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Chapter 40: return to Atlanta; the March to the sea; Battle of Griswoldville, ga.
The Army of the Tennessee changed its camp from
Gaylesville, Ala., to
Cave Spring and
Cedartown, Ga., making short marches.
Every hostile soldier was so far away that our occupation of the country was peaceful.
The inhabitants soon became acquainted with us, and our camps afforded good centers for trade.
On account of insufficiency of time to graze we lost many of the poorer mules and some artillery horses; and, in fact, those losses distressed us till after passing Ship's Gap, north of the
Etowah, when the forage wagons became empty and grass neither abundant nor nutritious.
The weaker mules were detached and sent away in herds to
Chattanooga.
The best being retained were held in service.
During our rqst at
Gaylesville, Ala., pursuant to new directions from
General Sherman, a redistribution of artillery was made, leaving but one battery to a division; then, by judicious exchanges, the good horses were attached to the retained batteries, and the remainder were hurried off toward our depot at
Rome and
Chattanooga.
Cedartown, Ga., and all its bright neighborhood, rejoiced in a plentiful supply of grain.
So our animals day by
