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Maryland State Archives Adam Goodheart Collection MSA SC 5826 msa_sc5826_3_1-0043 Enlarge and print image (848K) |
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Maryland State Archives Adam Goodheart Collection MSA SC 5826 msa_sc5826_3_1-0043 Enlarge and print image (848K) |
| msa_sc5826_3_l-0043 ©Maryland State Archives - 43 - The crossing of the Chattahoochie tho' wide and rapid, was made on rafts towed over by means of a cable or stout rope fastened to a large tree on the opposite side. The only difficulty was in getting the end of the cable across the River. This was done by expert swimmers who carried across, first a very light line, then a strong cord, and finally the large rope which formed the cable. I was, that day, in command of the advanced guard, and took an active part in the labor of getting the cable stretched, and was among the first to cross with the swimmers. Here, our admiration was excited by the strength and adroitness of an Officer much our senior in years, in his stemming the current with the end of the cord in his mouth, and making it fast to the shore. This was the Quarter Master Major David Vinton, who afterwards had his head shot off by a cannon- ball at Vera Cruz. It rained heavily all day, and in addition to the chill of being so long in the water, in stretching the cable, the cold from being so long wet, was very distressing, altho' it was mid-summer and the climate sub-tropical. The trite saying that "it never rains but it pours" was in my case fully verified that day. I had no sooner crossed the River and thrown out my pickets, than I received an order appointing me Adjutant of the Regiment, the 4th U.S. Artillery. This exhilarated me very much and helped me to struggle through one of the busiest and most exhaustive days of my life, for just as I had concluded my own work, I got a message from Gen. Scott, that his own Staff had broken down, and he wished to form, and turn off the grand guard. I had been on my feet since four in the morning, in a drenching rain, and had swimmed a big and rapid River, was hungry, cold and tired, yet I made an effort to rouse myself to the task, and tho' the night was dark and the location of the Troops not well known, I managed to collect the scattered details together, |