| On June 2nd, about 3:30 A. M. "fall in" was sounded, and without time to get any breakfast, the march was resumed. The rain continued to come down in torrents, interspersed with peals of thunder and vivid flashes of lightning. About 9:00 A. M. a fork in the road was reached, where a halt was made to rest. In less than five minutes' time "fall in" sounded and the lead column, on the double-quick, marched to the rear. "What does this mean?" "Is this a retreat?" and many other such queries were propounded by one man to another. After "retreating" about five miles, a burning bridge on the Pole Cat River was discovered. In map on right, see yellow oval. It was ascertained that the rapid "retrograde movement" was made to intercept Moseby's band of guerillas before it crossed the above-named river. He successfully eluded his pursuers, burned the bridge behind him. The only satisfaction derived from the "movement" was to see the bridge burn and the dust made by Moseby's troopers on the opposite banks of the stream, not a shot being fired by either of the opposing forces. The Pole Cat River was crossed on June 2nd about 10:00 A. M. The rain ceased about 2:00 P. M. the sun, almost immediately, again made its appearance, "in all its glory," as Colonel Gibson remarked to Colonel Piper of the Tenth New York Heavy Artillery. The regiment continued the marching until near midnight. It went into bivouac in a clover field, the men lying on arms during the night. Rain had again commenced about 9:00 P. M. and continued throughout the night. |
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