e-field, the enemy having retreated under cover of
night, leaving his dead and wounded on the field. The brigade remained
in its last position three days, when on the morning of the 12th the
army took up the line of pursuit, passing through Danville and
Lancaster, and arriving at Crab Orchard on the 16th. The pursuit was
now no longer continued, the enemy being allowed to make good his
escape with all his forage and plunder.

Nashville now became Gen. Bragg's objective point, making it a race to
see which army could reach it first. Accordingly, on the 20th of
October the line of march was taken up for Nashville, the 36th brigade
passing back through Lancaster and Danville, thence following the main
road leading to Bowling Green. It remained a few days near Mammoth
Cave, in order to recruit its strength, being sorely fatigued. Many of
the Eighty-sixth took this opportunity to see that great natural
wonder. On the 31st of the month we arrived in Bowling Green, where the
brigade remained a few days to recruit and draw clothing, preparatory
to its further march. Leaving this place, it followed the main road to
Nashville, where it arrived on the 7th of November.

The timely arrival of our army in Nashville relieved the anxious little
garrison from further apprehensions of danger, and after so long a time
the city was once more opened to communication. Here ended the arduous
campaign against the forces of Gen. Bragg, the army being permitted to
go into winter-quarters in and about Nashville.

The campaign just ended was one that tried the bone and muscle of the
new levy of troops that had just entered the field. Water was very
scarce, it being impossible to procure a sufficient quantity for our
real good, and even that was of the most inferior kind; it was, in
fact, unfit for a beast, and enough to sicken and kill a human. Our
mode of cooking and eating then seems now to be ridiculous indeed; it
was every man for himself, boiling his coffee in a pint tin and
roasting his meat on a stick. Being barbarously ignorant of the
profession of a soldier, we would carry unnecessary loads which we were
afterwards taught to discard; and undergoing toilsome marches over a
rough and desolate country, under the scorching rays of a Southern sun,
with not enough water to wash down the dust we were compelled to
breathe. The men would readily push away the thick green scum from
every stagnant pool and drink with a relish. Lazy swine were forc