John D. Billings, The history of the Tenth Massachusetts battery of light artillery in the war of the rebellion

[169] or ground, and just begin to doze, when the column would move again, only to stop by the time one was fairly awake; and this programme was repeated for hours after dark. Our stops were of insufficient duration, either to cook a pot of coffee or steal a halfhour's nap, although intensely aggravated by the need of both. The weather, too, had grown quite cool and frosty. The woods were aglow with the fires lighted by the troops that had preceded us, to keep them comfortable while awaiting their turn to cross; and in alternately shivering and dozing

Alonzo N. Merrill

Hiram P. Ring

around these and sluggishly marching a few rods at a time, the hours wore drearily away until midnight, when we ascertained that since 6 o'clock we had traversed a distance of two miles.

At this time the column came to a halt, which seemed likely to continue some time; at least we resolved to take our risks of its thus continuing; and the cannoneers at once bestirred themselves to light fires and procure water, which luckily flowed front a spring near at hand; while the drivers hastened to