pɹˈɑːɡɹɛs wʌz slˈoʊ bɪkˈʌz ðə tɹˈuːps wɜː fˈoːɹst tə ɹᵻpˈɛɹ ɹˈeɪlɹoʊd tɹˈæks ænd bɹˈɪdʒᵻz ðæt hɐdbɪn blˈoʊn ˌʌp baɪ ðə ɹˈɛbəlz ɐlˈɔŋ ðə wˈeɪ.
Progress was slow because the troops were forced to repair railroad tracks and bridges that had been blown up by the rebels along the way.