Chapter 82

CHAPTER LXXXII

We marched about three miles to the left, when it commenced to rain.  We were soon brought to a halt by heavy firing in our front, which proved to be the 23^rd Corps engaging the enemy.  We were deployed in a line of battle and moved forward in a beating rain. After advancing about  half a mile we were ordered to halt and make ourselves comfortable.  Which, under the circumstances, owing to the rain and the firing, was much easier said than carried into effect.

The rain continued to come down and as night was coming on and there being no indication of a further move, we proceeded to put up quarters to protect us from the elemency of the weather.  While we were engaged in putting poles for our tents, several ten-pound shells were thrown uncomfortably near to us, which did no other injury than to scare us a little, and put us in dread of having the experiment repeated almost any moment.

On the following day we had regimental muster and inspection, and our arms having been out in the rain, as well as having been used in a vigorous campaign of over a month, presented anything but a dazzling appearance, nevertheless, with considerable rubbing, greasing and burnishing, we got them so that they passed muster.

The skirmishing in our front was continued with the usual variations sometimes almost dying away and at other times swelling out into the proportion of a regular battle, frequently causing us to make preparations to fall in and be ready to move to the support of the front line.

We remained in the same position until morning of the 6^th of June, Monday, when it was discovered that the enemy had retreated, evacuating a strong and well chosen position.  We broke camp about eight 0’clock, and marched to Marietta Cross Roads, about five miles, here our advance came up with the enemy and the army came to a halt.

Orders were issued to the men to put up temporary quarters as it was probable that we would remain here for a week or ten days.

We remained in camp until the 11^th of June.  Nothing of any importance occurred during our stay here, except the fact that an extra amount of commissary stores were issued to the men and the usual amount of pranks were committed, and as usual under the circumstances, Company G, had its usual share of offenders.  A number of the officers of the various companies in the regiment had been indulging in a little too much “tangle-foot,” unfortunately selected the wrong night as Colonel Pardee was Officer of the Day.  They had congregated in Lt. Willett’s tent and were having a high old time, when the Colonel came down on them and gobbled Lieutenant Willett, the rest escaped.  The Colonel ordered a guard placed over the tent, as he was leaving the tent he stumbled over the prostrate body of one of the members of Company B.  Colonel Pardee prodded the man with his foot, sternly asking:

“Who are you?”

The man straightened himself up as best he could and replied:

“Amos B. Clark, Company B, 147^th Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers, 1^st Brigade, 2^nd Division, 20^th Army Corps, Army of the Cumberland, now who are you?”

The Colonel politely told him who he was and then calling a guard he ordered Clark to be taken to the guard house.

In the morning when Lieutenant Willett awoke, he tried to get out of his tent, he found a guard placed over his tent and when told that he must stay in, he said:  “Oh, I have been promoted, have I?”

When told of his arrest he took it very good naturedly.  After the new Officer of the Day had been appointed the guard was relieved, and the Lieutenant was again, to use his own words, “reduced to the rank of Lieutenant.”

On the morning of the 14^th, we broke camp and moved towards the front.  Firing was going on all morning and from all appearance an engagement was about being brought on.