed for the next day's fight. There were sounds occasionally from the
forest in front which told us that the enemy also was making his
preparations for the morning, and there was moving of troops, wagons,
artillery, stragglers and mounted officers in rear of us almost all
night. Even our troops in line, tired as they were, were not quite
still. The men lay upon the ground and talked of the events of the day.
Company commanders were inquiring the fate of their missing men, and
some of them were even counting up the guns lost by killed and wounded
men, and wondering how they could account for them on their next
ordnance returns. Waking and sleeping by turns, officers and men passed
the chilly night as best they could until it was near the time when the
first gray streaks of dawn should come. Then those who were sleeping
were quietly aroused; the ranks were noiselessly formed; the stacks of
arms were broken; the first sergeants passed along the fronts of their
companies to verify the attendance; and then the men were allowed to
sit down, guns in hand, to await the daybreak and be in instant
readiness for an attack if the enemy should attempt an early surprise.

Daylight came, however, on the memorable 20th of September, and no
attack had been made. The first thought, naturally, after apprehension
of an early attack had gone, was to appease hunger and thirst. But there
was little in the haversacks, and nothing in the canteens. Details of
men were sent for water, and never return