Goppghtl^''.

COKMGHT DEPOSm

c C L E N D O N

W. A. McClendon, 1895

RECOLLECTIONS OF
WAR TIMES

BY

An Old Veteran

WHILE UNDER

STONEWALL JACKSON

AND

Lieutenant General JAMES LONGSTREET

How I Got In, and How I Got Out

Montgomery, Ala.:

The Paragon Press
1909

(j^^fJLA^

c^1

[UnOARVofr.ONGRESSj
iw^ C»oic? ;teceivecl |

Bebicateti to aU true S>out|)ern men anb toomen
anb tf)etr positttitp

Preface

In my declining years I send forth this book as a narra-
tive of some of the events and incidents of my past life while
in the Southern Army. It embraces only a partial history
of my life in camp, commencing with July 1861, and ending
April 9th, 1865, while serving under "Stonewall" Jackson
until December 1862, and under Longstreet until April 9th
1865. It is written almost entirely from memory, and there-
fore I do not claim to be absolutely correct, as forty years
have passed since these things occurred, and 'tis said that
memory is treacherous. I have avoided all harsh criticisms
only where history upholds it. I have endeavored to avoid
a repetition of profanity and slang that was so common in
camp. All those who are acquainted with me know that I
am uneducated, and that I make no claim to correct english.
I am conscious that many mistakes have been made, and I
respectfully ask the reader to cover my imperfections with
the broad mantle of charity and accept this narrative only
as a fireside conversation with an old Veteran.

Respectfully,

W. A. McCLENDON.

WHEN WILL THE CONFEDERATE SOLDIER BE
FORGOTTEN?

"When the lion eats grass like an ox

And the gallinipper swallows the whale,

When the terrapin knits woolen socks

And the hare is outrun by the snail.

When serpents walk upright like men

And doodle bugs travel like frogs,

When grasshoppers feed on the hen

And feathers are found on the hogs,

When Thomas cats swim in the air,

And elephants roost upon trees,

When insects in summer are rare

And snuff never makes people sneeze.

When fish creep over dry land

And mules on bycicles ride,

When foxes lay eggs in the sand

And women in dress take no pride.

When Dutchmen no longer drink beer

And girls get to preaching on time.

When billy goats butt from the rear,

And treason is no longer a crime.

When the humming bird brays like a donkey

And limburger smells like cologne.

When plowshares are made out of monkeys

And the hearts of Alabamians are stone."

— By Mr. James Barson in Age Herald, June 9th, 1908.

CHAPTER I

THOUGHTS ON OLD TIMES BY AN OLD VETERAN.

Dear Friend:

An old man like I am sitting alone around a fire on a cold
day with no sweet little boys and girls to be romping around
musing over the events of the present, and what may be in
the future, will naturally let his mind run back to events of
the past. I said an old man, that is what the boys sometimes
calls their father. "The Old Man," but I am not as old as
some would suppose, nor wont be the next time you hear
from me. So far I have had what some people call many
"ups and downs" and if I am to be the judge the "downs"
have predominated, but being possessed naturally with a
lively disposition and it being sorter in keeping with my
faith, I am inclined to accept everything that happens as
an act of providence and complain as little as possible. Well,
while musing over the past my mind ran back to Christmas
time of 1860. When I go to town, I see very few of the old
boys that were young then, that remembers the events of
that time, and it is a great pleasure to sit with them and
talk of the stirring events of those days when A. B. Moore
was Governor of Alabama, when John Bright drove the
stage from Eufaula in Barbour county down by Abbeville
carrying the passengers and mail to and from Columbia in
Henry county, and when the Whigs, and Democrats, buried
the "hatchet" as a token of bridging the chasm that had so
long existed between them politically and as a unit espous-
ing the cause of the South that was then threatened with
an abolition administration. In those days of which I speak
the post office at Abbeville would be crowded at each arri-
val of the mail from Eufaula, Sundays not excepted, as
that was the mail that brought the news from the seat of
government. I was a youth then, in my teens, but all my
relatives were strong Southern people and politically were
democrats, and ardent secessionists. I had a peculiar fond-
ness for reading Southern newspapers, and whenever I saw
anything that C. C. Clay, W. L. Yancey and J. L. Pugh of
Alabama had to say, it would catch my eye. There were

8 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

democratic leaders from other Southern States that were
fiery in their oratory, I will mention a few. Bob Toombs of
Georgia, M. L. Bonham of S. C, R. M. T. Hunter of Va.,
W. T. Wigfall of Texas, and the greatest of all was Jeffer-
son Davis of Miss. All those that I have mentioned with
many others were prominent leaders of the democratic
party of those days and espoused the cause of the South and
as a last resort became ardent secessionists. The oratory
of these men in the halls of Congress and on the rostrum
fired our Southern heart, and when the call to arms was
sounded we donned the grey, and under the "Stars and
Bars" with a step to the martial music of Dixie and the
"Bonnie Blue Flag" we went to the front to resent an in-
sult offered to the South by her enemies. The people know
the result. I am truly loyal now to the "Stars and Stripes."
I glory in the United States, and am proud that I am an
American. I still cherish a love for the "Stars and Bars,"
and as they were the colors of my first love, I guess that's
the reason, for that love was so great that a spat of four
years with the Yankees failed to suppress it. ^ There are a
few old timers living that remembers the stirring events of
those days spoken of and the great leaders of the South that
I have mentioned. The young of the present day only know
of them from history and out of the few that I have men-
tioned not one are living. That grand old man, J. L. Pugh,
v^as the last to cross over. Well, we have now what is called
a new South. I claim to belong to the old South, and others
of my age had as well claim the same. The new South is
clamorous for room, and says: stand back, old South, you
have had your day, now it's our time and it may be right,
as time changes the people change, or as people change time
changes, I don't know Vv'hich.

CHAPTER II

A REMINISCENCE OF OLD TIMES.

Dear Friend:

In the first chapter I said something about the Whigs and
Democrats burying the hatchet. Some one might ask the
question, did they bury a genuine hatchet, or was it an as-
sumed name for the thing which bridged the political chasm

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 9

that then existed between the two parties. Yes, it was a
genuine hatchet, and as well as I remember it was bought
out of the store of A. C. Gordon & Co., was brought out by
Capt. J. W. Stokes, now dead, and after an address by John
B. Taylor, suitable for the occasion, Capt. Stokes deposited
the hatchet in a hole dug somewhere near the south veranda
of the present court house, in the town of Abbeville, Ala.
The hole was dug for the purpose of raising a liberty pole
and the hatchet was deposited in the bottom under the large
end of the pole. I was a small boy then, but I felt as great
interest in the "Liberty Pole" as A. C. Gordon, D. W.
Roach, J. T. McClendon, W. J. Singletary, or li. E. Ov/ens
did, but I had a great deal less to say, but I, with a great
many other little boys of the town and country, thought
it a big thing to be allowed to pull the ropes when the word
was given to raise. These were exciting times in the poli-
tics of the country. South Carolina had already passed
the memorable ordinance of Secession and the people began
to hold mass meetings, and invariably would pass resolu-
tions resolving to stand by South Carolina. The mayors
of towns, and municipalities of towns, and cities would
hold meetings, make speeches, endorse resolutions, until
patriotism would run so high until it would cause "hot
times in the old town at night." The little Southern boys
and girls became to be Secessionists, and all prided them-
selves in wearing a badge of "Red, White and Blue." So
much so, that red, white and blue ribbon was at a premium.
South Carolina withdrew from the Union Dec. 20th, 1860.
We boys in camp used to sing:

"We honor, yes, honor bold South Carolina,
WTio cast her brave bark alone on the deep," etc.

Florida followed on the 7th of January, 1861 ; Mississippi
on the 9th; Alabama on the 11th; Georgia on the 20th;
LfOuisiana on the 26th, and Texas on the 1st February.
Thus in three months after the announcement of Mr. Lin-
coln's election nearly all the Cotton States had Seceeded
from the Union. These are matters of history and I only
mention them as events of what was going on here forty-
six years ago. Well, what did all this bring about? Boys
to the front. At this time of which I speak, there were two
first class military companies in this (Henry) County. The
"Henry Grays" and "Henry Blues." A. C. Gordon, of Ab-

10 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

beville, was Captain of the Grays, and T. T. Smith, of Co-
lumbia, was Captain of the Blues. So soon as Alabama
withdrew from the Union, and linked her fortunes with
the other Southern States, Captain Gordon and Captain
Smith, both typical Southern gentlemen, tendered the ser-
vices of themselves and their companies to the Governor
of Alabama, to defend with their lives the cause of the
State, and the South. Their services were accepted and
each captain ordered to hold himself ready to move at a
moment's notice. These were days full of expectancy for
those companies, looking every day for orders to move, and
at last the suspense was broken, and orders came for the
Grays to move, and on the 11th of May, 1861, many left
the old town of Abbeville never to return. I had several
school-mates, friends and acquaintances in this company,
one particular friend that I never saw again, Warren
Owens. I volunteered under Captain Gordon to go too, but
I being so young my father objected and I was left to wait
until I grew older.

CHAPTER III

A REMINISCENCE OF OLD TIMES.

Dear Friend:

No one knew but myself the anguish I bore, the sadness
and loneliness that I felt when I was told that I could not
go, that I would have to wait until I grew older. Some of
my most intimate friends and associates had gone off with
the Grays, and there was no enjoyment here for me. To
dispel the gloom I would seek the company of what I
thought to be my best girl. On one occasion I was in con-
versation with her talking about the boys that had gone
when she looked at me with a smile, and with a cunning
expression of countenance, remarked that her sweetheart
was off with the Grays. Oh, my! That was a stunner to
this boy for I had fancied myself to be her favorite but I
found it was all a delusion and I resolved to go to the war
the first chance thinking it might be the means of changing
her mind and her affections would be concentrated upon
me. In the latter spring, and early summer months the
North and South were actively engaged, raising, organizing

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 11

and concentrating large armies at the most assailable
points which was only a precursor of what happened in the
future. Fort Sumpter and nearly all the arsenals on the
Southern coast that was occupied with United States sol-
diers had been seized by the Confederates without the loss
of life. The first clash of small arms between the Federals
and Confederates occurred on the 10th of June, 1861, in
the low grounds of Virginia near Fortress Monroe. In this
engagement the Confederates were victorious, and in his-
tory it is styled the "Battle of Bethel." Hearing of so many
victories for the South, and only a few getting killed, I
began to think that the war would soon end and that I
wouldn't get to sniell gunpowder much less burn any. But
all this time, and while these little scraps were taking
place I was watching for a chance to get off. At last a
meeting was called in Abbeville by some one to organize a
comipany. I went. There was a large crowd in town that
day, mostly old men and young boys. The old men would
be in squads, juggling and caucusing about something, and
I was watching closely, trying to catch on as to what was
up, but at last som.e one over at the court house began to
yell at the top of his voice, "Fall in! Fall in! form line
here!" I fell into line with them. We formed in single
rank reaching from the old court house across the square.
All being in line I began to look for the captain. He was
the man I wanted to see, but I failed to locate him. Mr.
Henry Maybin and D. W. Roach seemed to be the leading
spirits on that occasion, but I couldn't tell who was the
Seignior in command. (Both of these old gentlemen have
crossed over and gone, they were truly loyal to the South
and made great sacrifices for the "Lost Cause.") After
"right facing" and "left facing" and trying to obey every
other command that was given on the street, we were
marched up into the old court house, when some one (I
don't remember who) occupied the judge's stand as chair-
man, and in a rambling way explained the object of the
meeting-, saying the object was to elect officers, agree upon
the color and material for a uniform, and also to name the
company. As well as I remember some one moved to m.ake
Mr. Henry Maybin Captain, and a vote was taken and Mr.
Maybin was unanimously elected, and by the same process
D. W. Roach was elected First Lieutenant. I don't remem-
ber who the other officers were, but one thing I do remem-
ber, that is, I was not even mentioned for the Fourth Cor-

12 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

poral's place, which I thought I was entitled to on account
of my military spirit. In voting upon the color, and ma-
terial for the uniforms, they said it should be of a brown
color made with cotton aids, the hats to be black, low crown
with broad brims, and should be wool. The company should
be called the "Home Guards" and should be for home pro-
tection. Dear Friends, that let me out. I wanted a suit
of English Grey, trimmed in black with brass buttons and
a grey cap, and brown leggins. That was my ideal for a
uniform. That was the last meeting of that organization
that I attended, don't know whether they ever had another
me; they intended to stay at home, and that didn't suit,
me; they intended to sta yat home, and that didn't suit.
So in a short time after that W. C. Gates, then a lawyer
of Abbeville, began raising a company to go to the war.
That just suited me, and as I was nearly 17 years my par-
ents reluctantly consented for me to go. So I volunteered
in his company, a step I never regretted, and I will tell you
in the next chapter how, when, and where I got off.

CHAPTER IV

RECOLLECTIONS OF THE PAST.

Dear Friend:

I will have to defer telling you where I went until some
future time. I can only tell you of how and when I got off,
and of my first stop. I told you in the preceding chapter
that I abandoned the "Home Guards," that was organized
for Home Protection, and volunteered under W. C. Gates.
This was in the early days of July. Gates had been com-
missioned Captain and had tendered his services to the
Governor, and was busy organizing his company for active
service. All over the South the young men were volunteer-
ing to go to the war, and it was not a question as to who
would go, but who would stay at home to take care of the
home folks. As to who would stay at home, was a question
for some one else to decide. I was fully determined to go.
The more I read the papers, and the more I could hear,
only increased my desire to get off. While the South was
making these preparations the North was not idle in doing
the same thing. She was organizing a powerful army in

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 13

and around Washington, preparatory to the invasion of Vir-
ginia, and the South was concentrating at or near Manassas,
Va., about 25 miles from Washington, ready to meet the in-
vaders whenever they came out from behind their breast-
works. At last the Federal army advanced and the Con-
federates met them on the plains of Manassas on the 21st
of July, 1861, and after a hard day's battle, the Confed-
erates completely routed the Federal army. The names of
the chief commanders with their subordinates of both
sides, the names of the troops engaged, are matters of his-
tory, and I only refer to them as an event of this particular
time. The complete rout of the Federal army at that time
had a tendency to check my ardor, as I was ready to agree
with some of our leading statesmen, that with that vic-
tory for the South, peace would be declared in thirty days,
the war would end, and I would not get to see a "wild
Yank." But I believed Gates knew better, for he did not
lose his energy in organizing his company. As well as I
remember, about the 24th of July, the ladies of Abbeville
presented us with a flag. We were drawn up in line in front
of the old Academy when M. A. Bell, a lawyer of Abbeville,
made the presentation speech for the ladies, when Capt.
W. C. Gates in his eloquent and patriotic style accepted it
for his company, accepting the flag with promises by him-
self and company which he and company faithfully kept.
Who those ladies were I don't remember. I only remember
one, Mrs. Harper, a noble Southern lady of the highest type.
She is now deceased. The company was named and is
known in history as the "Henry Pioneers," and at this time
it was full up to the maximum and running over. It was
composed mostly of farmers' boys, a hael, hearty set of
young fellows, and in a skirmish with the "Yanks" they
found us tough stuff, and hard to drive. Gn the 25th as
well as I remember Captain Gates informed us that he had
received orders to march, and that he would leave for Frank-
lin on the 27th. This was glorious news, for I was growing
impatient. He gave every man the chance to back out that
wanted to, only one stepped out. Capt. Gates had to reject
one on account of his age being too young. This youth was
a long, lean, lanky fellow; fair skin, blue eyes, light hair,
and would have weighed about 115 pounds. When this
youth was informed by Capt. Gates that he could not take
him tears were seen trickling down his cheeks. He turned
his back upon us anu went his way weeping. This was no

14 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

other than our big-hearted, whole-souled "Bob" Reynolds.
He went off afterwards and joined the 37th Alabama, and
at Atlanta he received a painful wound, but he survived,
and is living among us today a fine specimen of humanity,
weighing about 250 pounds. Considerable difference of
"then and now." On Saturday morning of July 27, 1861,
I rose early and began mxaking preparations for my de-
parture. After breakfast everything being ready, I bid my
mother and sisters farewell, and hastened to Abbeville with
my father. There the citizens had furnished wagons and
buggies to carry us, and our camp equipage to Franklin.
Kind friends, did you ever have to say good-bye? It was
a hard word for me to say. About 10 o'clock I bade my
aged father good-bye. I never saw him again. His last
words are still remembered, "My son, take care of yourself,"
and turning to Capt. Gates, said: "Capt. Gates, take care
of my boy."

Gates fulfilled his promise, as near as the arduous service
would admit. We went on down to Franklin and there
pitched our tents, went into camp and there waited for the
steam-er Jackson, which was to carry us up the river. Sev-
eral things occurred this evening at Franklin, which I will
tell of in the next chapter.

CHAPTER V

RECGLLECTIGNS GF THE PAST.

Dear Friend:

Franklin is in Henry County, a small village on the
western bank of the Chattahoochee river, and on my way
to the war this was my first camp. I will say that just
before we arrived, Capt. Gates formed us in line, and
marched us to a house where there was a long table spread
with everything that would satisfy the hunger of man.
This dinner was prepared by our First Lieutenant, C. V.
Morris, and other citizens of the community, who were
watching and waiting for our approach. A large crowd of
people had already assembled, and more were continually
arriving, mostly relatives and friends of the boys that were
from off the river, coming for the purpose of bidding us
farewell. About 5 p. m. Capt. Gates formed us in line, and

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 15

give the command, "To the rear open order, march!" when
the rear rank marched two paces backward. This being
done, he commanded, "Front rank about face." Then the
people began to pass through, shaking hands with every
one, with moistened eyes, and briney cheeks, speaking words
of cheer, bidding us God-speed, and good-bye. This was an
affecting scene. Aged fathers and mothers, brothers and
sisters, and some of the boys' sweethearts were there to say
good-bye. (My sweetheart was not there. I had already
told her good-bye, and had, to some extent, recovered from
the effects.) The parting between the Misses Codys and
their brother Barnett, was very sad to me. I could not sup-
press the tear, seeing the manifestations of love of those
beautiful girls toward their brother. It is not my inten-
tion to write a biographical sketch of the life of any one,
but I will assume the liberty to say that I afterward learn-
ed the cause why those girls were so devoted to their
brother. On account of his genial, loveable and generous
disposition, they could not help but love him, and for those
traits of his character he became the idol of the company,
and those of us that were living at the time he was killed
at Gettysburg, realized that in the death of Barnett, H.
Cody we had lost a friend, and the company one of its most
useful members. He was in his teens, and had passed
through all the grades of the non-commissioned officers, and
had been commissioned Second Lieutenant when he was
killed. I could say more of this noble hearted boy, but will
only say that his old comrades that now live to think of
him will meet him at the general "Roll Call" to answer
"here."

But to return. After all this scene at parting we broke
ranks, pitched our tents, and with great anxiety waited for
the steamer "Jackson." This delay did not suit some of us
for we were afraid the war would end before we could get
there, and we wanted to be "going." Night came on, and
while some of the boys were circulating around camp, one
got too near the bluff, and over he went, but not into the
water. The alarm was given and others rushed up to see,
and over went another. This created more excitement and
caused another rush, but they became more cautious, and
"looked before they leaped." The boys got out all 0. K.,
without getting into the water, or being hurt. 'Twas here
at this place that I saw all of our commissioned officers at
one time. Wm. C. Gates, Captain ; I. T. Culver, First Lieu-

le RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

tenant; C. V. Morris, Second Lieutenant, and H. C. Brain-
ard, Third Lieutenant. Two of those are still living, Oates
and Morris. The companj'^ numbered 121 men beside the
commissioned officers, full up. As for our uniforms they
were all 0. K., being a red flannel shirt with grey pants,
and was called out fatigue suit, which I found very much
fatiguing at that time of the year. Think of it now, being
clothed with thick woolen clothes on a dry, hot, sultry day
in July. These things happened 45 years ago, and the
thoughts of it today almost produces perspiration, but be-
fore I get through with my narrative, I will tell of some hot
times, sure enough. We were furnished a nice suit of grey
for a dress suit later on. We had all we needed then ex-
cept guns and ammunition, and something pointed out to
us to shoot at. The whistle of the Jackson was heard down
the river at about 10 o'clock. Oates hollowed out, "Take
down your tents, boys, and be ready," which we did in a
hurry. The boat landed and we hurried to get everything
on board. When we got everything on board, Capt. Oates
formed us in line, and we marched on board ourselves. Even
at this time of the night the wharf was lined with spectators
to see us off. All being on board, Capt. Oates had a few
words with Capt. Fry, (the Captain of the boat) when all
at once, boom went the little cannon that lay at the bow of
the boat, the bells began to jingle, steam was put on, the
wheels began to splash the water, when our noble little band
composed of J. E. Harrell, A. A. Kirkland (Old Betsy) and
Stewart Merritt, having for their musical instruments a
fife, bass and kettle drums, struck up the tune of "Dixie,"
when the "Rebel Yell" was given in full. Oates' company
needed no practice or instructions as to how to give the
"Rebel Yell," a yell that became famous, and which so
often caused terror and dismay in the ranks of the Yankees,
and on several occasions that which we failed to do with
our guns, we would accomplish with the rebel yell. I can
give it yet, and when I am at our reunions and hear and see
things that invites it, I just simply turn loose in old rebel
style.

Our trip up the river was a pleasant one and was without
an accident or incident worthy of note. We halted a little
while at Eufaula Sunday morning. There saw some of
Hart's company, the E. C. G.'s who informed us that they
were going to follow us on the next steamer up. We landed
that evening at 5 p. m. opposite old Ft. Mitchell on the M. &

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 17

G. R. R. in Russell County, 10 miles southwest from Colum-
bus, Ga. We were about one and one-half miles from the
camp, and we were met at the landing by the ''Brundidge
Guards" Capt. Lewis commanding, as an escort to camp.
We formed in four ranks (Hardee's Tactics), preceded by
our escort, we started for camp. Our little flag of "Red,
White and Blue" that we had received from the ladies of
Abbeville was placed in the hands of M. G. Maybin, our
ensign, and as the Southern breeze unfurled its folds, the
boys looked upon it with pride and as a reminder of those
they had left behind. Our line of march lay through a large
plantation owned by James Cantey, who was Colonel of the
15th Alabama Regiment, to which our company was attach-
ed. Several companies of this Regiment had already arrived
and were in camp. They were from Bullock, Pike, Lee, Bar-
bour, Dale and Russell counties and on our way to camp,
many of them had stationed themselves on the wayside to
look at us. A great many funny remarks were made by
them, such as, there comes the red shirted boys from the
piney woods. There comes Gates' tigers, there comes Gates'
Zouaves, and many other remarks too numerous to men-
tion. We were too dignified to reply. We were in line
and had assumed the positions of soldiers, and with heads
erect and with elastic step, we marched on until we arrived
at our camping ground, when we broke ranks, and the fun
began. This was my second stop.

CHAPTER VI

RECOLLECTIONS OF THE PAST.

Dear Friend:

We broke ranks and the fun began. "Ge-whillikins," I
never in all my life saw so many soldiers and tents. The
boys that had already gone into camp there gathered around
us, and began shaking hands just as though they had known
us all our lives, and giving us such a welcome we felt good
to be there. We said to them what we pleased, and they
replied as they pleased, and no one became ofl^ended; all
like brothers for one common cause. Here a tie was set
up, that "old father time" will never extirpate or destroy.
The wagons that had been sent down to the landing on the

18 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

river after our camp equippage. Soon arrived, and we be-
gan to pitch our tents in regular military order on the
ground pointed out to us by an officer, whom I afterwards
learned to be the Q. M, Night came on and we cooked sup-
per, and after enjoying the usual camp gossip for a reason-
able length of time we retired, and passed the night as happy
as the "Buzzard bird that sported among the flowers," only
to be awakened by the squeaking of the fife and beating of
drums. This was at 4 a. m, and for the purpose of getting
us up to answer roll call. "This is war at last boys," "we're
into it," said some one. This was on the morning of the
29th of July, 1861, and the first time the roll of Gates' com-
pany had been called in a regular military form. I answer-
ed at its roll call that morning for the first time and an-
swered at its last call near Appomattox court house in Vir-
ginia, April, 1865. Ft. Mitchell — this is our first camp,
and the name suggests that there is a fort there, but not so.
It's nothing but a large old field clear of stumps, surrounded
by beautiful shade trees and a fine place for the mobilizing
of small bodies of troops. Here the 15th Alabama was or-
ganized with 10 full companies, numbering in all about
1200 men. The place is located on the M. & G. R. R. in
Russell County, Ala., and is spoken of in the life of Andrew
Jackson, the particulars of which is lost to memory and
I shall not attempt to explain. I was anxious to see the
Colonel, the Lieutenant Colonel and Major, and as soon
after breakfast as practical I strolled off through camp, and
upon inquiry some one pointed out to me Colonel Canty,
Lieutenant Colonel Trentlin, Major Daniels, and several
other officers of the Regiment. From my dress they knew
that I was one of the new arrivals, "One of Gates' Tigers,"
and they had a great deal less to say to me than I wanted
to say to them. They were disciplined, I was not, and I
imagined that they looked upon me as an underling. I
thought myself to be as good a soldier as they were, and I
looked upon them at that time as being a bigoted set of fools,
but I didn't tell them so. I afterward learned that an officer
had to be a little austere to keep the privates from pulling
off their shoulder straps, in order that good order and mil-
itary discipline might be maintained, and as a private, at
certain times I would be placed in position, where I could
exercise authority and it was my delight to enforce orders
which were as rigid on a commissioned officer as it was a
private. I obeyed orders, and they didn't hurt me. We

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 19

drilled every day, about in squads, and sometimes the whole
company would turn out, then confusion would commence.
We would become so tangled up at times that we were the
laughing stock for some of the older ones, but we kept on
trying and later on the "Red Shirted boys from Henry" be-
came noted for accuracy in company drill, and the manuel
of arms. We had dress parade every evening. We soon
learned what reveille, and "tattoo" meant. Tattoo was a
great deal easier to obey, than reveille. We would sit around
our camp fires at night, tell old tales, sing old songs, box,
wrestle, run, and jump, turn summersaults, pat and dance,
and do everything imaginable for fun and frolic. We had
crack singers in our company, crack story tellers, crack
jumpers, crack wrestlers, crack runners, crack dancers and
crack athletes. I was a crack at none of these things, but
prided myself on being the crack shot, and was anxious for
a chance. Occasionally we would hear some good news,
v/hen all the camp would give the "Rebel Yell." These were
events of the first days of August, but we did not remain
here many days, before orders came to go somewhere, and
sure enough we went. Where? I will tell in the next chap-
ter.

CHAPTER VII

"ON TO RICHMOND."

Dear Friend:

Before leaving our camp at Ft. Mitchell several things
occured that I would like to tell. The most notable of these
was our taking the oath of allegiance to the Confederate
States, and being mustered into service for 3 years or dur-
ing the war. Of course they gave us an oppertunity to back
out if we wanted to, but it was no time for backing then, we
were regular in and spoiling for a fight. The captain of
each company drew for letters which indicated their posit-
ion that each was to occupy in the line, Capt. Oates drew
the letter "G" and our petition was between K and B, on
the left wing of the regiment, a position we occupied all
during the war. Our tents were branded with H. P. (Henry
Pioneers) to distinguish us from the others. Tom Cargile
from Eufaula named each company by its letters. We bore

20 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

the Sobriquet under his naming of "Hell Pelters." I know
the name of some others but will not repeat here. We were
divided off into messes, and each tent marked, my tent be-
ing No. 7. There was ten of us in mess No. 7, and only one
beside myself is living to-day, and he received a wound at
the battle of Chickamauga that made him a permanent crip-
ple for life. Here we drew our arms, bright smooth bore
muskets, and bayonets of the latest improvement. We also
drew cartridge boxes and cap pouches, but did not get any
ammunition. That was a feature of the drawing we did
not like. I wanted to try my gun at a spot, and if I had, I
would have run the risk of being court marshaled, for it
was always against orders to shoot off in camp. We were
as proud of our guns as the little boy is now-a-days of a
toy pistol, or a little girl is of a doll . We drew knapsacks
also, some of the boys would put them on and go dashing
through camp as if they were stampeded, the straps flap-
ing on either side seemed to increase their fright, together
with speed until they run down, during the melee, some
would hollow "Whoa! whoa!" catch him, head him, and
not let him tear up his harness! They called it Jeff Davis
harness, and it being the first time that they had been
rigged up that way they feigned themselves to be a young
horse being harnessed up for the first time, we had lots of
fun then. Poor boys, they were having their fun then, not
realizing what they would have to meet later on, only a few
of them are living to-day. While we remained at this camp,
we were drilling, and doing camp guard duty, and being
instructed in everything that would qualify us for active
operations in the field. All this time rations were plenti-
ful, and were all that heart could wish. While all these
things were going on we were constantly expecting orders
to move, suddenly one day about the 20th of August the
officers call was sounded at headquarters, when each com-
pany commander attended to receive orders from the Colonel
commanding. Capt. Gates attended, and when he returned he
niformed us that he had orders to cook 3 days rations, and
be ready to move at a moments notice.

Glorious news, and the next thing we wanted to know
was, when and where, but every one was at sea on that
question, but it was up to us to get ready, and we obeyed.
The next day however, the officers call was sounded again,
our Capt. attended and when he returned he ordered us to
strike tents, pack our cooking utensils as quick as we could,

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 21

as he had orders to go to Richmond, Va. "Thank God,
Hallelujah," was shouted, "On to Richmond."

We are going to the war at last. Our company and com-
pany "F," (Brundidge Guards) were marched out to the
depot which was near by, and boarded the cars for Colum-
bus, Ga. On crossing the Chattahoochee river we said "fare-
well to Alabama, we are going in your defense." We chang-
ed cars in Columbus for Macon, running all night we landed
in Augusta, Ga., the next morning. There the ladies had
prepaired a long table, and supplied it with every kind of
eatables that heart could wish, and we lined up on each side
and helped ourselves.

There we changed for Wilmington, N. C, passing through
South Carolina we reached Wilmington at night and after
crossing the Cape Fear river on a boat we boarded the cars
for Petersburg, Va., there we changed for Richmond. The
reception and ovations that W. J. Bryan is now receiving in
Europe is nothing to compare with the receptoins and ovat-
ions given us at the principle cities along our route to Rich-
mond, in August 1861. To say the least of them, the cir-
cumstances at that time under which these receptions were
given us cut quite a figure in, "then and now." Our com-
pany, Captain Gates commanding, and the company from
Pike county preceded the ballance of the regiment to the
camp at Richmond. The old white faced wonder Seth
Thomas clock that has been counting of our time for 80
years has just struck 10 and I will have to close this chap-
ter.

CHAPTER VIII

AN OLD VETERAN IN CAMP AT RICHMOND.

Dear Friend:

In the last chapter I told you of some things that hap-
pened on our way to Richmond but I did not tell all and I
propose starting again at Ft. Mitchell, and to begin I will
say that I never saw but one steamboat, had never rode on
a car but once, and had never seen a town larger than
Eufaula was at that time and taking ever5i;hing into con-
sideration I had never been a "hens scratch," from home
(if you know how far that was,) up to that time, but my

22 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

frolicing disposition and eagerness to get off to the war
made me want to ride, and see the sights. While waiting
for the cars to get ready at Columbus, some of us bought
some watermelons, and we indulged in that luxury to our
hearts content. The cars being ready "all aboard," was
announced by the conductor, when Captain Gates and the
Lieutenants busied themselves to see that all was on, and
comfortably seated I occupied a seat with Daniel McLellan,
he was a man of mature years, was of Scotch descent, and
had a family, was also my neighbor and friend. I sat next
to the window and he the aisle. The whistle blew and off
for Augusta we went. The cars didn't run past there then
as they do now, we run all night and had to change cars
when we arrived .

The longest stop was made at Macon, Ga., where we got
out and strolled around until train time for Augusta. The
place was all lit up by some kind of lights, so everything
was bright as day, I remember reading a sign that night
on one of the large houses not far from the depot, it read
as follows: "The Brown House," a large hotel that now
stands near the depot. . Two years after that I received a
furlough of indulgence and on my return to the Army it was
my fortune to spend one night at this hotel where I met my
old comrade and friend C. S. Kincey, who was on detail in
the Medical department. He too has passed over. But I
am digressing, on our way from Macon to Augusta, in the
night I was seated as before by my friend McLellan. Late
in the night I began to turn sick, my lips began to trimble,
my mouth began to run salty water. Gh sick, I became
all at once. Gh Daniel, hold my head, I leaned over his lap
toward the aisle. Dont throw — on me said Daniel, and I
didn't, but what I did on the floor of the car was enough.
I had a brother-in-law and two own cousins on that train,
and after my older cousin coming to me and giving me a
drink of water remarked that he thought I would be more
particular next time how I ate watermelons, and I thought
so too. This was only a little sea sickness on cars.

Notwithstanding the sickness I was ready for that fine
breakfast at Augusta spoken of in the preceeding chapter
for I was just right to enjoy such, and I did my duty. But
while all these things was going on I could not help think-
ing of home, papa, mama, sister, and my girl that I was
leaving. Sometimes I would get what we call the "blues"
and drop into a state of melancholly and almost be ready to

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 23

sink in despair, but cheer up old boy, you are not near dead
yet, there are many things to hear and see yet. I was all
0. K. after breakfast.

Boarding the cars, crossing Savannah river, we spead our
way through South Carolina into North Carolina, crossing
the Cape Fear river on a boat at night, thence to Weldon
where we arrived between 2 and 3 o'clock a. m., to remain
one hour. While there we were allowed to go out and walk
around. Soon the train was ready and we started then
without change to Petersburg, Va., where we had to wait
sometime before we could continue our journey to Rich-
mond. While waiting I had the pleasure of bathiii^g my
face and hands in Pocahontas Spring which was near the
depot, and also near the Appomattox river, and while on
my way to Richmond to the U. C. V. Reunion in 1896, while
stopped I sat in the car and looked out through the window
at the same spring and my mind wandered back when I
thought of the boys that were there with me 34 years ago,
which produced a sadness that I could not then nor can I
now explain. The boys and girls of our country know who
Pocahontas was, know what she did, how she lived, and how
and when she died, so I will not stop to explain. While
waiting on the cars to proceed to Richmond, only 22 miles,
men, women, boys and girls, all having a cheerful look,
cheering us on, and proud to see such a fine looking body of
young Alabamians coming to their soil to fight the invaders
of their homes. We bid them farewell, and sped our way to
Richmond. On arriving and just after crossing the James
river we disembarked from the cars and formed line, and
was marched down by the river passing the Old Lybby
prison and went into camp about one mile from the city,
and some of the events of this camp will be told in the next
chapter.

CHAPTER IX

THE OLD VETERAN IN CAMP AT RICHMOND.

Dear Friend:

Our camp at this place was on a narrow strip of land
about one hundred yards wide situated between the York
River R. R. on the south, and a high bluff on the north with

24 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

a gradual slope from the base of the bluff to the R. R. On
our way down to camp we passed the noted Lybby prison,
used at that time to confine the "Boys in Blue" that fell into
our hands. We called them tame yankees, but we saw others
later on that was not so tame.

They peeped at us through the grates in silence as we
passed on without uttering a word of decision, though
at that time we had no sympathy for them in their unfortu-
nate condition. We were hard hearted then, but we learned
later on to be more sympathetic, and render aid in meritori-
ous cases which was reciprocated. Our camp equipage
arrived on the same train and our company "G," and the
company from Pike "F" that had preceded the regiment,
proceeded at once to pitch our tents in regular Military
style, and there waited the arrival of the other companies
which arrived in due tim.e, pitching their tents on the same
plot of ground making it Camp 15th Ala, Our commisary
depari^m.ent at this time was complete in every detail, fur-
nishing everything we wanted to eat except, "corn bread
and greens." This railroad that bordered our camp on one
side was called the Richmond and Yorktown R. R., and was
being used then in transporting soldiers to and from, and the
frequency of them came to be so noticeable and being a
great curiosity, that when we heard one coming either way
we v/ould rush down the slope and get as near as possible,
in order to see the soldiers. One of our company, a fair,
fat, tender, chuffy, good natured boy seemed to take more
interest than the others in running to see the cars, and on
one occasion he fell striking his knee against a rock, cutting
a gash which was the means of stopping his runs a few days,
and I doubt not but what that fellow carries a scar, a trophy,
the effects of that fall to this day. His anxiety to see every
passing train became so great, that he became to be a cun-
spicuous boy, so much so, that when the whistle of an ap-
proaching train was heard the boys would begin to call,
Parish, Parish, Parish, and they would call Parish at any
time of the night, I really thought that sometimes he would
become irritated, but he was naturally possessed of a genial
disposition, and would accept, and pass it, as a tease from
his comrades and friends, and remain in a good humor, I
may have something to say of this fellow later on.

Our camp at this time was all life, even the four oldest
men we had in our company seemed to have forgotten their
ages, and becom.e to be as lively as any of the boys. There

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 25

were J. J. Wofford, C. S. Blaylock, Seaborn Jones and John
R. Steely, familiarly known as Uncle John Steely. Blaylock
and Jones died of disease during the following winter.
Wofford and Steely survived the war and died only a few
years ago, both reaching their four score, a visit to either of
one of those old veterans during their last days by one of
their old comrades was appreciated and greatly enjoyed. As
soon as the field and staff officers arrived a camp guard was
established, and sentinels posted with orders as rigid as
though we were in the immediate presence of the enemy.
Forty rounds of ammunition was issued to each man, and
that created a suspicion that something was soon to happen
and when I would be on guard from 2 to 4, a. m., I would
draw on my imagination, and imagine that the yankee
prisoners had broke out of Lybby prison, and would try to
slip up on me as the Indian would do. These imaginations
had a tendency to keep me awake, and I was one that all
during the war never to be caught naping on post. We
would drill four hours each day, 2 hours in the a. m., com-
pany drill, and 2 hours in the p. m., Batallion drill, our drill
ground was north up the hill from our camp and was on a
level plateau that afterwards becam^e to be the location of
a large hospital called Chimborazo, I saw this place in 1895
and will say more about it some time in the future, but
suffice it to say that there had been a great change made in
the appearance of the place during the 34 years that had
passed. It is sad, for one of my age, to think of those days,
and to think of the many bouyant and brilliant young men
whose delight it was to romp over those grounds. Where
are they today? echo answers, gone, gone, and you too must
soon follow, and then what, and where, I knoweth not, but
have an abiding faith and hope.

CHAPTER X

THE OLD VETERAN IN CAMP AT RICHMOND.

Dear Friend:

This camp was so full of incidents that it was impossible
for the most indolent soldier to take the ''blues." The
squeaking fifes, the beating of drums, the music of cornet
bands, the marching of well dressed, well drilled, and well

26 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

armed soldiers with gorgeously attired officers on their
prancing chargers, dashing hither, and thither, and occa-
sionally the boom of a cannon could be heard in the distance,
all had a tendency to drive away ''dull care," and almost be
the cause of forgeting the loved ones at home. All of these
things I greatly enjoyed, for it just suited me, but I learned
later on that every sweet has its bitter, for sometimes I
would be on camp guard at night from 12 m. to 2 a. m., and
would be invested with the countersign, and not allowed to
stop walking for two hours, pretty tough I thought but I
was in. I would become so lonely that my mind would
wander back a thousand miles and imagine the condition
and situation of things, and the loved ones at home, I would
look at the bright moon and stars on my lonely beat and
wonder to myself if any one on earth was thinking of me.
In order to overcome this melancholly state of mind, I would
begin to repeat poetry that I had memorized, and every
speech that I had ever made when I was in school that I had
not forgotten, and last but not least, hum on old love songs
that would come to mind, but the one that best suited the
occasion was an old song that another fellow sung when he
was drawing on his imagination just as I was, when he
began singing,

"Backward turn backward,

O time in your flight.
Make me a child again.

Just for to-night."

He had rather been a child that night and with his mother.
I was sorter that way myself but I kept that to myself.
These were conditions that a fellow would naturally get
into at times, especially by one so young and had never
stayed more than a week away from home folks and his girl.
All at once while in this state of mind these delusions would
be dispelled by some sentry, calling out at the top of his
voice, "Corporal of the guard, post No. — ." This had to be
repeated by every one on post, which tended to keep us
awake, as I had already said, I never was caught napping.

During our stay here I had the misfortune to have a large
abscess (bile) on my heel, caused by my shoe which disabled
me for a time from duty. I was excused by the doctor, and
didn't have to go on drill, a thing that I regretted for I was
always fond of drilling,but I would hobble to the drill ground
and look on in order to catch what I could from what I

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 27

could see and hear. (To the boys that are now living that
was there.) Do you remember the morning when an alarm
was given and the long roll sounded at this camp? I never
shall forget it, and the scenes that ensued. Dear friend, I
will tell you about it. One hot sultry morning in August,
about 4 a. m., the drums began to wh-r-r-r when Captain
Gates, the Lieutenants and orderly Seargeant, was out in the
street in full dress calling and shouting to the men to wake
up, hurry, and fall into ranks, the long roll was beating,
get your guns men, "hurry, hurry." Everything in camp at
that time was hurly burly. Where is my hat! Where is my
shoes! could be heard from every direction. Some of us
privates knew what the "long roll" ment, and I with others
thought a fight was on hand right then and there. We were
in line as soon as any of the other companies and waited for
orders from Col. Cantey.

While waiting some of the boys knees would tremble and
their teeth would chatter as though they had an ague, and
I guess mine did the same thing for I was no braver than
some of the rest. We didn't wait long before here come the
Adj't on his horse as though he was scared half to death,
and seemingly in a very excited manner ordered Captain
Gates to take his company up the hill in a hurry to the drill
ground where the regiment would be formed, and off he
dashed at break neck speed. This was Adj't Knuckolls of
Columbus, Ga. This happened when the large abscess was
on my heel and Capt. Gates offered to excuse me, but I want-
ed to see what was up, and hobbled on up the hill and took
my place in the ccmpany after it had took its place in the
regiment. Being formed at early dawn the Col. called "Atten-
tion Batallion," when he began drilling the regiment, one
manuever after another in fast succession, until the perspir-
ation began to flow freely from the men and officers causing
a few to fag out.

My position was in the front rank and very early in the
commincement of the drill some one behind stepped on my
"bile," and mashed it to pieces, it hurt so bad, and I got so
mad I turned and drew my gun in a striking position and
uttered language that is unbecoming a gentleman. Gne of
the Lieutenants witnessed the occurrence and ordered me to
camp where I ought to have been all the time. I appoligized
to the fellow for what I said, and he begged pardon for
what he had done in hurting me so bad, it being purely ac-
cidental, he accepted my appologies and I did the same for

28 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

him which settled it and we were as good friends as ever.
It was the best thing that could have been done for my heel,
for it began to cure up right away, but for the mashing it
got , there was no telling how long I would have been dis-
abled from duty. The regiment after drilling until the sun
was about two hours high come into camp thirsty and tired,
and had to hurry to get breakfast in time for the two hours
company drill before noon. These days were very sultry
and having to wear woolen uniforms made it very fatigue-
ing when on drill, but the time come later on when they were
a pleasure instead of a burden. There were other things
that happened at this camp that I wish to tell, but I will
defer them for the next chapter, when I will leave this place
for Manassas, where there was a prospect for another bat-
tle. That's what we wanted to get into, we wanted to try
our guns.

We were getting restless, and wanted to ride on the cars
again.

CHAPTER XI

AN OLD VETERAN IN CAMP AT RICHMOND.

Dear Friend:

One morning in September 1861, while on camp guard
with orders not to let no one pass, or approach my line
nearer than six feet without complying with certain in-
structions, I spied what afterwards proved to be a beautiful
little maiden of 16 summers, come tripping down the hill
towards my line with something in her hand, she came rignt
on towards me regardless of anything as though she in-
tended to cross my line, and go into the camp. When she
came within a certain distance, I ordered her to halt and she
did so, and with a lovely smile beaming in her face said,
"good morning," I replied in the same manner and asked
her what could I do for her, when with a smile she came
nearer, extending her hand, asked me if I would accept of
this little Bible. I thanked her for her kindness and said
yes and asked her name, when she said her name was writ-
ten in the book, and upon examination I found written there-
in, "Presented by Miss Laura Brauer." She asked me my
name and where I was from, and of course I told her, I

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 29

told her my orders were strict and that I could not engage
in a conversation with her while on guard, all the while I
was looking for the officer of the guard, and no doubt she
discovered my restlessness, she extended her hand and bade
me farewell, returning the same route she came. I gazed
after her with deep solicitude until she disapeared over the
hill. It has never been my pleasure to meet with that little
Southern girl since and if living, she too like myself is
growing old. The little Bible I carried in my pocket through
several warm engagements. It became so soiled from the
effects of perspiration that I was afraid it would come to
pieces, and when I came home on furlough in September
1863, I left it with my mother and sisters, one of my sisters
prized it very highly and it may be in her possession yet,
I could say a great deal more about this little Bible but
suffice it to say that its teachings kept me from committing
many sins. While in this camp the Measles broke out on
one of our boys, and on account of friendship existing be-
tween his father and Captain Gates, and in fulfillment of
his promise that he would take care of the boys, Capt. Gates
lost no time in procuring a place at a private residence
and having him conveyed thereto, detailing our 1st Corporal
J. F. Melvin, then a young man of mature years and manly
qualities to nurse him until he recovered. This was only one
of the many kind acts of Capt. Gates to his men whenever
an opportunity presented itself until he lost his arm in '64
and had to leave us.

And while on this subject, I take pleasure in giving public
expressions to my sense of gratitude for kindness shown in
times that tired men's souls, and will ever cherish a recol-
lection of these things that occurred so long ago and feel that
I would be no less than an ingrate were I to forget the kind-
ness shown by my old Captain, Wm. C. Gates. In a previous
chapter I gave only a passing notice of our drill ground,
which the boys that are living will remember as "Chimbo-
razo," and said I would refer to it again. Well, It is not
the Chimborazo to-day, that it was when we were there
drilling. After we left there it was converted into one vast
hospital, and remained so until the close of the war. When X
was in Richmond the 21th, 22nd and 23rd of July 1895. at
the great reunion of the U. C. V., I cut loose from the im-
mense throng of visiting veterans and alone started to see
our old camp and drill grounds. I passed on down beside
the Jam.es, and near where the old Lybby prison stood, the

30 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

evening we passed it on our way from the depot to camp in
1861. In passing on down I came to a hill on which stood
a monument towering fifty feet skyward, that was raised
by the people of Virginia to perpetuate the memory of the
private soldiers and sailors of the C. S. A. It was sur-
mounted on top with the image of a private soldier standing
at parade rest looking Southward. When I reached its
base I ascended to the highest step of its pedestal and sat
down in the shade of its shaft, when I pulled off my hat and
began to wonder "where I was at.'- Being alone and no one
to talk to, I began to think and look. From this place I had
a magnificient view South and East. Looking to the South
there lay James river just as it was 30 years ago from that
day with her sipling waters winding their way to the sea.
I imagined that I could almost see "Drewrys Bluff," a
famous fort on the South bank that the yankees tried so
often to capture but failed until the evacuation of Richmond.
The little borough of Rocketts that lay on the north side of
the river had been torn away, and factories and foundries
had been erected in the place of the Dutch and Irish shops.
The Tredegar Iron Works were still there. Looking to the
eastward toward our old drill ground, the hospital had
been moved, and the place had been built up with mag-
nificent residences. I went partly through it, viewing the
beauty and grandeur of her magnificent shade trees and
her broad gravelly streets. I traveled through the north-
ern portion on a street car, on my way down to the battle
field of "Seven Pines," and was told that Old Chimborazo
had become the residence part of the city. While resting
at the monument that I have spoken of, and within a stone's
throw of this spot there is a street, where that noble little
band of about 25 of true Southern boys, a remnant of
Gates' company, marched for the last time on the morning
of April 2, 1865. There I was, all alone, with all these sad
memories of thirty years ago fleeting through my mind.
How different my surroundings then, and now. God bless
all true survivors wherever they be. "In that great day,
oh! what shall the answer be." I will pass from these
reveries and return to the incidents of our camp. The most
and last important event was that of striking tents, falling
into line, and marching through the city over to the Fred-
ericksburg depot. But before we arrived there we were
halted in a broad street and were reviewed by our Presi-
dent, Jefferson Davis, and after passing through, he com-

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 31

plimented Col. Cantey for our fine appearance, and said he
expected to hear a good account of us later on, which he
did. The review being over we marched to the depot, and
the whole regiment boarded the train, and after giving
the "Rebel Yell" the whistle blew, and we were off in the
direction of Manassas.

It was glorious to be there then, but later on, what about
it, I intend to tell before I finish.

CHAPTER XII

AN OLD VETERAN IN CAMP.
AT PAGELAND NO. 1.

Dear Friend:

Our trip from Richmond to Manassas was attended with
all the pleasure that the hearts of well drilled and well dis-
ciplined soldiers could desire.

Passing through many beautiful little towns and villages,
the people had gathered to see the passing train, laden with
soldiers going to the front. I guess it was a daily occur-
rence for soldiers to be passing that way on their way to
Manassas where Beauregard, and Johnston, was concetra-
ting a large army, to be ready to meet the one of the federal
army then organizing in and around Washington comman-
ded by Gen. G. B. McLellan (Little Mc). The patriotic
ladies and beautiful Virginia girls would be gathered at
each stopping place to welcome us, distributing their fruits
and flowers and cheering us on with expressions of delight
when informed that we were from Alabama, one of the far
away Southern States that had come so far to assist others
in driving the enemy from their soil, they were delighted.
We were the first Alabama regiment to pass by this route,
although there were three other Alabama regiments in
camp at Manassas, that went by different routes ; they were
the 4th, 5th and 6th, and were engaged in the first battle
of Manassas July '61. The train ran slow and we were all
day making the trip. When we arrived at Manassas we
were marched out about a mile into a piece of woods, and
went into camp for the night. This was the first night we
lay on the ground without tents. We had plenty cooked

32 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

rations and did not have to cook that night. The next day
our tents and camp equipage of every description arrived,
and we were marched about five miles to a place called
"Pageland" and there went into camp right. I don't know
why it was called Pageland, unless a man by the name of
Page owned the land, for it was nothing but a large old
field with the Warrenton turnpike running through it, and
near the battlefield of the 1st Manassas, and was a part of
the battlefield of the 2nd Manassas. Talk about soldiers,
here I began to see them. Comparatively speaking, I had
never seen any before. You could see the tented fields in
every direction, hear the command of the officers, hear the
music, and could see them drilling in every direction at all
times of the day, and soon we began to drill, and did our
share. Our officers were becoming to be well drilled and the
more they improved, the more the companies and regiment
improved. The days were warm and sultry, but the nights
were cool. Here the measles struck our regiment and es-
pecially our company. Here I parted with several that I
never saw again. The water at this camp was not good,
and the character of our diet had been changed, which had
a tendency to impair the health of the men in several ways,
which caused them to be moved to hospitals for better treat-
ment. Many went, that never returned. Fortunately for
me, I had had the measles and scarlet fever before the war
broke out, and I was proof against those contagious dis-
eases and I remained in good health all the time and in-
creased in flesh. I had become hardened to camp life and
only had one case of fever during the war. I had a peculiar
horror for the hospital and prison and looked upon either
at that time as certain death, but afterwards learned that
a good hospital was the proper place for a sick soldier. We
were so near the battlefield of the 21st, that we all had an
anxiety to see it, so much so that some of the boys would
slip the camp guard and run the "block" at the risk of being
punished and go over and explore the field, and when they
returned the fear of punishment did not restrain them from
telling what they saw, and in order that those might see
who would not run away and go anyhow, the Colonel per-
mitted each Captain to take his company and spend a day
on the battlefield. Captain Gates' time came and he march-
ed us over and turned us loose, with orders to assemble at
a certain place at a certain time. This was a picnic for us,
what we term now-a-days an outing. We were like birds

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 33

turned out of a cage. We wandered everywhere looking at
the sights. I had for my companion on that day, Charley
Raley. Since the war, by some untoward circumstance he
changed his name to B. M. Stephens and was Probate Judge
of Coffee County. He became to be a wonderful man in
many respects, but he is gone. I saw all that he saw and
he saw all that I saw. One of the most notable places of
our visit was the position of the 7th Georgia regiment in
the battle of the 21st. It was in a clump of small pines
that was torn with bullets from the ground up as high as
fifteen feet. It was a wonder to us how that a man could
live in such a place, but we learned afterwards. After look-
ing at this place as long as we wanted to, we passed on in
search of other sights of the battlefield which we soon
found, and I will tell of them in the next chapter.

CHAPTER XIII

AN OLD VETERAN IN CAMP.
AT PAGELAND NO. 2.

Dear Friend :

Charlie and I hastened on in search of other things, and
the next thing of interest was a hill upon which stood the
famous ''Sherman Battery" defended by the "Boys in Blue,"
which played such havoc on the advancing "Boys in Grey"
in their effort to capture it, and notwithstanding the terrible
carnage, caused by the solid shot, shell, grape and canister
shot that was poured into the ranks of the advancing
Southerners who were determined to do or die, and with
that intrepidity and valorous daring, which characterized
the "Boys in Grey," those that lived pressed steadily for-
ward until the goal of their ambition was reached. The
battery was captured. This scene presented a horrible en-
counter between the "Boys in Grey" and the "Boys in Blue."
(Americans). The numerous carcassas of horses that be-
longed to the battery was evidence of the terrible slaughter
of them all around this place, and in fact on other parts of
the field could be seen little mounds of earth, that was an-
swering for a covering for a brave "Boy in Blue" who had
lost his life fighting for a cause he thought to be right.

34 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

These little mounds were very numerous, and occasionally
one, and often two hands could be seen protruding and
pointing upward toward the sky, having been exposed so
long to a burning sun until the skin and flesh had dried to
the bone. These were sad scenes and furnished food for
reflection. At that time I was full of malice and hatred
for the "Boys in Blue" and was just as anxious to kill him
as he was to kill me, yet when I would stop and take the
second thought, and gaze upon those little mounds I could
truthfully say of the dead "Boy in Blue" that sometime,
and somewhere, he had been "somebody's darling." Where
it was possible, their remains have been removed and are
being properly cared for by this great government of ours.
In passing over the field, the line of battle of the contestants
could easily be traced by the paper torn from their car-
tridges while loading and firing upon each other, and the
blood stained grass where some one had fell dead or wound-
ed. In our ramble we came to the place where Colonel
Fisher of the 6th N. C. fell, and the place where Colonel
Bartow of Georgia fell, shot through the heart. History
says of him that "there, one of the bravest and most prom-
ising spirits of the South v/as quenched in blood." A little
farther on we came to the place where General Bee of South
Carolina fell mortally wounded, near what is known to-day
in history as the "Henry House." From the appearance
and condition of this house, it looked as though, at some
stage of the action, it had been a special target for the
Yankee gunners. All those places were marked by post
being set in the ground with signboards tacked upon them
with proper inscriptions on them giving information to the
thousands that visited this battlefield, and although it had
been three months since the battle, the evidences that a ter-
rible battle had been fought were numerous. The position
of the gallant old 4th Alabama was pointed out to us as
being the place where Gen. J. E. Johnston seized its colors
and offered to lead the attack. On that field that gallant
old Alabama regiment won a name for herself that followed
her until her star went down at Appomattox, and now in
time of peace the memory of her gallantry is still cherished
by all the true survivors of Laws' Alabama Brigade (laterly
Perry's). Pardon the disgression and lets return to the
battlefield and see the sights. Well occasionally we could
see a solid shot, grape shot, canister shot and leaden minnie
balls were numerous on the ground, but the most dangerous

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 35

thing I saw lying on the ground was the unexploded bomb
shells. I let them alone. I didn't disturbe their quietude
in the least, for they were dangerous and I let them alone.
We picked up as many minnie balls and other curiosities as
we wanted and carried them to camp. Others did the same
thing, and at the first opportunity we sent them home as
relics from the battlefield of Manassas. Our time being
out we assembled at the place designated, formed line. Cap-
tain Oates marched us back to camp on time, and by the
time we arrived we were a tired and wiser set of boys than
we were when we started out in the morning. After reach-
ing camp each one had something to talk and write about
for the next month, but let me tell you dear friend the
horrible, sad and exciting scenes of this battlefield was noth-
ing to compare to what I experienced before the war ended.

CHAPTER XIV

AN OLD VETERAN IN CAMP.
AT PAGELAND NO. 3.

Dear Friend :

After returning from the battlefield to camp, details were
made from our company for camp guard and fatigue duty
for the next day. The nearer we got to the enemy, the more
stringent the orders around the camp. The fatigue duty
consisted of policing the camp, looking after its sanitary
condition, cutting and hauling wood, and going with the
forage and commissary wagons to the depot at Manassas
Junction, to assist in loading them with the supplies for
man and beast. So many of our company became sick with
first one ailment and another, until camp guard and fatigue
duty became to be pretty tough on those that remained well,
and notwithstanding all these duties, drilling four hours
each day had to be done, consequently we did not have a
great deal of time to cook, eat and write letters to home
folks, and also to our girls that we had left behind. They
were not forgotten, and it was a great pleasure that we en-
joyed in reading a letter from them and answering. All
along since I had left home in July I had kept my parents
informed as to my health and movements. We received

36 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

our mail regular and we didn't fail to answer, judging from
the amount of letter writing you could see going on. Postage
stamps were ten cents each and very scarce. We had not
"drawed" yet, and we could resort to the "Franking" priv-
ilege, a law that Congress had passed to meet this emer-
gency, for the benefit of the soldiers. We could "Frank"
and let her go, the home folks would pay for it, but we
would not "Frank" to our girl, we always had a stamp to
go on her letters, and while I am on the subject of letter
writing, I will mention a little thing that occured between
myself and A. A. Kirkland, "Old Betsy", when one day he
received a letter I called him by name and asked him the
news, when, with that old familiar smile he answered by
saying, "what you recon." "I don't know," said I, "what?"
He replied that "the cat was wearing the kittens shoes."
Another fellow near by broke out in a loud laugh. "Old
Betsy" passed on, and I was left entirely in the dark as to
his meaning and had no further question for him. I soon
learned it was intended for a "sell" and I realized it as such
and was more particular with him afterwards. Well, I have
already said that the water at this place was bad, and great
numbers of the boys were being hauled off to the hospitals.
Yes, all the boys that were with us then who are living now
well remembers the hospital at Haymarket. This was the
name of the field hospital that was established near the
camp, and in August 1862 was a part of the battlefield of
2nd Manassas. Several of my company died and was buried
there. Some time during the latter part of October we
moved camp farther east near "Bull Run" where the water
was good, but rather scarce in consequence of so many
having to be supplied from the same spring. This camp
had no particular name, and the letters and official papers
were all headed "Camp 15th Alabama, near 'Bull Run,
Va.' " etc. We remained at this camp two or three weeks
when we moved again, this time crossing "Bull Run" and
"Cub RuTie'?' crossing the former at the famous stone bridge
on the Wkrrenton turnpike that leads to Centerville. We
encamped this time in a large old field between Cub Run and
Centerville, a little town 20 or 22 miles from Washington,
D. C. We were now in the midst of a large army of vol-
unteers from each of the Southern States, commanded by
Johnston and Beauregard, who were preparing to meet the
federal army that was only 16 or 18 miles away, preparing
for their second "On to Richmond." While here at this

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 37

camp I got my first glimpse at Wheats Battallion from New
Orleans. They were all Irish and were dressed in Zuave
dress, and were familliarly known as the "Louisiana
Tigers," and tigers they were too in human form. I was
actually afraid of them, afraid I would meet them some
where and that they would do me like they did Tom Lane
of my company; knock me down and stamp me half to
death. That's the way they did Lane and I stayed shy of
their camp. Two of them was courtmarshalled for insub-
ordination and condemned to be shot to death with mus-
ketry. The day of execution was set and our regiment
with a great many others were marched to the place of ex-
ecution to witness it, and after certain ceremonies by the
priest, for they were Catholics, they stood up, when a squad
of Tigers (their comrades) marched out in front and halted,
then the officer in command gave the order "Ready, aim,
fire" and they fell to the ground lifeless. They belonged to
Taylor's Brigade and were brave, desperate fighters, and
on account of their bravery, and daring, their organization
was destroyed at Cold Harbor on June 27, 1862, and the
Louisiana Tigers as an organization was known no more.
A few days after the execution of the Tigers, Tom Lane
was on camp guard one night, and Sam Learry of Company
B., donned himself in a Zauave dress, and crawled unob-
served to the line occupied by Tom, for it was he that Sam.
was hunting, and when Tom came walking along, Sam-
growled in a low tone, "A resurrected Tiger." Tom stopped,
peeping through the darkness, he thought he discovered the
form of a man with his legs all streaked and stripped, and
hesitating as if he didn't know what to do. Sam perceiving
this growled out again, "A resurrected Tiger" putting on the
Irish brogue. Tom clearly understood him that time, and
without any hesitation made a dash for his tent, calling for
corporal of the guard, and when Tom was called on to ex-
plain, he said he saw one of them Tigers that had been resur-
rected for he said so. Sam had run into his qi "ters, and
was just having his own fun over it. It was so lunny that
the officers took no steps toward punishing Tom for leav-
ing his post. Always after that when the boys would see
anything streaked or stripped they would hollow out, "Tom
Lane, here's your Tiger." This lasted as long as Tom lived.
He was a good soldier and was killed at the battle of Chick-
amauga, 1863.

38 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

CHAPTER XV

AN OLD VETERAN IN CAMP AT CENTERVILLE, VA.

Dear Friend :

While in camp at this place during the month of October,
the Federal commander had tolerated the advance of the
Confederates to Munson's Hill within a few miles of Alex-
andria, and every attempt to draw him out into a general
engagement proved unavailing, although it was daily invited
by heavy skirmishing by the opposing forces that occupied
the front. Generals Johnston and Beauregard having failed
to draw the Federals out from their breastworks drew in
their lines to Centerville, which was construed by the Fed-
eral commander to be a retreat, which induced him to ad-
vance his right wing against a small body of Confederates
commanded by General Evans, near Leesburg on the Po-
tomac river 10 or 12 miles northeast of this place. The
Federals had their plans laid nicely, and advanced in such
heavy force as to almost insure his capture or destruction,
but Evans with his Virginians, and Mississippians pounded
upon them by detail, and when Evans got through with
them, their loss was computed to be not less than five hun-
dred killed and drowned, and eight hundred wounded. Offi-
cial figures give Evans' loss at 153 killed and wounded.
After this lesson the Federals attempted nothing but send-
ing out foraging expeditions which had brushes with our
cavalry every day, but all the while the Federal commander
(Little Mc.) was busy with the organization of his army,
and improving its morals to a state of proficiency. At the
same time the raw material of the 1st Manassas and the new
arrivals of volunteers from the South were rapidly improv-
ing in discipline, and soldierly qualities, getting ready for
business next year. Some time during the month of Octo-
ber, if my memory serves me right, we were put into a
brigade composed of the 15th Alabama, 16th Mississippi,
21st Georgia, 21st North Carolina, and if I mistake not the
6th North Carolina batallion was with us also. All under
the command of Brigadier General Crittendon. I think he
was from Kentucky. About this time our camp was moved
about four miles east of Centerville, and established on the
left of the turnpike leading from Centerville to Washington,

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 39

D. C, and was within eight miles of where the great Fed-
eral army lay. This camp was called Camp Crittendon,
named for the Brigadier. Our duties consisted in drilling,
camp guard, and picket duty. The entire regiment would
have to go about once a week and remain a day and night.
We were nearing the enemy now, and every one had to be
on the quivive. Here at this camp, that noble young man
Jim Nobles, died. His remains were carried by his com-
rades just across the turnpike and there laid to rest. His
remains were preceded by the muffled drum followed by
sorrowing friends. He was solemnly laid to rest with the
honors of war. He was detailed from our company to act
as color guard and was highly esteemed by his associates.
Here we had brigade guard mounting every morning, which
was a new feature in guard mounting. This was ordered
by General Crittendon. It was at one of these guard mount-
ings, one m_orning, that I saw him for the first time, and I
don't remember seeing him again. He soon retired from
this part of the service, and a Brigadier General of Balti-
more, I. R. Trimble, became to be our commander until he
lost his leg at 2nd Manassas. Up to this time, we had not
fired a gun, but were in hearing of cannonading down at
the front every day, between Stuart's cavalry and the Fed-
eral foraging and scouting parties. Our company was de-
tailed from this place and sent down south of Centerville,
to a place called Union Mills on the Manassas and Alex-
andria Railroad near "Bull Run," for the purpose of guard-
ing an ammunition train. Here we had a jolly good time
for about three weeks. Plenty good rations to eat, and noth-
ing to do, only a little guard duty to do. We could fish in
the day or night, just as we pleased. Here J. S. Calk,
(Uncle Sim), George Newman, Jim Howerton, Dr. Gilles-
pie, Punch Daughty, and others of the Grays paid us a
visit. Uncle Sim and George Nevvnnan were crack fisher-
men at home, and from the way they were talking and
laughing about fishing we imagined that they had not lost
the art here. I obtained a 24 hours' leave of absence from
Capt. Gates and went over to Sangster's X-roads to visit
my old friends of the Grays that had preceded us in May.
After supper, we sat around and talked till a late hour.
They belonged to the 6th Alabama and it was very inter-
esting to me to hear them tell of the part they played on
the day of the battle July 21st. They did not get into the
engagement but did a great deal of maneuvering for posi-

40 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

tions. I retired for sleep in the tent occupied by John Wil-
liams, Dick Trawick, and others, and to my surprise, at
about 2 o'clock a. m. Lewis Coleman, a Jew, who was cor-
poral of the guard that night, came to the tent where I was
and woke me up, saying that there was a man at the guard
line on a horse that wished to see me, and upon investiga-
tion I found it to be one of my company that Capt. Oates
had sent after me, as he had received orders to move, and
he did not want to leave me. I bid all good-bye, and some
of them, I never saw again. We moved that day about 9
a. m., and as our regiment had moved from Camp Critten-
don where we left it, we had to keep marching until we
found them, and at a late hour we found them in camp near
Centerville. Here we remained the greater part of Novem-
ber, when cold weather came on us, and some time in De-
cember, we crossed "Bull Run" at Mitchell's ford and went
into camp near Manassas Junction and commenced making
preparations to go into winter quarters. The weather was
becoming to be cold, much snow, sleet and rain had fallen,
until the roads had become so boggy that it was impossible
to move a heavy loaded wagon, and all expectations of a
battle were banished for that winter.

CHAPTER XVI

AN OLD VETERAN IN WINTER QUARTERS NEAR
MANASSAS, VA. NO. 1.

Dear Friend:

When we moved our camp from near Centerville, crossing
"Bull Run" at Mitchell's ford, we went into camp near this
place and began at once to make preparations to go into
winter quarters. It had rained, sleeted and snowed so much
that the ground had become to be a perfect slush, so much
so that it had put a quietus on active operations of both
armies, and they seemed to content themselves by watch-
ing each other during the winter, and to get everything
ready for active operations by the time the spring opened.
Little spats occurred every day at the extreme front
betw^een J. E. B. Stuart's cavalry and the advanced pickets
of the enemy. We could hear the cononading, but were

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 41

too far off to hear the small arms. The canonading in the
direction of Washington, and the report of the siege guns
down at Dumphreis on the Occoquan (something like 20
miles below Washington), became to be so common that no
one would scarcely notice it, Dumphreis was held by
Hood's Texas brigade, that later on became so famous in
the army of Northern Virginia. While all these things were
going on heavy details were being made to cut and haul logs
to build huts, details were also made to get boards. Alonzo
Watson and myself were detailed from our company for
that purpose, and we with about 30 others of our regiment
who had been detailed, fell into line, and were marched off,
commanded by Lieut. Jeff Pryor, of Company "F." After
marching 8 or 10 miles we went into camp in the heaviest
timbered oak hammock I ever saw. The next day we were
divided into squads, when axes, saws and froes were is-
sued and we began to down the large oaks. I was just
seventeen and fat and chubby and I would soon get out of
breath, cutting and sawing. The officer was not long in
discovering my capacity for such work, and he detailed me
to stay in camp to assist the cooks, such as bringing water
and wood. This job did not consume all my time, and when
off duty I would go hunting for squirrels, and anything else
that was large enough to shoot that would do to eat. We
had plenty army rations, but we wanted some fresh pork,
and the officer intimated that he would kill any hog that
tried to bite him, and I was not long in taking the hint for
I thought I understood what it meant. The next day I set
out to hunt a porker, and at last found one in a field about
50 yards from the fence I was at, and within one hundred
yards from its owner. I crouched down in the corner of
the fence, and began to make a noise, trying to coax him
near enough to get a dead shot at him, but he didn't under-
stand my language, and wouldn't come any nearer. I was
soon discovered by the man of the house (a free negro),
and he seeing his hog so near me, he began to make a noise,
the hog raised his head, listened a moment, when he broke
and run to the house. I then realized that I had made a
"triumphant failure" in my first effort to steal a hog, and
that was my last. I reported to the boys in camp my luck,
and they insisted that I should try again, but I wouldn't
consent. During our stay at this place there came a heavy
snow, and I went coon hunting one day, and was not long
in tracking one to a large white oak tree, which had signs

42 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

about the top that it might be his den. I made this known
to Alonzo Watson, and he said we would cut the tree down
and catch him. I had my doubts, for I was not used to
catching coons without a dog, for I knew they would fight
and scratch for all they were worth, but Lonzo was not
afraid, and we cut the tree down, and as soon as it hit
the ground Lonzo stopped the hole with his cap. I cut a
good size hole to the hollow which happened to be opposite
the coon's head, and Lonzo seiged him with both hands
around the neck and began to choke him. The coon turned
up both hind legs and began to scratch and squall. I
slapped my hands and hollowed, "hold him!" "hold him!"
Lonzy! I never saw such scratched up hands before nor
since, but he was good grit in every respect, and by his
continuous holding on and choking, and pressing the coon
against the log, the coon became still, and we carried him
to camp, skinned him, and then I boiled him as good as I
could, and then baked him, and after all that was done I
gave my share to others. I was not fond of coon then, and
I haven't changed yet. We remained down here getting
boards about two weeks, the wagons hauling every day un-
til they said enough, when we were ordered back to camp.
I enjoyed that outing greatly and was sorry that I could not
stay longer. When we reached camp the huts had been put
up, the cracks daubed with clay and nearly all covered.
My mess had built a house long enough to have a fire-place
at each end, and bunks enough to sleep twelve men. Here
one of our mess had the itch, and you never saw such
scratching and clawing as he done, and if he is living and
sees this his mind will revert back to the time and place of
his torture when he applied the Polk root fried in bacon-
grease as a remedy. Great Scott! this only added fuel to
the fire, and many funny remarks were made by himself
and others, all of which was enjoyed by all hands. While
I am on the incidents of this camp I will say that here I saw
for the first time a "booger," but not for the last by any
means. One of our mess had been off to a hospital and
when he returned one of these "boogers" was found on him
and he was immediately quarrentined by placing him by
himself on one end of the lowest bunks we had. We were
disposed to ridicule him for filthiness, but later on they be-
came bodily companions and were so numerous that they
would furnish employment for us when we had nothing else
to do. These bodily companions had many nick names.

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 43

"Old Betsey" called them "dandruff with leggins," when the
hair on our heads would become involved. A war of ex-
termination was incessently waged all the time, which only
put a moderate check on their increase until the latter years
of the war their power began to wane and when peace was
made, we parted company to know them no more.

CHAPTER XVII

AN OLD VETERAN IN WINTER QUARTERS.
NEAR MANASSAS, VA. NO. 2.

Dear Friend :

I will now tell you something of our clothing and money.
I had forgotten to mention them as two important events of
our camp over near Centerville. Well, it was at this camp
during the month of November that we drew our grey dress
uniforms that had been promised. Our measure was taken
during the month of September while in camp at Richmond,
and we had almost despaired of getting them, but they came
at last, and the joy of their arrival and delivery was not
without its sadness, for several of the boys had died since
the measure had been taken and were not present to answer
when their names were called, and I don't remember what
disposition was made of their uniforms. Some of us young-
sters had grown so, until it was some difficulty to be fitted,
but by changing around we were fitted out and we felt as
proud as a peacock looks to be when in full strut. Some of
the older ones did not like the cut of the coat, nor the shape
of the cap. The coats were "scissor tailed" and the caps
were the kind that fell over in front with a place for letters.
Ours had H. P. Co. "G" 15th Alabama Volunteers. After
being fitted out in our new uniforms we compared favor-
ably in dress with the 7th Louisiana, and 1st Kentucky regi-
ments. I mention these two, for they were the best dressed
regiments I saw during the war. We also drew good woolen
overcoats, a Godsend for that particular time, for we were
experiencing some of the coldest weather we ever saw.
It would rain, sleet and snow, and the cold wind from the
snow capped peaks from the "Blue Ridge" moun-
tains that we could see in the distance blew so

44 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

strong that it was a difficult matter to keep our tents up.
We had good wall tents and could keep dry, but our fires
were outside and in trying to keep warm one side would
burn while the other would freeze, and would have to keep
turning around. This was a pretty tough time, but I saw
worse before the war ended. Here we drew our first money,
two months pay; twenty-two dollars for the privates and a
little more for the non-commissioned officers. The bills
were on the bank of Charleston, S. C. I don't think that
there had been any Confederate money stamped at that
time. We had mioney then to buy writing paper, postage
stamps, apples, cakes, candy, ground peas and chestnuts.
I mention these things because the camp was flooded with
these articles as soon as it was known that the army had
been paid off. All during the winter we had our share of
picket duty to do by going five or six miles to the front and
remaining two or three days. It mattered not how cold it
was, we had to go. The Yankees had to be watched and
they were just as vigilent in watching us. I very well re-
member the day the battle of Drainsville was fought, it
was on the 20th day of December and we were marching
through the little town of Centerville on our way to the
picket post, we heard the report of cannon in fast succes-
sion and a dull roaring sound resembling the muttering
sound of distant thunder, which we took to be the sound of
small arms. We raised the "Rebel yell" and quickened our
step for about three miles. The excitement, and the rapid-
ity of our march had caused us to be thoroughly warmed up
by the time we had reached the place of our destination.
We were sure that we were going as reinforcements, and
that a craving for a fight was going to be gratified, but we
were disappointed. We arrived at the picket post, and in-
stead of going on we were halted, and details were made to
go on post to relieve those that had been on two or three
days. We soon learned that the battle was but a small af-
fair, and had resulted disastrously for the Federals, as their
loss was heavy considering the number engaged. This
picket post was on the Little River turnpike at a place
called Chantills, where we met the Federals the following
September and had a severe engagement with them for
about one hour, the particulars I will give later on. With-
out any incident or accident we served out our time, and in
due time we were relieved and returned to winter quarters
and there spent the Christmas of 1861, snow balling and

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 45

doing other things for amusement. While at this camp I
was strolling around outside the guard line and I came to
two graves that had been made during the winter, each one
had a neat head-board and my attention was called to the
lettering of each that was placed thereon for identification,
and upon examination I found them to be the last resting
place of two that I knew at home. One was marken T. S.
Harvey, Co. "B," 6th Alabama. He was a citizen of Abbe-
ville at the outbreak of the war and was a member of the
Henry Greys (A. C. Gordons Company). The other one

was Bell of the same Company and regiment. They

were buried on the right of the road that leads from Ma-
nassas to Centerville, via Mitchells ford on "Bull Run."
We remained in these quarters during the winter with noth-
ing to do except to do guard duty, go on picket and drill,
when the weather was suitable. There was a good deal of
sickness in camp and our ranks had been thinned consider-
ably. Some had become so afflicted that they were dis-
charged for disability to stand the service. Others were
granted furloughs home where they could recuperate and
return to service, and by this means many were restored to
health and returned, and made good soldiers. As for my-
self, nothing would not take hold of me, and consequently I
remained, but after awhile I was overtaken and had to give
up, of which I will tell later on. I will give you a little ex-
perience that I had with some Irishmen up at Manassas
Junction one day. I had a permit to visit the place, and
while there I fell in with these Irishmxen and they appeared
to be a little "drinky" and full of fun. They had bought a
dozen or more of stick brooms and were going to carry
them to camp and when time come for us to leave they
asked m.e to go down with them on a hand car, all right as
I knew it went near my camp. Their camp was on the east
side of Bull Run, and it was down grade when we came
opposite my camp and the thing was running at the rate of
2:40, and I hollowed out "hold up, hold up." "Hold up
nothing, nothing, be Jasus hold on" they said and m.ade no
effort to stop. I had to get off ; I picked my chance to leap,
and when I did about half their brooms followed, though
unintentionally. They shooked their fist at me and went
on.

46 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

CHAPTER XVIII

AN OLD VETERAN IN WINTER QUARTERS.
NEAR MANASSAS NO. 3.

Dear Friend :

While we were quietly passing off the winter at this place
there had been several collisions between the Federals and
Confederates in other parts of the South with alternate suc-
cess. These conflicts were between small bodies of troops
compared to the army of the Potomac (Northern) and the
army of Northern Virginia (Southern). Some of these
conflicts however small, resulted very disastrously to the
South. While it is not my intention to write a report on
these particular engagemients as they have already passed
into history. I only refer to then as events of the latter part
of the winter of '61 and the early winter of '62, and shall
leave it with you to search history for information on these
things. While these things were going on in the western
armies, the Federals in the east were making gigantic prep-
arations to overwhelm Johnston's little Southern army that
was in winter quarters around Manassas Junction and Cen-
terville. On March the 1st, 1862, the federal army in and
around Washington numbered 193,142, fit for duty with a
grand aggregate of 221,987 and Johnston with not exceed-
ing forty thousand, was all that stood between this enor-
mous force and Richmond, the Capital of the Confederacy.
Johnston had detached ''Stonewall" Jackson with eleven
skeleton regiments to amuse the enemy in the Shenandoah
Valley, which I will refer to later on. Those figures are
from an official source and I only refer to them to show you
what we Southern boys had to face. On the 22nd of Feb-
ruary, (Washington's birthday), President Lincoln ordered
McLellan to advance and overwhelm Johnston, but McLel-
lan was tardy in his movements and urged a different line
of operation, that of the lower Rappahannock. He obtained
delay and did not advance. In the mean time General John-
ston was not an idle spectator as to what was going on and
he made every disposition that was necessary to meet the
advance, relying only on strategy and the valor of his
troops. In the winter months of '62 Johnston had aban-

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 47

doned the idea of offensive operations on the line
of "Bull Run" and had concluded to fall back behind
the Rapphannock, where he would be nearer his base of
supplies, and be in better position to defend the Capital and
to reinforce the Confederate army down on the peninsular
in the event there was a sudden movement against either,
and for that reason he had all during the winter been quietly
transporting his immense stores from Manassas toward the
Rappahannock, removing every cannon that could be spared
from the embrasures and mounting in their place painted
logs in order to deceive Prof. Lowe when he ascended in his
balloon to overlook Johnston's army. So perfectly and quiely
had all things been arranged that all stores, baggage, the
sick, and material of every kind had been removed before
we realized that we were going to abandon our winter quar-
ters and fall back. In fact, we were in complete ignorance
of what was going on. Our good wall tents that the citi-
zens gave and the ladies of Abbeville made for us, when we
first started out in the war were struck, when we first start-
ed to build huts for winter quarters, were carried off some-
where and were seen by us no more. The officers fared no
better than the privates for their tents were gone also, and
after we were ordered out of our winter quarters we had
to "rough it" until the next winter. I have already told
you that the weather was so bad that it had put a quietus on
active operations by both armies, but when March set in
with her balmy spring days, it created a stir around head-
quarters and we were momentarily expecting something to
happen. At last orders came to cook three days rations,
pack our knapsacks with everything that we could carry
and destroy the surplus, and be ready to march at a mo-
ments notice. Before we left Abbeville for the war a goodly
number of Gates' Company employed "Ned" (Mr. Clen-
denin's blacksmith) to make them some large knives. I
don't know v/hat to call them, but they were similar to the
Spanish m.atchetta, and I guess that would be a good name
for them, only they were American. Many were the vain
boastings of some of these men who carried them strapped
to their side before they had smelt gun-powder. Some went
so far as to say they were going to cut Abe Lincoln's head
off, and all such vain assertions as that. These assertions
were made when patriotism ran high, but later on such was
looked upon as being ridiculous, and the matchetts became
to be a nuisance and a burden for the men to carry, and on

48 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

the day we left camp 14 of them were turned over to me,
and I gave them a decent interment just outside the guard
line near a little branch. I expect that they have long since
been unearthed as they were not buried out of the reach of
a plow, I mention the circumstance concerning these knives
in order to show how men in their enthusiasm for a thing
will advance ideas and make assertions that afterwards
seem ridiculous and disgusting. I may have been one of
this kind, for I was a regular fire eater and was none too
good, with no better sense than to have made similar ex-
pressions. Well, dear friend, I have disgressed somewhat
but will return, by saying that we cooked rations, packed
knapsacks, and did everything else we were ordered to do,
and remained quietly waiting orders to do something. At
last sometime during the night of the 7th of March orders
came to move, we fell quietly into line with the brigade and
took up the line of march toward Richmond, reaching and
crossing the Rappahannock on the 10th, when we "about
faced" and waited for the approach of the enemy who were
in pursuit. The march from Manassas to the Rappahan-
nock was made with leisure. There were no barking in the
rear by Uucle Sam's dogs to cause a hurry. During the
winter our baggage had increased so that it was a difficult
matter to decide on what to throw away, consequently our
knapsacks were packed to their utmost, and as that was
our first march we had a time. The farther we went the
heavier our turn, and it was amusing to see the boys down
with their knapsacks open deciding what to throw away.
I was not an exception to the rule.

CHAPTER XIX

AN OLD VETERAN IN CAMP.
ON THE RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER NO. 1.

Dear Friend :

The next day, the 8th, after we had left our winter quar-
ters, the government at Washington issued pre-emptory ord-
ders to McLellan to advance, and on the 9th the grand army
was in motion for the purpose of crushing Johnston's army
before he could be reinforced. All Washington was in ex-

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 49

pectation, for they knew that the second "On to Richmond"
had commenced and the second grand army was about to
pass its grand climacteric. Fairfax Court House was
reached at night and the grand army went into camp, and
at a late hour McLellan had received the wonderful tidings
that Johnston had retreated. So complete had been the
evacuation that nothing was left in our positions, it was
desolate, though frowning in fortified grandeur. Our line
of march was paralel with the Orange and Alexandria R. R.
I said in the last chapter that the march was made at leisure
and there was nothing behind to push, and in consequence
of our loads a great deal of straggling was done, but I was
present at each roll call. After crossing the river we were
drawn up in line to await the approach and attack of the
enemy, but McLellan refused to challenge and moved down
toward the Seaboard. Johnston was quick to apprehend,
accurately divined the movements that McLellan was going
to make, when he began to move his troops accordingly.
Active operations against Richmond was abandoned on this
line, and changed and shifted to that of the Peninsular, be-
tween the York and James rivers, where McLellan hoped to
capture Richmond by a Coup de main, but the vigilant
Johnston met him promptly by a rapid transfer of his army
from the Rappahannock to the Peninsular, where daily
skirmishing and sharpshooting was done until McLellan's
final defeat on the Chickahominy the last days of June 1862.
As well as I remember, while on the line of the Rappahan-
nock our Brigade (Trimble's), Taylor's Brigade of Louis-
ianians and Early's Brigade of Virginians were formed into
a Division and placed under the command of that sterling
old war horse R. S. Ewell, who shortly after that became
to be Jackson's right bower. When Johnston transferred
his army to the Peninsular we were left on the Rappahan-
nock to guard the approaches to Richmond by this route,
and be accessible to either reinforce Jackson in the valley or
Johnston before Richmond. So with this severence I know
nothing of Johnston's movements except what I learned
from history. Sometime during the month of January or
February Lieut. C. V. Morris obtained a furlough to come
home for the purpose of enlisting recruits, and it was while
we were here on the Rappahannock that he returned with
twenty-five or thirty and perhaps more which made our
company the strongest in the regiment. Oflicers from the
other companies had been furloughed for the same purpose,

50 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

but I don't remember when they returned, nor what num-
ber they brought back with them. I only know that our
ranks had been so depleted by deaths and discharges during
the winter, had been greatly strengthened, and we had a
strong regiment to enter upon the spring and summer
campaign. The day that Lieut. Morris arrived with re-
cruits the regiment was on the north side of the Rappa-
hannock tearing up the railroad. The enemy advanced in
such strong force that our regiment had to retire and re-
cross the river. I was a little sick at the time and was left
in camp to guard the Company's baggage until they return-
ed, but Lieut. Morris, hearing the cannonading, and want-
ing to initiate the recruits, formed them into line, using me
as a right guide, marched us down to where the regiment
was in line, forming us on the left of the company. We
were not in line many minutes before a shell came whizzing
over striking the ground about fifty yards in our rear,
others following in quick succession, getting lower and
lower as they obtained our range. One of our batteries
were brought up and placed in our immediate front and a
regular artillery duel ensued. Our position being in the rear
made it very disagreeable and we felt like going into the
ground. One of the recruits became so uneasy that he
asked me where Captain Oates was. I told him he was at
the head of the company. He knew Captain Oates at home
before the v/ar and was anxious to see him, when about
that tim^e Oates came down the line shaking hands with the
recruits that had just arrived, and when he reached the fel-
low that had made the enquiries he suggested to Oates that
it might be safer if he would move his company somewhere
else, "for it looks to me," he said, "that if we stay here
some of us would be killed." I don't remember Oates' re-
ply, but the fellow afterwards learned that a soldier was
there to do or die. He made a good soldier and was teased
about it as long as he remained with us. He took it all
good-naturedly and treated it as a joke. He was perma-
nently disabled at the battle of Sharpsburg in September
1863. This was the first shelling that we had been under
since we had been in service and was only a foretaste as
to what was coming on. No one was hurt, the firing ceased,
the enemy retired and we were marched back to camp a
little wiser than we were before.

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 51

CHAPTER XX

AN OLD VETERAN IN CAMP.
ON THE RAPPAHANNOCK RIVER N0.2.

Dear Friend :

As long as I remained with the regiment on this line
we had no certain camping place. We were kept moving
up and down the river, guarding the different fords and
doing picket and guard duty on the north side, until it
was fully ascertained that the enemy had fallen back and
took shelter in his fortifications, from whence he came only
sending out foraging parties, committing all kinds of depre-
dations upon the peaceful citizens that chose to remain at
their homes between us. I said foraging parties, maraud-
ing parties would be more appropriate for they plundered
and took everything they could lay their hands on from the
non-combatants and didn't hesitate to offer every kind of
an insult imaginable to the ladies who sympathized with
the South, that remained at their homes within their line.
They would take every dust of meal, every pound of meat,
kill the hogs and cattle, take their poultry and drive off
their farming stock, destroy the farming tools and appro-
priate to their own use all the farm produce that they could
carry off, and apply the torch to that which was left, not
being satisfied with what they could get outside the houses
they would go inside and in the presence of the inmates
would smash to pieces their fine pianos and furniture of
every description and appropriated the jewelry and other
valuables that suited their fancy to their own use. Such
conduct as this was not approved by their commanding
general and was only indulged in by a party of cut-throats
who had no conception of civilized warfare. Occasionally
our Mosby and Stuart would get after them and they would
ingloriously fly and take shelter behind their fortifications.
There had been some changes in my company during the
winter that I will mention here. 1st Lieut. I. F. Culver had
resigned in November and 2nd Lieut. C. V. Morris was pro-
moted to 1st Lieutenant, 3rd Lieut. H. C. Brainard was pro-
moted to 2nd Lieutenant and J. A. Oates (a brother of the
Captain) who had been transferred from the Henry Greys,

52 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

was elected 3rd Lieutenant, and I only mention these things
as I proceed with my narrative to show you our organiza-
tion when we entered the Valley campaign under "Stone-
wall" Jackson. When we were not on duty, we were busily
engaged in drilling the recruits, getting them ready for that
which was soon to follow. I was taken sick while here and
the doctors said I had Pluro-Pneumonia, and that I must go
to the hospital. My God ! I am gone now, for I looked upon
a hospital as being a place for a sick man to go to to die,
and when the ambulance arrived to carry me to the depot I
thought farewell Co. "G," this ends my war record. Arriv-
ing at the depot on the Orange and Alexander R. R. I was
placed on the floor of an old dingy, solitary tobacco-house,
and there, with other sick men, was left to wait for the ar-
rival of the train to carry us to a hospital somewhere. I
remained there all day suffering with a scorching fever;
the nurse that attended did all he could to alleviate my suf-
fering. It was here while lying upon my back writhing in
pain that I for the first time had thought seriously of my
parents and sisters, and wished that I was at home with
them. At a late hour the train arrived and I was assisted
on board and carried to Richmond, arriving there early in
the morning when I was conveyed to Chimborazo hospital
that. had recently been established on our old drill ground.
I was registered, sponged off, given a change of clothing,
consigned to a comfortable couch or bunk, examined and
prescribed for by Dr. Davis, when all necessary nourish-
ments were furnished, I felt much better. I was so well
treated by the doctor and nurses that I improved rapidly
and in a few days the pain in my side and fever give way,
and I was soon convelescent and allowed to go to the city
or elsewhere I desired. This was my first experience in a
hospital and being so young and inexperienced and being
among so many sick and dying men, that at first it had a
tendency to cast me down in gloom and despair, but my
rapid improvement revived my feelings and in about three
weeks I became strong and reported for duty. There were
others belonging to Swell's Division reporting for duty, but
the hospital authorities seemed to be at a loss as to the lo-
cation of Ewell, as it was ascertained that he had moved
from the position we left him on the Rappahannock. We
were marched down to Richmond and there housed up in
comfortable quarters and kept three days before we could
leave. At last an officer took charge of us and we boarded

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 53

a train for Culpepper Court House, on the 0. & A. R. R.,
where we got off and with a guide was marched over some
mountains, down valleys and in about two days we reached
our command. This was about the first of May and after
marching and countermarching, we struck out down the
Luray Valley to reinforce Jackson who was fighting, arriv-
ing in the neighborhood of Front Royal on the 22nd.

CHAPTER XXI

AN OLD VETERAN UNDER "STONEWALL"
JACKSON IN HIS VALLEY CAMPAIGN NO. 1.

Dear Friend :

Our march down the Luray Valley to reinforce Jackson
was so rapid, and was made with so much secrecy that the
Federal Commander Banks was greatly surprised when
Ewell appeared in his rear at Front Royal on the evening of
the 22nd of May. Before we began this march we were
ordered to put ourselves in light marching order, by turn-
ing over to the Quartermaster all surplus baggage that
would be a hindrence to a rapid movement. The young
men of my company divested themselves of every thing ex-
cept a blanket and a change of under garments. I turned
in my knapsack with several things that I greatly regretted
to part with, which I afterward needed, but I never saw
again ; others shared the same fate. Some of the older ones
of my company held on to their heavy loaded knapsacks
and on the march when the warm rays of the sun began
to beam upon them, they began to fag, and cast off the heavy
bed quilts and woolen coverlets that had been such a source
of comfort during the cold fall, winter and early months
of spring. There was a great deal of grumbling and com-
plaining among this class of men, but all to no purpose; the
surplus had to go, as something was going to happen and
they had to be there. Jackson had had two or three spats
with the Yankees during the winter, one of which he was
overmatched and was considerably worsted, after which he
only contented himself in keeping them in doubt as to his
movements, until he could be reinforced. The first intima-
tion we had of our near proximity to Jackson was the sound

54 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

of his cannon over on the Winchester pike. The advance
of our division was led by the 1st Maryland Cavalry (C. S.
A.), and before they reached Front Royal they encountered
the 1st Maryland Cavalry (U. S. A.) and a desultory skirm-
ish was kept up for about one hour, when the Louisiana
Tigers came to the front and was deployed as skirmishers
and advanced to assist our Cavalry. Now look out boys,
something is going to drop ! the Tigers are in front and you
will hear something directly. They had not advanced far
before the firing became to be pretty heavy for the number
of troops engaged. The Yankees offered a stubborn resist-
ance in order that our strength might be developed. Our
company was in line with the regiment standing in the road
while the firing was going on. We were expecting every
moment to be ordered to the front. While in this position
Courtney's Battery of our brigade came dashing by and
soon opened upon the Yankees with shot and shell. The
firing increased to such an extent to cause us to believe that
reinforcements were being pushed in by both sides, occasion-
ally a wounded Tiger would pass, bloody and powder black-
ened, muttering something that I could not understand.
All of these things created such suspense that it caused a
chill to pervade my system to the extent of causing my
knees and teeth to knock together as though I had an old
fashioned shaking ague. The hair on my head seemed to
rise and was sorter like the quills of a fretful porcupine,
and I had some trouble in keeping my cap pressed down,
I looked around to see if any one else was in my condition,
and I soon found it to be a pretty general complaint among
the boys. The complaint was not confined exclusively
to the privates. Some of the oflficers were similarly affected.
The countenance had undergone a change, the natural ex-
pression of the eye had banished and it looked to me as
though each fellow was trying to conceal his condition and
keep it unobserved by the other fellow. It was funny for
me to think about afterward. We boys would talk about
it and laugh over it, after the danger had passed. Well,
was this a symptom of cowardice? I say no, for later on
in the war I saw brave and courageous men similarly af-
fected. I had heard these things discussed by old soldiers,
giving different reasons for the cause. My theory is that
an anxiety to know and see what is going on in front, ac-
companied by momentary doubts and fears of the result,
drawing on the imagination for the worse, is what brings

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 55

such feelings on at such exciting times. This was what
brought them on me, and if I remained still would last about
ten minutes, but would soon wear off if on the move. This
was the first time that we had been so near a battle and
we were sure that we would get to try our guns before the
sun went down. As I have already said our 1st Maryland
met the Yankee 1st Maryland. This engagement lasted till
near sundown, when our 1st Maryland assisted by some in-
fantry, raised the "Rebel Yell" and charged, putting the
Yankees to rout, sweeping through the town of Front
Royal, crossing the Shenandoah a running fight began in
the direction of Winchester. These regiments from Mary-
land came from the same section of country and many of
them were closely related. The Federal regiment was large
and at this, its first fight with its brothers, was annihiliated.
A few were killed and wounded and the balance were easily
captured. History says that fifteen escaped. After the
charge and rout of the Federals, our brigade advanced,
passing through the little town of Front Royal, advancing
along the pike that led to Winchester. (A word to the
survivors.) Do you remember crossing a stream on a
bridge just about dusk? Do you remember meeting a
"Johnnie" and "Yank" both riding one horse? the Yank in
the saddle and the Johnnie seated behind ? Do you remem-
ber that it was said that they were brothers? Have you
forgotten how we guyed the "Yank" and how depressed he
looked? Do you rememiber how slow we marched and how
cold we got that night? Do you remember packing up like
a bundle of cigars around Capt. Gates to keep warm. Are
these false delusions or not? Those are my recollections of
events that occurred at the time, though it's possible that I
may be mistaken. While these things were taking place
here, Jackson was not idle over on the Winchester pike near
Kernstown. Desultory firing had been going on over there
that evening, but with no decisive results. Jackson sent for
Ewell that night to go over to see him, to consult as to the
program for the next day. Ewell sent Taylor over with
his Louisianians to help Jackson, and at early dawn the
small arms began to pop, the result I will tell in the next
chapter.

56 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

CHAPTER XXII

AN OLD VETERAN UNDER "STONEWALL" JACKSON
IN HIS VALLEY CAMPAIGN NO. 2.

Dear Friend :

At early dawn over on the Winchester turnpike as soon
as objects could be distiguished, the skirmishers of both
armies began to pop away at each other. As the light in-
creased the firing increased, and by the time the sun had
ascended to one hour's height, the roaring of musketry and
the booming of cannon was evidece to us that a general en-
gagement was on, and if the firing was well directed some-
body's children was getting hurt. My command spent the
night on the turnpike that leads from Front Royal to Win-
chester, and were not allowed to have fires lest our position
would be betrayed to the enemy. It was cold that night with
a heavy dew or frost the next morning, I don't remember
which, but we passed the night by "stacking" and huddling
together in many ways, keeping warm enough to doze and
get a few cat naps. We were all glad when the first streaks
of day began to appear, and hearing the firing of Jackson's
men, all desire for sleep banished and we were up and
ready. About sunrise we received orders to fall into line
and move, and moving a short distance we were halted and
gave way for Courtney's Battery to pass to the front; they
dashed under whip and spur. The cannoneers were in
high glee, for they were as anxious as we were to try our
guns and they felt perfectly safe when they had the 15th
Alabama at their backs for support. They had not gone
far before they dashed up a hill to the right and coming
into battery, they unlimbered and began to shell the enemy.
Courtney had not more than got his guns in position before
here come a shell whizzing by. Our brigade was quietly
formed in line of battle in the rear of our battery and there
remained as its support until the artillery duel ceased. It
so happened that the position of my company was exactly
in the rear of the battery and in direct line of the fire from
the Yankee guns. This was an exceeding uncomfortable po-
sition to be in, although we were protected to some extent

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 57

by the hill but was not secure from the fragments of the
bursting shells that was hitting the ground in front and
in the rear of us, as though they were searching for a vic-
tim, but no one was hurt. We were all anxious for the
Yankees to advance and try to capture our battery, but in-
stead of advancing their battery was silenced and they re-
tired. Then came a lull for a time with us, but over on
the Winchester pike near Kearnstown Oh, my! the battle
was raging. Taylor with his Louisianians had arrived and
was thrown into action to assist Jackson's Virginians, while
we remained at this place holding our position until the time
came for us to play our part, and it came later on. We were
in great suspense, hoping to hear something favorable from
Jackson. Here another chill seized us, but was of not long
duration. Our Brigadier General Trimble became restless
and impatient for orders to advance. A profound silence
pervaded my whole command. All was expectancy. At
last, about nine o'clock A. M. the fire became slacker and
began to recede toward Winchester. We could imagine
that we could hear the "Rebel Yell" which caused joy in
our ranks, our countenances brightened and we were anx-
ious to be ordered forward. As the firing would slack the
more intent we would be in trying to catch the sound of the
"Rebel Yell." Minutes seemed like hours and by 9 :30 our
doubts were removed, for we were not mistaken. We could
distinctly hear the "Yell" and that was as good news as
we wanted. Jackson's Division, with the assistance of
Taylor's Brigade, had repulsed the Federal General Banks
and his retreat had became a complete rout, so much so
that it became to be a panic, and when they came running
through the streets of Winchester with the Virginians and
Louisianians close on their heels in hot pursuit, the citizens
of Winchester received them with shouts of derision. Win-
chester was Southern to the core. The people never became
weary in nursing our sick and wounded. This assertion
could be verified by one of our distiguished citizens who had
the good fortune to fall into their hands when taken sick
on Jackson's retreat up the valley. Banks being in full
retreat and Jackson crowding him in the rear, it now be-
came our time to play our part. A hot rider with hat in
hand, from the direction of Winchester came dashing up to
General Trimble delivering a despatch from General Ewell.
General Trimble immediately began to dispatch his aids in
every direction with orders to his command to move. The

58 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

opportune moment had come for us to strike Banks on his
right flank and thus complete the destruction of his army.
The brigade was put in motion in quick time and sometimes
double-quick, and often in a run, the purpose to strike
Banks in flank on his retreat to Harper's Ferry, while
Jackson would crowd him in his rear. The 15th Alabama
led the advance and many fell by the wayside exhausted,
but I was young then and had good legs, had put myself in
light marching order by divesting myself of all unnecessary
baggage, in order that I could be on hand when we had to
tackle the Yankees with small arms, and that I might be
one of the many boys that later on in the war would be
worthy to be called one of Jackson's foot cavalry. This
movement of our brigade was not made in time. Banks had
anticipated such a move and had abandoned nearly every-
thing he had to Jackson, and contented himself with his
own escape and a portion of his demoralized army. Jack-
son's captures were immense in the way of men, and ma-
terial of every description, including commissary stores.
Our brigade pursued them nearly all day in the direction
of Harper's Ferry, but we failed to bring them to a stand
and we failed to get to shoot again. Our cavalry led the
advance and they picked up a great many stragglers. We
pursued them to Harper's Ferry, and could proceed no far-
ther. They had took shelter behind their fortifications on
Bolivar Heights, and we fell back to near Winchester where
we remained several days camping on the pike that leads
from Winchester to Martinsburg, near a place called Bunker
Hill. There was no town and was designated by a large
spring of pure water with the capacity of furnishing enough
for Jackson's whole army. While here we were engaged
for a day or two in tearing up the Baltimore and Ohio R. R.,
rendering it useless for the Yankees only a short time, for
while we were engaged in its destruction, no doubt but what
they were making preparations to repair it as soon as we
should leave. While these things were going on important
movements were taking place in our rear. These move-
ments by the Yankees in our rear became matters of im-
portance and hasty preparations had to be made to meet
them, which was successfully done, which I will show in
the next chapter.

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 59

CHAPTER XXIII

AN OLD VETERAN UNDER "STONEWALL" JACKSON
IN HIS CAMPAIGN IN THE VALLEY NO. 3.

Dear Friend :

I said in the last chapter that important movements by
the enemy in our rear had become matters of importance
and hasty preparations had to be made to meet them. No
one but Turner Ashley, who commanded our cavalry, knew
of the movements of the enemy, and his reports to Jackson
were so frequent and intelligent that Jackson made no mis-
take in divining- the purpose of their movements. The pris-
oners that had been captured in the several engagements
had all been sent off to Richmond. The immense quantity
of army stores had all been transported to a place of safety,
and our commissary wagons had been loaded to their ut-
most capacity. That which we could not carry was sent off
to a place of safety, out of danger of being recaptured.
This was a great time with us in the way of rations, for we
had everything that was good for soldiers to eat, for Uncle
Sam knew how to provide for his soldiers and General
Banks was called Jackson's commissary. The supply was
so great at this time that later on in the war, when rations
became scarce, those of us that were living at this time
would have been glad to have got another whack at Bank's
commissary train. If you will read the reports of General
Banks, the Yankee general, and that of General Jackson,
the Confederate general of this affair, you will find a great
discrepancy, but Banks had to say something favorable to
appease the wrath of his government. All of this fighting,
making these captures, tearing up the railroad, camping at
Bunker Hill, getting the prisoners and captured stores out
of the way, occurred between the 23rd of May and the 1st
of June, and when we received orders to march. We took
the pike toward Winchester, which was only five miles,
passing through we continued the march for six or seven
miles out on the Valley turnpike and went into camp. All
along this pike was evidences of the rout of the Yankees
that occurred on the 24th. There were many things thrown
away that was of no value, and all that was worth anything

60 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

had been picked up by our men and sent away, or appro-
priated to immediate use. While at this camp, my shoes
give out, or nearly so, that put me in a bad fix to march,
and what to do I didn't know. I made every effort to get
a pair, but all in vain. Captain Oates made every effort
to get a pair for me, but the Quartermaster's train was
not in reach so he failed. On the morning of the 4th we
received orders to be ready to march at a moment's notice.
It had been raining and in consequence of so much travel
by our cavalry and wagons, the dirt on the rocky pike had
become to be as batter which exposed the sharp edges of
the rocks so that it was impossible for a bare-footed man
to travel far, but Captain Oates, who always looked out for
the interest of his men, gave me a permit to march at will,
but admonished me not to get so far behind as to be cap-
tured. Fight first and run last was my tactics on this
march. Before starting on this march I went to the butch-
er-pen, where several green hides were left on the ground,
and placing my foot on one of them I cut a piece large
enough to fit my foot, then turning it over (the hair inside)
I pulled it over my foot and around my ankle and after
making holes with the little blade of my knife I sewed it
up with a raw hide string. When I finished I looked at
them and thought of what I had heai-d my father say about
the Indians wearing moccasins, and I thought to myself,
"By George, I have struck the very thing." They felt too
soft and flabby and I wanted some way to tighten them
up, and I went back to my company and it was gone. I con-
ceived the idea of tightening my moccasins by holding them
near the smoldering coals of fire which had been left, which
proved to be a success, and as soon as I got them tight
enough I started on my journey. I soon reached the pike
and began stepping off at the rate of five miles an hour
hoping to catch up, but I had not gone more than a mile
before my moccasins became flimsy and I began to distrust
them. The further I went the worse they got, until they
became so loose that I could scarcely walk at all. I sat
down to rest, meditating what to do. I was not long in de-
ciding what to do. I cut the stitches and off they come.
There I was bare-footed on a rocky pike, my command fast
leaving me on a forced march. The provost guard was ap-
proaching in the rear, driving the stragglers ahead of
them. Next to follow was the rear-guard of the army, con-
sisting of cavalry which drove everything to the front, but

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 61

I had a pass and was in no dread of anything in the rear
but the Yankees, which I knew would follow as soon as
they found out we were on the retreat. After reflecting
on what to do, I decided to put on a pair of socks, which
I carried along in a little sack, and then I started out again.
By this time my command was two or three hours ahead.
I took nigh cuts through the plantations when convenient,
and traveled in quick time. I was lightly loaded and made
good time. I passed through two or three pretty little vil-
lages during the day but had no time to halt. I could only
say good-bye as I looked in the faces of those beautiful
girls, for sad they were at our departure, well knowing
what would come to pass after we left. I did not even ask
a name, therefore there is nothing left to memory except
their beautful faces and patriotism. The people of the Shen-
andoah Valley were noted for their culture and refinement
and had furnished the greater number of soldiers that con-
stituted the famous "Stonewall" Brigade. On our retire-
ment the Yankees came, and when I had occasion to march
down this valley from Staunton to the Potomac in 1863,
many changes had been wrought. Many of the bright-
faced little boys and girls had disappeared, for all had
yielded their beautiful and happy homes to the ruthless in-
vader and had sought homes among their friends in a more
secure place. The boys and girls of that day and time
that are now living are grown up men and women, and
doubtless hold in memory the dark days of '62-3 and '64
which was even worse in desolation of their homes. The
invasion of this valley in 1864 by the Yankee General Phil
Sheridan when he came with sword in one hand and torch
in the other has but one paralel in the annals of history,
that of W. T. Sherman's march through Georgia to the sea.
The acts of these generals at this time adorns the pages of
history and will be read by future generations and will be
looked upon as a blemish on the name of an American
soldier. They had to resort to the torch, as well as the
sword to subdue us, for they found out pretty soon that
they could not do it by a square fight face to face with
bullets. Dear friend, I have disgressed so far from my
subject that I fear I am drawing on your patience and will
defer my narrative of the battles that soon was to follow
for the next chapter, and will end this by saying that I
overtook my company as they went into camp near "Fisher's
Hill" and was there ready to answer to roll call. Up to

62 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

this time we had not fired a gun at the Yankees and we
were getting impatient. These were days full of events,
but the 8th eclipsed them all, for on that day at Cross Keys
the 15th Alabama had an opportunity of meeting the Penn-
sylvania Bucktails face to face, the result I will give in the
next chapter.

CHAPTER XXIV

AN OLD VETERAN UNDER "STONEWALL" JACKSON
IN HIS CAMPAIGN IN THE VALLEY NO. 4.

Dear Friend :

Our camps at night on this march up the valley was pass-
ed in quietude. There was nothing to disturb our repose
except the strains of marshel music made by the comet
band of the 16th Mississippi, which had a tendency to re-
vive the spirits of the tired and foot-sore soldiers of Jack-
son's Corps. With each piece of music such as the "Bonnie
Blue Flag," "Gentle Annie," "Marsailles Hymn," "Mary-
land, My Maryland," "Dixie," generally ending with "Home
Sweet Home." A deafening "Rebel Yell" would be sent up,
the sound as it reverberated down the valley was doubtless
heard by the advance of Fremont's army that was appoach-
ing from the west, and rear. We had succeeded in passing
the danger of being enveloped by the converging columns
of Fremont and Shields. The former approaching from
the west on Jackson's right and the latter marching on a
paralel on the east side of the south fork of the Shenan-
doah. Jackson caused a bridge to be burned across this
stream where Shields intended to cross for the purpose of
forming a junction with Fremont across Jackson's path,
but the burning of this bridge caused Shields to move on
higher up to the next crossing, which was at Port Repub-
lic, a small village on the east side of the stream above
mentioned. The place, and what occurred there on the 9th
will be referred to later on. We broke camp and started
on the march up the valley. The middle of the day be-
came so intensely warm the older ones, and all those that
carried heavy loaded knapsacks began to fag, and strag-
ling become to be enormous, but the Yankee "bull dogs"

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 63

that barked occasionally in the rear had a tendency to in-
fuse new life in us, and a regular hustle was on to keep
ahead of the rear guard. I had a pass from Captain Oates,
and I felt perfectly independent and had no fear of being
captured. About the middle of the evening I sat down on
a rock by the side of the road to rest, and while there the
stragglers were passing in a hurry. The advance of the
Yankees had overtaken our rear guard and a brisk skirmish
was going on which put new life in the legs of some of
the stragglers and got a "move" on themselves to reach
their commands. A great many of them were Irish, and
several of them in passing told me to come on or "be Jasus"
I would be captured. But I was in no hurry, for I knew we
had a strong rear guard of infantry as well as cavalry, and
the infantry had not been attacked and I was not uneasy.
While I was sitting on the rock resting Daniel McLellan,
of my company, came along with a big knapsack on his
back, which was full of good clothing. He was very tired
of his load and was nearly tired out, I told him to halt and
rest awhile with me. He said no, the Yanks would get us
if we stayed there long, for they were coming in a hurry
and would soon attack our rear guard. I told him I couldn't
travel on the pike on account of my sore feet, he opened his
knapsack and gave me a bran new pair of home knit socks
to put on. After getting rid of the old pair I had on, and
scraping all the mud off my feat that I could, with con-
siderable trouble I put them on and started on the march
paralel with the pike, for I could not endure the sharp
edges of the rocks. Fighting commenced in the rear and
I moved in quick time for two or three miles, when I come
to a rock fence running at right angles with the pike. Be-
hind those fences on both sides of the pike the stragglers
and bare-footed men were halting and forming in line for
the purpose of resisting the advance of the Yankees in or-
der that we might rest. While here I happened to take
position beside an Irishman belonging to Taylor's Brigade
who had an extra pair of shoes strapped to his knapsack.
He seeing my condition, hastily pulled them off, and in his
Irish brogue said: "Here, take these shoes, put them on
and see if you can't keep up." I thanked him for his kind-
ness and put them on; they fit nicely and lasted a long
time. There was several officers that couldn't keep up, and
they assumed command, and after resting as long as we
wanted to, we moved off unmolested. The enemy were be-

64 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

ing held in check by the rear guard. I overtook my com-
mand late that evening just before they reached the beauti-
ful little village of Harrisonburg, and passing through that
town we turned to the left in an easterly direction towards
Port Republic. After we had passed Harrisonburg some
three or four miles, Col. Sir Percy Windham, an English
officer who commanded the advance of the enemy, made a
dash on our rear, commanded by our own Col. Turner Ash-
ley. The sun was fast sinking from view behind a moun-
tain in the west when this fight took place, and resulted in
the capture of Sir Percy and the death of Ashley. We
heard the firing distinctly, for it was not more than a half
mile in our rear. The 15th Alabama was ordered to halt
and rest, and while here Sir Percy came along a prisoner
under the guard of two cavalrymen. The blood was trick-
ling down his cheeks, caused by a sabre-cut on his head by
one of our cavalrymen in his effort to subdue him. He
was so refractory that that was the only means to affect
his capture. Sir Percy was of stern stuff and a brave of-
ficer. The boys guyed him as he passed along, which so en-
raged him that he would have stopped right there in the
road and engaged in a fisticuff if he could have found a
partner. He was the maddest prisoner I saw during the
war. While here we received the sad news that Ashley
had been killed in the engagement, a thing that we all re-
gretted. As a partisan he had no superior; he was heroic
in character and his powers of endurance almost incredi-
ble. I don't know who commanded after he fell. After
the firing had ceased we moved on some two or three miles
and went into camp. There was nothing to disturb us ex-
cept an occasional exchange of shots by the pickets in the
rear. The next morning we moved on in the direction of
Port Republic, but we didn't go far before we passed a
church called Cross Keys. This had the appearance of be-
ing an old county church and nearby was a large cemetery,
with many monuments that marked the resting place of
the dead. After passing this church we halted and re-
mained all day, expecting an attack every moment, but
Fremont was waiting for all his forces to come up and giv-
ing Shields time to move up and dispute Jackson's crossing
at Port Republic, while he, Fremont, would attack him in
the rear. This was the condition of things on the morn-
ing of the 8th and was only known by the general officers.
Early in the morning the 15th Alabama was formed in line

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 65

of battle on the left of the turnpike at the end of a piece of
woods that surrounded the church. There were no under-
growth between us and the church, the trees were large and
we had a good view. Co. "A" being armed with Mississippi
rifles were thrown forward beyond the church and ceme-
tery to act as skirmishers. By some cause the regiment
was formed facing by the rear rank, our right resting near
the pike which was on a ridge with rolling ground on either
side. Desultory firing had been going on all the morning
and from the way that the Couriers and staff officers were
dashing around an attack was momentarily expected. We
were not long in suspence, for all at once Co. A was at-
tacked with such overwhelming numbers that they had to
fire in retreat. They soon came in sight, passing through
the cemetery, frequently taking shelter behind a tomb-stone
long enough to fire and load. Well do I remember seeing
Ben Ryans of Co. A when he took shelter behind a tomb-
stone and fired back at the Yankees. The odds were so
great against Co. A that they came in and took their place
in line. It was on this move that Lieut. Berry of that
company was captured. When the Yankees reached the
opening near the cemetery, they halted for awhile; a death-
ly stillness prevailed in our ranks while we were waiting
for the Yankees to come in reach, for we were anxious to
get a shot. While we were waiting Colonel Cantey rode to
the right up to the pike, when he saw just over the hill a
brigade of Yankess in line of battle marching past our right
flank. Had they known our position they could have
changed front forward on tenth company and had us com-
pletely at their mercy, for an attack from that direction
would have caused considerable confusion. The Colonel
came back and called us to attention, and give the command
to retire by the right of companies, which we did, moving
in quick time through a wheatfield. The Yankees seeing
this retrograde movement advanced through the cemetery,
and began to fire into our rear, which caused us to change
our time of march, from a quick to a double quick. Zip!
Zip! Zip! came their bullets. Whap! and down went Bill
Toney of Co. K, mortally wounded or dead. What! and
down went Jim Trawick of Co. G. The ball cutting his hat
band through to his head, it only stunned him and he rose
to his feet and came on. There might have been others hit
but I don't remember now. We broke into a run for a
short distance until we crossed a fence. The commanders

66 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

of companies preserved their distance and when Col. Can-
tey called out "Form Column by the left of companies
into line." A line of battle was easily and quickly formed.
About this time Courtney's battery came dashing at a
gallop, they soon halted, unlimited and threw a few shots
of spherical case which put a stop to the advance of the
Yankees at that point. When Courtney fired his first shot,
Jim Rhodes of Company "K" shouted aloud, "Now d — n
you, I guess you will stop." Our regiment remained in
position a short time, as a support to the battery, but we
were not to remain in that position long. We were moved
off to the right, to meet a column of Yankees that were ad-
vancing to turn our flank. We came to a piece of woods,
and were marching up to take position behind a fence when
the Yankee skirmishers commenced to fire on us. Just be-
fore we reached the fence our First Corporal, John T. Mel-
vin, was shot through the instep, and in a few moments
afterward, Wm. J. Parish was shot through the hand.
These were the first men wounded in Company G. The
wound of the former made him a cripple for life, and the
wound of the latter should have excused him from further
service, but when he got well, he returned and reported for
duty, and at the battle of Chickamauga his thigh was
broken which permanently disabled him from further ser-
vice. When we reached the fence above mentioned we
were ordered to lie down. There was a large old field in
front, and about two hundred yards off there was a line
of the "Boys in Blue" advancing to attack us. They ad-
vanced with such precision, keeping the step, and their line
so well dressed that it was a matter of comment after-
wards among our officers, but poor fellows, they did not
know what was in store for them behind that fence. There
we lay, as a Bengal tiger when he crouches down ready to
spring upon his unsuspected prey, each man in deathly si-
lence, with eyes fixed upon the advancing foe, only waiting
for the command to fire. Dear friend, these were almost
breathless moments, not a word, not a whisper by the
men, only a word of caution was whispered by the officers.
See them advancing; keep cool, Alabamians; take good
aim, and not fire too high. They were allowed to come
within seventy-five or one hundred yards, when the com-
mand, "Fire!" was given. We hurled such a storm of
"Buck and Ball" at them that it came very near annihilat-
ing their command, which was afterwards ascertained to

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 67

be the 6th Pennsylvania Bucktails, commanded by Col.
Kane. After the first volley we could not see them any
more, in consequence of so much smoke. We fired a few
rounds at them through the smoke when it was ascertained
that they had disappeared from our front, and we were
ordered to cease firing. Other demonstrations were being
made on our right, and we moved off by the right flank.
We had not gone far before we opened fire on a body of
Yankees in the woods on a hill, which put them to flight.
All the while heavy firing was going on, on the left, and
by 10 o'clock Ewell had Fremont whipped, and was then
ready to help Jackson whip Shields at Port Republic. Fre-
mont retreated, and left our division (Ewell's) in posses-
sion of the field. That evening we buried the dead, re-
moved the wounded, and collected a large quantity of small
arms from off the field. We rested quietly that night and
early the next morning we hastened on towards Port Re-
public, a small village with one or two hundred inhabi-
tants. It was four miles away from us, and we went in
quick time. Shields had arrived to dispute the passage of
Jackson's corps, his own and Ewell's division, but by
strategy at the bridge Jackson made the way passable, and
his division crossed and began the attack. Taylor with his
Louisianians, had preceded us and arrived in time to render
great service to Jackson in the defeat of Shields. As our
brigade advanced the booming of canon, and the roar of
small arms could be plainly heard, which was evidence that
a severe engagement was going on. Our pace was quick-
ened until we cross the bridge and marched out into the
open plain where the battle had commenced. We could
now tell that the firing was becoming slacker, and reced-
ing down the valley, the Southerners yelling, which was
evidence of victory. Fremont heard the firing but was too
slow to render any aid to Shields. He was greatly sur-
prised when he ascertained that we had left his front. He
had made all preparations to meet us in an expected attack
by us that morning, but when he found out that we had
left his front, he hurried on in the direction of Port Re-
public, arriving at the burning bridge which was the end
of his march. He about faced, and marched back down the
valley. By 10 o'clock the firing had ceased and a marvelous
victory had been won by Jackson which terminated his
campaign in the valley. For a more correct, and thrilling
account of this campaign in the valley, ending with this

68 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

victory I would refer the reader to "Surry of Eagle's Nest."
After this victory we went into camp near Weyer's Cave,
where we had divine service, and resting until about the
23rd, when we started on the march for Richmond to en-
gage in the great battle of seven days, commencing on the
26th of June, 1862.

CHAPTER XXV

AN OLD VETERAN UNDER "STONEWALL" JACKSON
ON HIS WAY TO RICHMOND.

Dear Friend :

After the defeat of Fremont at Cross Keys, and Shields
at Port Republic, it became necessary that something
should be done to divert the attention of the Yankee Gen-
eral McDowell, who was at Fredericksburg and to keep his
forces from uniting with McClellan in front of Richmond,
and in order to do this, before we broke camp near Weyer's
Cave, we were heavily reinforced by Whiting's division,
composed of Hood's Texas brigade, and his own under
Col. Law, from Richmond, and Lawton's brigade of Geor-
gians from Savannah. The deception of this reinforcement
at this time proved successful, for Fremont and Shields
became frightened, and retreated until they reached the
strongholds on the Potomac. While here at this camp I
visited the Texans and Georgians to see my old acquaint-
ances. I had several in the 1st and 5th Texas, boys of my
old settlement, who had emigrated to Texas before the war,
one of which I will mention, Nathan Oates, my old teacher,
who taught school in my old settlement when I was a small
boy. There were several incidents of this camp that has
flashed upon my memory that I would like to mention.
Some of them I deem out of order and will forbear. Suf-
fice it to say that I was glad to meet my old teacher and he
seemed glad to see me. He did not recognize me at first,
but when I made myself known to him he said, "Oh, yes,
you was my boss ball player at 12 years old. I guess you
are about 18 now?" I said, "I would be 18 in August." I
think that was our last meeting. He was either killed or
sickened and died, I don't remember which. I had a brother

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 69

that belonged to the 1st Texas, but he had died with pneu-
monia at "Bell Isle" on the James river, and was buried
in Hollywood cemetery at Richmond. On my visit to Rich-
mond in 1896, I felt sad when I was on the high bridge
crossing the James. The cars ran slow, and by looking
through a window to the left, I had a good view of the
island. The thought came, there is where my brother died
in the winter of 1861. After seeing all my acquaintances
among the Texans, I visited the 38th Georgia. There was
a company in that regiment from this (Henry) county call-
ed the Irvin Invincibles. I had several acquaintances and
some kinfolk in that company. Billie and Lat Whiddon.
Billie and John Barnes, all gone now. And by the way, I
remember seeing our good old man W. W. Kirkland, who
is living today. There were others but I can't remember
them now. After visiting the 38th I went over to the
31st G^rgia and there I found two of my neighbor boys,
Ed and Joe Roach, the former has since been Probate
Judge of Geneva County. You may be assured that it was
a great source of pleasure to meet with old friends so far
from home, all engaged in one common cause. I know the
ex-Judge will smile if he ever reads this, and recalls to
mind the fun he had with his younger brother Joe, in try-
ing to keep him from thrownig away that large woolen,
double wove coverlet, that they were toting, those hot June
days, on our march to Richmond, but it was very comforta-
ble at night, and Ed knew it. Joe grumbled because Ed
would not help him carry it as much as he thought he ought
to, but they worried on until they reached the battlefield,
and there they supplied themselves with things more suita-
ble for the occasion. There were others in my company
that had friends and relatives among these Texans, and
Georgians, and a regular interchange of visits went on as
long as we remained in camp. At last orders came when
we were least expecting it to cook three days' rations and
be ready to move at a moment's notice. This put a stop to
the visiting. Where to now? No one knew but the gen-
eral officers. Time enough had been given for the cooking
to be done, when we received orders to fall into line and
march. We started off to go somewhere, Ewell's division
leading. Lawton's large brigade of six full regiments had
been assigned to our division and marched between my
brigade (Trimble's) and the Louisianians, who were lead-
ing the advance of the division. About 8 o'clock a. m. of

70 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

the first day we arrived at the foot of the east spur of the
Blue Ridge mountains, and began to ascend. I don't re-
member the name of the gap now. The road was broad,
and was likened to a flight of winding stairs. Up, up
higher, and higher, at every turn until we reached the top.
In crossing this mountain that day, one of the grandest
sights that I had ever beheld was presented to my view.
When about half way to the top I could look up a mile
ahead and see the boys in grey marching four abreast,
filing around the rugged clifts that had been made smoothe,
and looking backward and downward, there as far as the
eye could reach, I could see the balance of Jackson's corps
advancing. The long line of troops dressed in gray march-
ing four abreast, stepping in quick time, with their bright
muskets and bayonets glittering in the sun, made an ever-
lasting impression upon my mind, the sublimity and
grandeur of which I will never forget. Sometimes now in
my old age, I am caught in reverie, and almost wish that
I was young again, and could once more view just such
another scene, but alas ! my youthful vigor of that day and
time have passed, together with the grandeur of that
scene, and I can only draw upon my imagination. We
had plenty of music during the day to cheer us up and
keep life. We reached the top and as the sun went down
on the western side behind us, we went down with a quick
step on the eastern side, reaching the level plane about one
hour before dark. We continued our march till dark, when
we went into camp. Whiting's and Jackson's divisions
passing, and going into camp also. Early the next morning
we started. Whiting's division leading. The incidents of
this day's march is lost to memory. Suffice it to say that
our march for the next two days was in a fine country,
well supplied with English cherries and all those that were
disposed to straggle fared sumptuously in that line. On
the evening of the 26th Jackson's corps arrived and took
position on the extreme left of Lee's army. It is said that
Jackson and Ewell rode into Richmond that night, a dis-
tance of 15 miles, and had a conference with President
Davis and General Lee and formed their plans for the
attack the next day. Gen. A. P. Hill, with his strong di-
vision, attacked one of McLellan's strongholds late that
evening, and after a sanguinary conflict and suffering con-
siderable loss the Yankees were driven from their strong-
hold on their right, which put Jackson in good shape for

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 71

the attack the next morning, the 27th. I heard the firing
of this engagement, and privately formed my own conclu-
sions as to what was going to happen the next day, Friday,
the 27th. On this march straggling was strictly forbidden.
It was said that on this march Jackson issued orders to us
that if anybody asked us where we were going, say to
them, I don't know. In fact, say I don't know to every ques-
tion asked. It was said, that on this march, one of the
Texans saw a large English cherry tree heavy laden with
berries. He broke ranks and started for them and meet-
ing Jackson, the following coloquy ensued : Jackson says,
"Where are you going?" The Texan replied, "I don't
know." Jackson — "What command do you belong to?"
Texan — "I don't know." Jackson — "Haven't you had or-
ders not to straggle?" Texan — "I don't know." Jackson —
"What is your name?" Texan — "I don't know." Jackson —
"Well, what do you know?" Texan — "I know I want some
of them cherries." Jackson started to ride off when the
Texan asked, "What do you know?" Jackson replied in ^
low tone, "I know how to keep a secret."

CHAPTER XXVI

AN OLD VETERAN UNDER "STONEWALL" JACKSON

IN THE BATTLES AROUND RICHMOND.

No. 1.

Dear Friend :

Jackson's arrival with his corps from the valley to rein-
force Lee, was anxiously looked for, and when notified of
his near approach Lee ordered A. P. Hill to make the as-
sault on the evening of the 26th, which I have already men-
tioned. In anticipation of our arrivals. Hill renewed the
attack at early dawn on the morning of the 27th. As the
sun rose over the tree tops, the rattle of musketry, the
booming of cannon, and the shouts and yells of the Con-
federates was evidence that hot work was going on, and
we were steadily advancing to decide it. A. P. Hill, with
his strong division, assisted by Longstreet, and D. H. Hill,
with their strong divisions, had attacked so furiously, and
the discovery of Jackson by the Federal commander steady

72 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

bearing down on his extreme right, caused him to hastily
abandon his breastworks, leaving his tents standing, and a
great deal of his camp equippage and commissary stores,
only to seek and assume a position still stronger. This
battle is known in history as that of Mechanicsville and
Beaver Dam, and was the beginning of the second day's
battle around Richmond. Jackson's corps had not yet been
engaged, but had passed over and through a part of the
battlefield in two hours after the battle had been fought,
and there I formed my second impression of the horrors of
a battlefield, but I would not let my mind dwell upon these
things, and went on as merrily as a lark, rejoicing at our
success, and fearing the engagement would soon end for
the day and I would not get a chance to shoot. After the
retreat of the enemy from this place there was a calm, not
much firing going on except by the advanced pickets, and
an occasional boom of a cannon. The second position taken
by the Yankees is known in history as that of Gaines' Mill,
or Cold Harbor, and was wisely selected as being one of
great strength, and a brave body of troops could not have
been driven from them by direct assault unless by over-
whelming numbers. About 11 o'clock when the brilliant
rays of the sun were illuminating the field, as far to the
right as the eye could see, long lines of the boys in gray,
with the beautiful Southern cross fluttering in the breeze
and their bright muskets, and bayonets were glittering in
the sun, with gorgeously dressed field officers, mounted on
their brilliant chargers, could be seen. Upon inquiry by
some of the officers they were found to be the troops of
Longstreet, and the two Hills (D. H. and A. P.) making
preparations to assault the enemy in his last strong posi-
tion. We had been marching slowly all day, bearing stead-
ily to the left, in order that when we did attack, it would
be on the extreme right of the Yankee army. General Lee
had made his headquarters at the Hogan's House where
he remained awaiting the arrival of Jackson. Our line of
march led by this house, and it was about 1 o'clock when
Jackson came along, and reigned in his horse and the Gen-
erals saluted each other, shook hands and then engaged
in a few moments' private conversation when General Lee
mounted his horse and rode off, accompanied by his staff
to the right. This was our first sight of Gen. R. E. Lee.
It was then known that a terrible ordeal awaited us in
front, which we were soon to meet. We moved on, crossed

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 73

a branch, marched up the hill and halted. Here our division
formed line of battle, Lawton's brigade of Georgians on
our right, and Taylor with his Louisianians on our left.
The front of each regiment was covered by a company of
skirmishers. Ours was covered by Company *'A" com-
manded by that gallant and soldierly gentleman, Capt. Lock
Weems, of Columbus, Ga. At the command, "Forward,"
they moved in gallant style in search of the enemy. That
was the last time I saw Capt. Weems. He was killed that
day. At this particular time of which I write, the troops
of Longstreet and the two Hills had encountered the enemy
in his strong position, and the battle on the right was
raging with great fury.

Our company officers seemed to be at their best, repeating
the orders of our gallant Lieut. Col. John F. Trentten, who
had command of the left wing of the regiment. "Steady
15th Alabama" was often shouted by our Col. Cantey. Thus
we moved forward under shot and shell, preceded by our
skirmishers who had not yet found the enemy. It was an
exciting time with us then. The firing on the right be-
came nearer and nearer, which was a sure indication that
we would soon join the issue. We marched through a large
field that had been occupied that morning by the enemy
as a camp, which they had hastily abandoned, leaving their
tents standing, and a great many other valuables that we
could have appropriated, but we had no time to stop. The
word was, onward ! forward ! on every tongue. Going up
a slant and arriving at the top of the hill we discovered a
house down near a branch that we had to cross. The house
was directly in front of Company "K" (the company that
was on our right.) The Colonel perceiving that we were
going to become tangled and confused if we tried to break
ranks and run around it, gave the command, "the three left
companies obstacle, by the right flank, double quick,
march." The commander of Company "K" repeated the
order, then our Captain followed and Company "B" on our
left followed us. We passed the house when the Colonel
commanded "the three left companies into line, by the left
flank, double quick, march." While all this was going on
the Yankees were shelling us for all we were worth. The
shells were bursting over and around us enough to have
caused a panic, but we were quickly into line, pressing
steadily on until we came to a sluggish stream which we
had to cross, and our line became somewhat disorganized.

74 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

Where, I, with some others crossed, it was boggy, and I
bogged down with one foot nearly to my knee, and in try-
ing to extricate myself my shoe string broke and I pulled
my foot out, leaving my shoe in the mud. General Trimble
happened to be near sitting on his horse looking at us bog-
ging through that place. He seeing my condition, kindly
said, "Soldier, get your shoe." I did so, and knocked the
mud and water out of it and put it on*. By this time the
skirmishers in front were hotly engaged, which was evi-
dence that their main line was near, and that we would
soon attack. While I was detained in losing my shoe, my
company had gotten fifty or sixty yards ahead, but I with
others ran, and soon overtook them and took our place in
line, not, however, before we cross a broad road that ran
nearly parallel to our line of march. When I reached the
road I halted for a moment, and looked up the slant to my
left. There I saw the red legged Zouaves of the enemy in
line. They fired at us down the road as we passed. I dis-
tinctly heard their bullets go hissing by, searching for a
victim. I instantly raised my gun, and sent a ball and
three buckshot among them, and cross over, pausing long
enough to look at Tom Burk of Company "B," who had
just been shot down, and was in the last agonies of death.
A minnie ball had hit him in the pit of the stomach and
with each pulsation his life's blood would gush from the
hole. In his delirium he made an unsuccessful attempt
to stop the hole with his canteen stopper. He was a noble
young man with refined qualities. Peace to his ashes ! After
the regiment had crossed the branch, and the road, a halt
was made to rectify the line and as soon as that was done,
we began our advance up a hill that obscured us from the
enemy. I had reloaded my gun, and had overtaken, and
resumed my position in the front rank of my company,
and was ready for what afterwards occurred. Our skir-
mishers had halted on the top of the hill and were fighting
a regular line of battle, just down the slant on the other
side. The hill was covered with large oaks with a right
smart undergrowth, and our march was slow and cautious.
All the while the small arms on the right were as a regular
roll. You could not distinguish one gun from another.
The bombshells bursting, their fragments flying in every
direction, hitting a fellow occasionally, and the solid shot
crashing through the boughs above our heads, and the com-
mands of officers all added to the excitement of the occa-

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 75

sion. While we were slowly advancing up this hill Sam
Dickerson was shot through the heart, and was instantly
killed. He was a good soldier and resided near Echo in
Dale County, and was the first man killed in Gates' Com-
pany. About this time heavy volleys of musketry tore loose
on our left which indicated that Taylor's Louisianians had
found the enemy, and 'twas said (as I have already stated)
that here the Tigers were nearly all killed. Their com-
mander, Maj. Wheat, was killed and they disbanded. We
moved on until we reached the top of the hill and I will
tell you in the next chapter what then took place.

CHAPTER XXVII

AN OLD VETERAN UNDER "STONEWALL" JACKSON
IN THE BATTLES AROUND RICHMOND NO. 2.

Dear Friend:

When we reached the top of the hill referred to in the last
chapter my company, with the balance of the left wing of
the 15th Alabama opened fire upon the enemy which were
down the slant on their knees about fifty yards away. We
sent such a shower of "Buck and Ball" at them through
the bushes and smoke that it left many of them hors de
combat, and at the same time we received a shower of min-
nie balls from them that caused several of my company to
fall, while others sttaggered and reeled, and went to the
rear wounded. Those of us that was not hurt set up a yell,
fell upon our knees and loaded and fired in that position as
fast as we could. Our company officers were diligent in
their duties, encouraging the men by their examples and or-
dering us to aim low that we might not overshoot and waste
ammunition. There was so much smoke that it was only
occasionally that we could see the enemy, but we knew he
was there by the hissing of his bullets, and the wounding
and killing of a man occasionally. We could very distinct-
ly tell when the Yankess would receive reinforcements by
the increase of their bullets and their cheers, but the storm
of lead that we were constantly pouring at them prevented
them from advancing any nearer than their front lines.
The yelling and cheering of the Confederates, the roar of

76 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

small arms, and thundering sound of artillery was so great
that I could only tell when I had fired my gun by being
punched (kicked) by the breech against my shoulder or jar
by the stock against my right cheek bone. I loaded and
fired so fast that the barrel of my gun became so hot that
I thought it dangerous to pour powder in it, and laid it
down and picked up another that had been dropped by a
wounded man and used it until mine cooled off. While I
was loading, firing and hollowing hurrah boys, "give it to
'em," I would look to the right occasionally and through the
smoke would catch a glimpse of our colors fluttering in the
breeze, when I would feel cheerful, seeing them maintain
their position. While in this position, loading and firing,
some in my rear fired off their gun so near the right side
of my head that for a moment I could not realize what had
happeded, didn't know but what I was wounded, as there
was a stinging sensation on the right side and the back of
my neck, so severe that it caused me to rub with my hand.

1 was considerably stunned for a few moments, and the
stinging about my neck was caused by grains of powder
which was of such force as to penetrate the skin. A great
many of them have been picked out since the war, and
while it has been forty-four years since the occurrance
several grains are visible under the skin of my neck today.
When I recovered from the shock I drew back my gun to
strike the fellow that did it, accompanied by an exclama-
tion that I will not repeat here, and with a hasty apology
the blow was stayed and we continued to load and fire.
We were good friends and bore no malice toward each
other. He was a good soldier, served through the war,
and has long since crossed the line and I am still living to
record the occurrence. As well as I remember it was about

2 P. M. when we opened fire upon the enemy and there we
remained firing as fast as we could for two or three hours.
It was reported to the oflficers that we were running short
of ammunition and details were made and sent to the rear
for a new supply, but after using all we had or could get
from the boxes of the dead and wounded, we run short
before the details returned. I would not shoot away the last
round I had, but kept my gun loaded for a case of emer-
gency. While in this condition waiting, we lay flat upon
the ground, the battle still raging on the right and left with
great fury. The bursting shells, scattering their deadly
fragments, together with the solid shot, crashing through

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 77

the trees, tearing the limbs off made our position extremely
perilous, and it would be necessary sometimes to run out
of the way of a falling limb. While in this condition Gen-
ral Ewell rode up in our rear with hat in hand, when he
was met by our 1st Lieut. J. A. Gates, who informed the
General the cause of our inaction. The General told him to
fix bayonets and hold his position until he could send for
the Texas Brigade to reinforce us. We had already fixed
bayonets, ammunition was the thing most desired at that
time. The detail with ammunition arrived soon after Gen-
eral Ewell left, and we commenced in a hurry to refill our
cartridge boxes. About the time we got through filling
we looked down the hill in our rear, and there came the 4th
Texas, half bent as if looking for a turkey. We greeted
them with a cheer that they responded. They marched
up to our position and halted, rectified their line, fired one
volley down the slant through the bushes at the Yankees,
when they were ordered to cease firing, reload and fix
bayonets. The firing from the Yankee's infantry had be-
come slack, but the ten-gun battery, four or five hundred
yards in the rear was shelling us vigorously, which was
an indication that they were preparing to advance on us,
or was expecting an attack from us. While the Texans
were getting ready, our officers anticipating an order for
a general charge, began to rectify our line and be ready.
There was so much smoke that you could only tell an Ala-
bamian from a Texan by a badge or kind of gun he carried.
The Texans were armed with short Enfield rifles with sabre
bayonets, and we with smooth bore muskets. All being
ready, the command "charge" was given, we raised a yell
and dashed down the slant .pell mell, (the Texans and right
wing of our regiment bearing to the right), yelling all the
time, expecting a hand to hand encounter when we reached
their line, where last seen, but instead of a hand to hand
engagement as we expected, when we reached their line
numbers of them lay dead or too badly wounded to be
moved. There was the result of a two or three hours en-
gagement with "buck and ball" when well directed. We
were out of the smoke then, and we could see them from
fifty to one hundred yards in front, scattered and running
for dear life. They had lost their organization in their
retreat, and we had lost ours in pursuit. We kept up our
yelling and firing and swept grandly on. The path of their
retreat was marked by the dead and wounded. I don't

78 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

remember any of my company to have been killed or wound-
ed in this charge. There was no skulking with the officers
and men. Forward was the word from every officer and
private. It seemed that the boys tried to see who could
yell the loudest, run, fire and load the fastest. I will re-
late an incident of this charge that happened with myself
and Calvin Kirkland, of my company. We happened to be
together at one time in the charge, both running and yell-
ing, when all at once there was smoke out of a gun from
behind a pine tree about 25 yards in front, both of us saw
it, and as soon as the gun fired, a Yankee dashed off in a
run to escape, we both raised our muskets, and having a
fair shot at his back, we both fired at the same time, when
down he fell and lay still. Calvin looked at me and asked
if I fired. I said yes, did you? He rephed yes, and we got
him. We passed close by him and paused long enough to
see several bullet holes in the back of his blouse. We hur-
ried on, and all at once Calvin stopped, looking at some-
thing under a clay-root, it proved to be a Yankee that had
crawled under there for protection, but had left his feet
exposed. I left Calvin talking to him. It was said that
Calvin told him to come out, for he knew he was there by
his feet, and it was with some difficulty that he got out; he
was scared hal fto death, and Calvin told him to go to the
rear, which he did. The sun was not more than one hour high
and the canopy of smoke was so thick that the sun was
gloomily red in the heavens. The Texans had charged
somewhat to the right, and they, with other troops, had
about this time encountered the ten-gun battery of the ene-
my, and was making a desperate effort to capture it. The
enemy after a stubborn resistance had been driven that
evening from every position taken and this was his last
stand, and it was known by our general officers that if they
could be driven from that position the victory for that day
would be complete. While this heavy fighting was going
on over the battery other troops of Jackson's Corps was
sweeping down from the left driving everything before
them, while my command was driving a disorganized rab-
ble in the center. About sundown the firing slackened, a
yell was sent up, and it was known that the battery had
been captured. Some of the troops that had been advanc-
ing on the left proved to be Alabamians. If I remember
right they were of Wilcox's Brigade, They were on top of
a hill trying to form line. I and others of my command

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 79

got mixed up with them. Their field officers were on their
horses giving commands, some making speeches and such
a yelling and tossing of hats I had never heard or saw be-
fore. I actually thought, from the number of dead and
wounded that I saw that evening, that the war was ended
and that I was glad that I was there living to see the end,
but that proved to be only a beginnig with me. In my line
of advance I came across a line of knapsacks that had been
abandoned by the enemy, and on my return when I reached
them, I stopped and opened one in search of a shirt. I found
what we soldiers called a "biled" shirt with cuffs and col-
lars which I had no use for, so I laid them aside. I also
found a revolver and an opera glass, which I also laid aside
but I have always been sorry that I didn't keep the glass,
for I needed it the next morning to look at Low's baloon.
I passed through a part of our battle ground picking up
two well filled Yankee haversacks. I soon found a part of
my command where they had gone into camp, and we be-
gan to talk of those that had been killed and wounded. I
don't remember but two that was instantly killed and four
wounded. Two of those that were wounded are still living,
J. H. Whatley and C. C. Stone. The killed were Sam Dick-
erson and George Byrd. There might have been others
killed or wounded but I don't remember. I examined my
haversacks and found them rich with hard tack and bacon,
a sack of ground coffee, with a string of dried apples about
two feet long in each sack. I made my supper on hard tack
and bacon. Our camp was in hearing of the groans of
some of the wounded that had been left lying on the battle-
field. I was tired and nearly exhausted. It had been so
warm that evening that I had sweated so much that there
was hardly a dry thread in my clothes. I had hollowed so
much, that when I cooled off my throat become so sore that
I could scarcely swallow, but as tired as I was, I with some
others took a light and went to some of the wounded that
was calling to their comrades for help. The first one I
found was a Louisianian with one thigh broken. He was
lying on the ground Mithin three feet of a wounded Yankee
shot through the bowels. He was delirious, but could call
for water and his mother, "0 Mother." Poor fellow, I was
sorry for him ; I gave him water and turned him as well as
I could on his blanket and spread his "gum" over him to
protect him from the cold dew. I also fixed the Louisianian
as comfortably as I could, giving him water also and leav-

80 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

ing plenty with them to keep them from perishing for the
want of it until they could be removed the next day. I was
so tired and worn out that I left them alone in the dark
and returned to camp and went to sleep ; was up early the
next morning ready. Some of the boys were sitting by the
fire smoking and telling the events of the day, while
others were sound asleep. I claim the honor, if honor it
be, of being the first one of Gates' Company to fire a gun
in this engagement. The gun referred to in the preceed-
ing chapter that I fired at the red legged Zouaves in the
road, was in my opinion the first. Well, my dear friend,
these things happened on the 27th of June, 1862, more than
forty-four years ago. Who will be here 25 years from now
to tell of this days victory for the Sunny South? I have
no idea that it will be me.

CHAPTER XXVIII

AN OLD VETERAN UNDER "STONEWALL" JACKSON

IN THE BATTLES AROUND RICHMOND

NO. 3.

Dear Friend:

After the hard day's battle o fthe 27th you may be anx-
ious to know what we did on the 28th. Listen: Without
the aid of a diary, or record of any kind, it is impossible
to tell half of the things that did occur on these memorable
days of the war around Richmond, the Capital of the Con-
federacy, but as I sit alone with my mind concentrated on
the events of these bloody days of my past life, I have to
write of things as I remember them. Well, as well as I re-
member I rose early on the morning of 28th rather cold with
stiffened joints, caused by heat and exertion of the evening
before, I hied away to a spring near by and laid off my
old dingy, dirty shirt and with the free use of soap, water
and towels, I rid myself of about ten days accumulation of
dirt, when I donned my "biled" shirt that I mentioned in
the preceeding chapter. It was new, had never been worn,
starched and ironed, and was as white as snow, and I had
no coat to hide it, as the weather was so warm that I had
throwed it away three days ago, and was going into these

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 81

battles with my shirt sleeves unencumbered, with nothing
but a Yankee gum and a half tent fly, (the old soldiers
know what they are), a well filled Yankee haver-
sack, full of good rations, a conteen of water, a
good gun and plenty of ammunition ; that was all I wanted.
My shirt was so white that it was the subject for many
remarks, some of which was so suggestive that it would
have caused a ''milk and cider" sort of fellow to have want-
ed to get rid of it, but my strong and unfaltering belief
in the doctrine of predestination caused me to wear that
shirt, though white as snow, without fear, it made no dif-
ference. After cleaning up I went back to camp and found
some of the boys up, but many still asleep taking their rest.
I was up early, for I wanted to get in shape for the fight
that I expected that day, so I was greatly improved by my
cleaning up, and my ailments were soon forgotten. About
sunrise reville was sounded and we attended roll call.
There were several absent, but I can't remember who now.
Needham Murphy, a brave and noble hearted young man
of my company was not able to rise and answer when his
name was called, and he lay prostrate upon his blanket
spread upon the ground there suffering the tortures of a
burning fever which was caused by heat and over-exertion
of the evening before. As well as I remember Captain
Oates sent for an ambulance and had him carried to the
hospital for treatment, and that was the last time any of
us saw Need Murphy. We all liked him and was sorry to
hear of his death. After roll call we began to make fires
and make coffee and stew dried apples that we had found
in the Yankee haversacks, with many other good things
such as ham, soda and sweet crackers, with cans of con-
densed milk, presed vegetables to make soup, chocolate and
green tea, and a great many other luxuries that I can't re-
member now. It was a feast with us then, but hush! the
booming of cannon far to the right was heard, which was
evidence that this was to be another day of carnage. The
sun from the Eastern hills began to pour forth her rays of
warmith, melting the cold dew that had fell during the
night upon the dead and wounded that had been left on the
field during the night, although every exertion had been
made by our people to care for the wounded and bury the
dead of both armies, and after working all night, many
wounded remained to be m.oved and many dead to be
buried. The care of the wounded and burying the dead

—6

82 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

was not our job, there were men detailed for that purpose,
and our job was to be kill and wound some more Yankees
or be killed or wounded by them, and as the booming of
cannon and the sound of small arms began to increase far
to the right, we knew we were not long to be kept waiting.
See! yonder comes Colonel Canty on his charger. He com-
mands "fall in." This done we move off left in front.
We were carried through a part of our battle-ground where
we got a better view of the damage we did the Yankees the
evening before. We continued our march with the balance
of the brigade, crossing a small branch, then ascending a
hill in an open field, the position of the ten-gun battery of
the enemy that the Texans, with the aid of other troops,
succeeded in capturing the evening before. Here were
evidences of a mighty struggle. The guns were still there
with their brave defenders lying dead or wounded beside
the wheels and under the guns where they were shot down
or bayonetted by the Texans and Georgians, The last ef-
fort to recapture those guns was made by a brigade of
Yankee cavalry, but the unerring aim of the Texans and
Georgians was so effective, emptying so many saddles at
the first volley that it produced a panic and they fled in
confusion across the Chicahominy. I mentioned in the pro-
ceeding chapter the capture of this battery and I only re-
fer to it now because our line of march of the next morn-
ing brought us over the ground and we became eye wit-
nesses to the evidence of the struggle. While near this
place about 8 A, M. a balloon was seen to ascend from the
South side of the Chicahominy for the purpose of overlook-
ing our position, when Captain Courtney of our brigade
unlimxbered two of his three-inch rifle guns and threw a
couple of shells at him, they exploding near by, which
made him come down faster than the boy did when found
by the old man up one of his apple trees. We remained
on this historic spot but a short while. It was ascertained
that a few of the enemy still remained on the North side of
the Chickahominy, and Ewell's Division, accompanied by
Stewart's Brigade of cavalry, was sent to attack them, but
upon our approach they fled to the South side, burning the
bridge behind them. We moved farther to the left and
seized the York River R, R, bridge to prevent a retreat in
that direction. We formed line of battle, threw out skirm-
ishers, and waited for the advance of the enemy, but he
did not come that way. While here in line Colonel Canty

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 83

rode in front of us as if on review, he observing my white
shirt, called me by name and said, "You will be a conspicr
ious object for the Yankees to shoot at today." I made no
reply, but thought he would be as conspicious as I was, if
he continued to ride that fine horse. The firing that we
heard early in the morning had nearly ceased, and from the
clouds of dust seen rising on the South side of the Chicka-
hominy was evidence that there was a general commotion
among the troops on that side. The abandonment of the
road and burining of the bridge was evidence to us that
no further attempt would be made to hold that line, and a
way out of this trouble was anxiously sought for by the
Federal Commander. My memory is not clear on all the
movements made by us on that day. I know we were not
engaged that day, but was kept moving around pretty
much all day marching, etc., and halting near a railroad
where the enemy had a depot of supplies. It was dark and
drizzling rain, we were halted in the road and received no
command but to "rest." When ordered to rest we broke
ranks and began a search for a dry place to sit or lie down,
but it was mud everywhere. I squatted at the root of a
pine, spreading my gum over my head to keep dry, my mus-
ket resting across my lap. We had orders not to build fires
or make a noise, but some of the men would cuss a little
anyhow. We remained in that position all night, and I
tell you dear friend I was glad when I saw the streaks of
day began to appear in the East. The Yankees had been
driven from every position taken, and the scene around
this depot was evidence of a hasty retreat, for there were
scores of barrels of ground coffee, sugar, rice, syrup, salt,
tea, flour and meal and other things. Our haversacks
were filled with everything that we needed, and the thing
most desired was to move out of that mud. The fighting by
some of the troops had commenced, and we expecting to
be called on every minute. At last orders came to move
and we did in a hurry, but before we reached the battle-
field the Yankees had been driven again, and our advanced
troops were in hot pursuit. We passed through the field
where the dead and wounded Yankees lay thick and our
folks were caring for them as fast as they could. I was
taken sick and stopped, and when our Regimental Surgeon
Dr. Rives came along, I reported to him and he prescribed
for me, and he give me an unlimited permit to remain in
the rear and come on when I got able to travel. I halted

84 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

and my company soon passed out of sight in pursuit of the
enemy in his retreat down the peninsula. I sat down by
a pine, near by was a Yankee that had been wounded that
morning, both his thigh bones had been broken and he was
also leaning against another pine. He did not complain
at all, but kept cursing our troops all the time they were
passing. In conversation with him I ascertained that he
belonged to the 2nd Vermont, and was the only abolition-
ist that I conversed with during the war. He was one of
the bitterest kind. He was the only wounded Yankee that
I saw during the war that refused to accept some favor
that I could do. He wouldn't accept a drink of water that
I offered ; he hated me, and didn't mind to tell me so. He
was a bad 'un. He was properly and humanely cared for
by our people. I remained at, and around this place till
late in the evening, when I started in the direction of the
army. Going about four hundred yards I came to a camp
of sick soldiers, where they were halting for treatment.
I had plenty of medicine, with directions from Dr. Rives
and needed no assistance from the doctors at this place.
I remained there all night, and will reserve the balance for
the next chapter.

CHAPTER XXIX

AN OLD VETERAN UNDER "STONEWALL" JACKSON

IN THE BATTLES AROUND RICHMOND

NO. 4.

Dear Friend:

I remained that night (the 29th) with a whole lot of sick
soldiers, and the next morning the surgeons were busy
examining the sick and loading the ambulances for the
hospitals at Richmond. I was billed to go, but asked to
be excused, telling the doctor that I was feeling better and
would be able to go to my command in a day or two.
There were plenty of nurses and doctors to give medicine
and wait on the convalescent. During the day heavy can-
nonading and a low dull sound of small arms could be
heard in the direction the army had gone. I could not
help but feel uneasy, laboring under great suspense in not
knowing how the battle was going, or knowing what com-

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 85

mand was engaged. I enquired of every one that passed
from that direction and at last I received the glad tidings
that Jackson's Corps had not been engaged. I was un-
easy about my company and was fearful that my continued
absence might create a suspicion in the mind of my captain
that I was a skulker from duty, but Dr. Rives had report-
ed my condition to my captain and he was somewhat sur-
prised when I returned. About the middle of the P. M.
Alf Dozier, of the Henry Grays and his brother Guss, of
my company (the Henry Pioneers) came along, both sick
and had passes to the rear. Guss, finally relieved me of
my suspense when he told me that our company had not
been engaged, but had been under fire without casualty.
Alf was on his way to the camp of the 6th Alabama, where
they had left on the 26th of June to join in the great bat-
tle of the 27th. Alf insisted that I should go back with
him, and I consented to do so. All three of us reached his
camp about sun-down. The tents, or a part of them, were
still standing and myself and Guss stayed with Alf in his
tent that night. Several of the 6th had been left in camp
sick, not able for duty, and one of the Grays that I well
remember was Lieut. A. T. Owens, who was left sick or
was detailed for some kind of duty, I don't remember
which, he knew me and my family at home, and he treated
nie very courteously. All during the day I was possessed
with an uneasiness that I could not account for, and in the
P. M. I resolved to strike out for my command. I made
known my determination to Alf and Guss, but they insist-
ed that I should remain until the next day and they would
then go with me. No amount of persuasion or promises
could deter me from my determination, I had resolved to
go, and go I would. About 3 P. M. I struck out for my
com.mand, Alf and Guss following about a mile out. Heavy
cannonading was going on away down the James River.
We went up-stairs in a house that stood near the road and
opened a window in the East end, and there remained for
about one hour listening at the heaviest cannonading that
had been heard since the war began in that part of the
army. It proved to be the battle of "Malvern Hill," the
results of which was not very favorable to the Confeder-
ates. It was the last stand that the Federals made on their
retreat, until they finally reached cover under their gun-
boats at Harrison's Landing on the James. After listening
as long as I wanted to, I became impatient and bid Alf and

86 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

Guss good-bye. I reached my camp that I had left the
evening before and remained all night. Early the next
morning, feeling first-rate, I prepared and ate my break-
fast and started in search of my command. I made good
time and was not by myself on this march, for there were
others on the same errand that I was, hunting their com-
mands. Late in the P. M. we began to come to troops
in camp, and began to inquire for our commands. At last
about sun-down I found my company and went forthwith
and reported to my commanding officer, Lieut. C. V. Morris,
who seemed glad to see me and was somewhat surprised at
my speedy recovery. We remained in this camp but a few
days when we took up the line of march in the direction of
Richmond, passing through some of the battlefields where
the Federals had made temporary stands on their retreat,
leaving their dead on the field. Many of the dead were un-
buried and the stench was almost unbearable. The next
day we passed through Richmond. The news of our ap-
proach, and the line of travel through the city had been
made known in advance, and the people had gathered on
each side of the street to welcome and cheer us on. The
entrance of ''Stonewall" Jackson's Corps into the city of
Richmond at this time was an event that will never be for-
gotten by me. The ovation that we received from the old
men and women, the beautiful girls and boys made each
one feel himself a hero from the Shenandoah Valley under
"Stonewall" Jackson. The patriotic heart of George Wash-
ington could not have been swelled with more pride when
on one occasion they strewed his way with flowers, than did
the hearts of Jackson's Corps when we marched through
Richmond at this time. We marched through, and out
about four miles northward and went into camp, but not to
remain idle many days. This was about the middle of July
and the balance of the year 1862 was stirring times with
this old veteran.

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 87

CHAPTER XXX

AN OLD VETERAN UNDER "STONEWALL" JACKSON

IN HIS SUMMER CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE

FEDERAL GENERAL JOHN POPE

NO. 1.

Dear Friend :

The seven days' battles around Richmond resulted in a
complete victory for the Confederates over the Federal
army commanded by General McClellan having ended, our
corps was marched through Richmond and as I stated in
the last chapter we went into camp four or five miles North
of Richmond and only rested a few days. It was ascer-
tained by our generals that another large Yankee army
was organizing on the Rappahannock River in Culpepper
County, for the purpose of advancing against Richmond on
the line of the Orange and Alexander R.R. The army
under McClellan, which had been defeated before Rich-
mond, was known as the Army of the Potomac, and this
new army that was organizing was known as the Army of
Virginia, and was commanded by General John Pope,
a braggart from the West. His first general order
to his army declared war upon the noncombatants
that remained in his lines, ordering the arrest of
citizens and those refusing to take the oath of allegiance
were to be driven from their homes, and if caught again
within their lines, they would be treated as spies and be
subject to the extreme rigor of military law. This order
is amusing to any one who are familiar with all his de-
feats from Cedar Run on the 9th of August, clear on
through several engagements including the last days of
August on the plains of Manassas, where his defeat was
so disastrous as to cause his retreat and finally his resigna-
tion. In some succeeding chapter I will tell of these en-
gagements as I recollect them. But to return. To meet
this demonstration that was gathering on the Rappahan-
nock River, Jackson, with his corps about the 20th of July
was ordered to proceed to Gordonsville, where he would
be in position to check any movement that Pope might

88 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

make until General Lee could reinforce him from Rich-
mond. We marched to Hanover Junction and there board-
ed the cars for Gordonsville, when we marched out some
five or six miles in the direction of Orange Court House,
and went into camp. We privates were perfectly ignorant
of the situation of affairs, not knowing what was in store
for us a few days later on. We had a fine camp and drill
ground, good water, good health and a plenty to eat. Our
camp was in the midst of wealthy and patriotic citizens.
There were three families near together by the name of
Graves. One of them was a widow lady about 50 years old
who had two sons in war. She had a great deal of personal
property around her premises that needed protection, and
she made an application for a guard, and fortunately for
myself, I and Mose Maybin was detailed to guard her
premises. She lived some three or four miles from camp,
and when we reported we asked her for orders, she told us
to make ourselves at home, eat our meals with her at her
table and keep the foraging class of soldiers away from her
bee-gums, chicken-roost and corn-field, which were at that
time in roasting-ear, or nearly so. Some of the soldiers
had been pulling them and she wanted that stopped. In
connection with this guard duty I will relate a singular
circumstance that happened; though strange, 'tis true.
Every miOrning after breakfast we made our rounds of her
cornfields, returning and going again at ten, returning at
twelve. One day while on our second round we met a fel-
low with a sack of corn just pulled. We arrested him, took
his corn away from him, took his name, company, regi-
ment and brigade. After all this he began to inquire
what we were up to and what we meant. We told him our
orders and that he could go, we would only report him to
his captain. He began to beg, making all sorts of promises
and Mose and myself become sympathetic, promised him
we would not report him if he would tell others what they
might expect if they were caught in that corn-field, and for
that to be his last offense. He promised faithfully and we
didn't report him. His nam.e was Solomon and belonged
to the 9th Louisiana Regiment. The strange part of my
stry is that we met again after the war, some time in the
70's. While sitting around one of my neighbor's cane
mill one night with several of the neighbor boys chatting
and chewing cane, a gentleman came out from supper, in-
troducing himself as Mr. Solomon. He took a seat near by,

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 89

and pretty soon began to talk, telling his old war stories.
I became interested in him and asked him what army he
belonged to, corps, division, brigade and regiment. He
said he belonged to Lee's Army, Jackson's Corps, Ewell's
Division, Taylor's Brigade and the 9th Louisiana Regi-
ment, and also his company, but I have forgotten now. I
looked at him closely and imagined that there was some-
thing about him that I could recognize, and ventured to
ask him if he was with the army when it was in camp near
Gordons ville just before the battle of Cedar Run. He said
yes. ''Did you ever see me before," I asked. After look-
ing at me closely he replied that he did not remember. I
asked him if he was the Solomon that two soldiers arrested
coming out of Mrs. Graves' corn-field with a sack of roast-
ing-ears about the second of August, '62. He looked as-
tonished, laughed and said yes, and went on to tell how
kindly he was treated by them two soldiers and said they
were Alabamians and belonged to Trimble's Brigade. I
then told him that I was one of them boys. He gathered
me by the hand and seemed proud to see me. He again
looked at m.e closely and said that " your eyes are familiar,
but you had no beard then, I would never have known you
again." He inquired of me about the other fellow, Mose
Maybin and seemed to regret it when I told him that he
was killed at Sharpsburg. Solomon was a traveling sewing
machine fixer, and I have never seen him since that night.
In a day or two after that I and Mose was called into camp,
and regretted very much that we could not remain with
Mrs. Graves longer, as we were having such a good time.
We moved our camp near Roberson's River, a tributary of
the Rapid Ann River, where we done picket duty at Liberty
Mills, on said River a few days before we marched to at-
tack Pope, then in camp around Culpepper Court House,
about twenty-five miles away.

90 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

CHAPTER XXXI

AN OLD VETERAN UNDER "STONEWALL" JACKSON

IN HIS SUMMER CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE

FEDERAL GENERAL JOHN POPE

NO. 2.

Dear Friend:

We had not been in camp on Roberson's River but a short
while before a promiscuous detail was made to go on picket.
I being the next man on the roll for such service, was told
by my orderly to report to Seargeant (I have forgotten
who), who was to command the detail that was to go on
picket. There were eight or ten in the squad and we
marched off in the direction of the enemy, crossing the
bridge just above Liberty Mills. A cavalryman who was
our guide informed us that the Yankees was not very far
off, their reserve being in camp at a place called "Jack's
Shop" some three or four miles in the direction of Orange
Court House. After marching about a half mile we turned
to the left and ascended a long hill, reaching an abandoned
dwelling house from which we had a fine view of the sur-
rounding country, especially up the road in the direction of
"Jack's Shop." On reaching the house on the hill our
cavalryman charged us to keep a sharp look out and be on
the alert, for an advance by the Yankee cavalry was mo-
mentarily expected, and that we only had a few cavalry in
our front to watch their movements. The next thing to
be done was to establish a picket post, and advanced vi-
dette. One man of our squad was detailed and the picket
post established down on the side of this road, some two
hundred yards from this house, the place of the reserve.
It was getting late, the sun was nearly hid. We remained
on this duty undisturbed until the next evening. The place
selected for our vidette post was an admirable one for our
secretion, but in plain view from the house on the hill. The
roadbed was some five or six feet below a level, and we had
a plain view of about one hundred and fifty yards up the
road in the direction of "Jack's Shop," when the road made
a curve to the right, which could be plainly seen from the

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 91

house where the reserve was. It came my time again to
so on post from 2 to 4, and as well as I remember about 3
o'clock the carbines in the direction of the enemy began to
crack I thought something was going to happen and 1
began to feel chilly, being down there so far off from he p
alone. I kept a close watch up the road, all the while
drawing on my imaginations. Presently I saw two of our
cavalrymen coming slowly, looking back occasionally. They
came slowly on until they arrived opposite where I was
concealed in the jam of the fence, they did not see me until
Tspoke! when they told me to look out the Yankees were
advancing, and they passed on toward the bridge. It was
then up to me to look, and I did look too, first up the road
and then up the hill where the reserve was The chill got
harder, imaginations become m.ore rapid, how and what
was I to do when the Yankees come along there, was what
was flitting through my mind I looked ^nd looked, won-
dering I couldn't run, I would be obliged to stand. I did
not fear capture when my help at the reserve was so near
unless there were too many for us, and m such an event^i
thought I would be notified in time. I was m a bad fix
them Look out! Some one said up on the hill; I was
watching and not asleep, I was too chilly for that. I fixed
myself: I knew that something was going to happen and
something had to be done. There he comes, Ja boy m blue
riding slowly, looking cautiously on every side,I was watch-
ing and had my mind made up what to do and say I was
ready kept my eye on him all the time, he came slowly on
untn Within about fifty yards he halted, turnmg around m
his saddle and said in a low voice, "Come on you cow-
ardly scamp" More behind, thought I. The reserve upon
the hill was watching all this, but they kept concealed and
said nothing. (I thSught to myself, I have the advantage
and I am going to keep it.) He started agam and came
slowly on. I let him pass me a little when I rose quickly
w?th my musket cocked, finger on the trigger, the breach
Tgainst my shoulder aiming at his right side when I
sformed out at him to surrender. He saw at a glance the
situation. There was no time to parley and what he had
to do had to be done quickly. He had his carbine
in his hand with the breach resting on his thigh. He lost
no time in throwing it down and dismounting. He then
unbuckled his belt that had his f^re, cartridge box and a
fine Remington 44 calibre revolver attached. While all

92 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

this was going on I kept my aim on him, giving him no ad-
vantage. I made him hang all those things on his saddle
and march off eight or ten steps, which he did. I croseed
over the fence, mounted his horse and rode him to camp,
keeping the Yankee well in front. Just about the time that
I mounted, the other Yankee that was following fired at
us, and from the noise of the bullet it went wild in the
air. I traveled in a double quick until I arrived at the
bridge when I met another detail going to relieve our squad,
and I never went back to them. I don't know who took
charge of the Yankee, but the quartermaster took charge
of the horse, gun and sabre, allowing me to appropriate the
revolver to my own use, which I did by selling it to Lieut.
H. C. Brainard. That horse stayed with our regiment a
good long time. Captain Gates soon became a field officer
and the quartermaster furnished him this horse to ride.
I don't know how long he kept him, but he could stand
the roar of small arms and the bursting of shells without
flinching. I ascertained that the captured Yankee belong-
ed to the 1st New Jersey Cavalry commanded by Colonel
Joseph Karge, of Bayard's Brigade. Perhaps I may meet
him some time. From some cause the Yankees did not ad-
vance in force, they only advanced their feelers far enough
out where we were and after ascrtaining that fact they fell
back in the direction of Orange Court House. Jackson
was anxious to attack Pope, but felt too weak with only
his and Ewell's Division. He had kept General Lee in-
formed as to his and Pope's strength and his desire to at-
tack and asked General Lee for reinforcements, when Lee
sent Gen. A. P. Hill with his division from Richmond.
There were daily clashes between our cavalry and that of
the Yankees on the Rapid Ann and around Orange Court
House, which generally resulted in favor of our cavalry.
General Hill having arrived with his division Jackson lost
no time in preparing to advance toward Culpepper Court
House where Pope was. On the 7th of August, my 18th
birthday, we broke camp and began to advance. We made
slow progress that day, camping near the Rapid Ann, not
being allowed to make fires in order to conceal our advance
which the enemy could easily see from his signal station on
Clark's Mountain. On the morning of the 8th our advan-
ced cavalry drove in the Yankee pickets, and we began to
advance slowly. Our cavalry pursued the enemy's cavalry
on the dirt road from Barnett's Ford to Culpepper Court

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 93

House, (or near there) and was followed by the Infantry,
our division leading. The Yankee cavalry on this day dis-
played unusual activity and Lawton's Brigade of Georgians
were detailed to guard the wagon train. This kept them
from participating in the battle of the next day, known as
the battle of Cedar Run or Slaughter's Mountain, which I
will tell about in the next chapter.

CHAPTER XXXII

AN OLD VETERAN UNDER "STONEWALL" JACKSON

IN HIS SUMMER CAMPAIGN AGAINST

THE FEDERAL GENERAL, JOHN POPE.

No. 3.

Dear Friend:

The battle of Cedar Run (on Slaughter's Mountain) was
fought on the 9th of August. This was an exceedingly warm
day, and our progress was slow. Late in the afternoon,
arriving in about eight miles of Culpepper Court House, we
found the enemy's cavalry strongly posted near Cedar Run,
a short distance west and north of Slaughter's Mountain.
General Jubal A. Early with his brigade of Virginians, was
the leading brigade of our division, followed closely by
ours, and the Louisiana brigade. As soon as the enemy
were discovered our batteries came to the front, and a few
well directed shots caused them to retire. As soon as their
cavalry retired they threw forward a long line of infantry
skirmishers, followed by heavy reserves. In the meantime
Early had thrown forward his skirmishers, and were fol-
lowing with his brigade as a support. While all this was
being done each side was bringing new batteries into play,
and a regular artillery duel ensued, and at the same time
the enemy was extending his right by throwing large
bodies of infantry in that direction. The battlefield of
Cedar Run was not a level plane, the ground was hilly and
undulating, with an occasional clump of cedar on the small
hills. There was a wheat field with shocks of wheat stand-
ing which gave the Yankee skirmishers some protection for
awhile. Our brigade, the 15th Alabama leading, moved

94 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

off to the right, along and near the base of the mountain,
keeping our movements concealed until we could arrive at
right angles to the enemy's left. In this movement it was
designed by our Brigadier General (Trimble) that after
gaining the enemy's left, the 15th Alabama would swoop
down on him with such suddenness and terror that would
double his left back on his center, and at the same time
with a heavy pressure upon his right by the other troops
would cause him to sing the old song, "Right about boys,
skedaddle." We gained our position and had a splendid
view of the battle, and had a golden opportunity of crush-
ing the enemy's left, but could not do so on account of our
own shells. General Trimble dispatched his couriers to
General Ewell informing him of our condition, but there
was no relaxation in the fire of our guns at that time, the
battle was raging in the center and on our left. The enemy
had succeeded in extending his right so far until he had
flanked the left of Jackson's old division, and bore down
upon them with such a force as to cause confusion in some
of his brigades, but A. P. Hill arrived about this time with
his division, throwing forward three or four of his brigades
against the advancing enemy, which put a check upon their
ardor, which caused them to turn and flee for safety. After
this repulse of the infantry the last effort to retrieve the
fortunes of the day was made by a charge of the Yankee
cavalry upon some of our infantry. This charge upon our
infantry was met with great firmness, and the slaughter
was so terrible as to cause those living to escape the best
they could. The battle never commenced in earnest until
about 5 o'clock, and from then until sundown it raged with
great fury, when about that time the Confederates began
to advance and press the rear of the Yankees on their re-
treat towards Culpepper Court House, where the main
body of Pope's army lay. The firing of our own artillery
that had hindered our advance no longer existing, our
brigade advanced en-echelon of regiments, the front being
covered with skirmishers from the 15th Alabama Regi-
ment. It was growing dark, and the enemy discovering
our advance threw forward a battery, and opened upon us
with canister that wounded three men of our regiment.
Had this battery remained in position five minutes longer
we would have certainly captured it, for our Brigadier Gen-
eral was on his mettle chaffing under disappointment for
not having an opportunity to assault the enemy's left which

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 95

lay so fair before us, while the battle was raging in plain
view in the center and right of the enemy. The battery
limbered up and moved off in the darkness, just in time
to escape notwithstanding our rapid pursuit. Darkness
found us in possession of the ground occupied by the Fed-
eral left, where some abandoned ambulances, wagons and
ammunition fell into our hands which was removed the next
day. The Federal troops that engaged us that day were
commanded by the Federal General N. P. Banks, who bore
the soubriquet in that day and time as being Jackson's
commissary, and it was camp rumor that Jackson was glad
of the opportunity of meeting his old valley adversary with
his wagons well filled with army supplies, and that it did
not take any great amount of parleying between Jackson's
and Banks' men before an agreement would be made that
Jackson's men should have the rations. It was a general
thing, when we tackled Banks we got rations. Here I will
leave General Banks with a routed corps to be mentioned
later on. With the close of this day the battle of Cedar
Run was ended, another victory for "Stonewall" Jackson's
corps was added to the pages of history. Jackson was
anxious to keep right on in pursuit until he reached Cul-
pepper Court House and our brigade through the darkness
led the advance, advancing about one mile it was ascer-
tained by Jackson that McDowell's corps and other troops
had arrived as reinforcements to Banks. He ordered a halt
and we went into camp in the Yankee camp grounds. The
next day the 10th, we took position and remained all day
waiting for an attack, while others were removing the
wounded, collecting the small arms from the battlefield, and
burying the dead. Late that evening we moved somewhat
to the rear and went into camp. The next morning the
enemy sent in a flag of truce asking for a cessation of hos-
tilities until 2 o'clock, that they might bury their dead that
had not been buried by our men. The request was granted,
and the time finally extended until 5 o'clock. We remained
in our position until near night when we returned to our
old camp near Gordonsville, only to remain a few days be-
fore starting on that memorable march, which for rapidity,
boldness and daring, is without a parallel in the war be-
tween the States.

96 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

CHAPTER XXXIII

AN OLD VETERAN UNDER "STONEWALL" JACKSON
IN HIS SUMMER CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE
FEDERAL GENERAL JOHN POPE
No. 4.

Dear Friend:

After the battle of Cedar Run, it was ascertained that
the enemy was being largely reinforced, and Jackson with-
drew his corps and went into camp near Gordonsville,
where he hoped that the Federal General Pope would fol-
low, and attack him in this position. Jackson could have
been reinforced by General Lee from Richmond, who was
watching the movements of McClellan down on the James.
General Lee was not slow in penetrating the design of the
enemy for his movements were such as to insure him that
they had abandoned their design upon Richmond by the
Peninsular route and was breaking camps and transporting
their troops around by Alexandria for the purpose of rein-
forcing Pope at Culpepper Court House. General Lee knew
what was going on among them, and he accordingly began
to draw off his forces to reinforce Jackson, in order that
he might defeat Pope before he could be so heavily rein-
forced from the army of the Potomac. About the 13th of
August General Lee arrived with a sufficiency of forces as
to enable them to attack Pope at once, and he and Jack-
son form.ed their plans to advance. On the 16th the troops
began to move from the vicinity of Gordonsville towards
the Rapid Ann River. Our advance was to the north of
the Orange and Alexandria R. R. in the direction of Cul-
pepper Court House, where Pope's army lay in great force.
General J. E. B. Stuart having arrived from the Peninsular
it was planned that he, with his cavalry, should proceed to
the rear of General Pope, destroy the railroad bridge across
the Rappahannock, and Longstreet and Jackson were to at-
tack his left flank. Orders were issued for this movement
to take place on the 18th, but the necessary preparations
not being completed by that day its execution was post-
poned until the 20th. The Federal General, by some means

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 97

became aware of Lee's designs and hastily retreated across
the Rappahannock. In the advance our corps crossed the
Rapid Ann at Summerville ford, and moved toward Brandy-
Station, on the 0. & A. R. R., halting for the night near
Stephensburg. The day had been hot and sultry, and our
march had been rapid, and we were tired when night came
on. We were anxious to halt and rest, but we had to march
two or three hours after dark, and at last we came to a
large old field where each regiment was marched out to the
left its full length, when we were halted, stacked arms, and
ordered to camp in the rear of our guns, and down we lay
on the ground. Each brigade was closed en-masse by reg-
iments and by that means our division occupied a very
small space. Lawton's brigade of Georgians were close
by in our rear, and it mattered not how tired a fellow was,
there was always some soldier ready to start some mischief
to have fun, and this camp was not an exception to the
rule, for at a late hour when all was still, and asleep, some
fellow in the 31st Georgia began to hollow at the top of his
voice. Wo! Wo! where are you coming? Wo! Stop that
blind horse. Others began to hollow Wo! Wo! exclaiming,
head him! head him! Several rose up, asking "What is
it?" "What is it?" when some one answered it's a blind
horse loose in camp. Stop him! Stop him! The excitement
became so great among them Georgians until some would
imagine that a blind horse was really going to step on
them, and would rise up in such a hurry, often with their
blankets over their heads hollowing Wo ! Wo ! Some of them
became so frightened that they knocked down their guns
where they were stacked, and others at a distance would
hear the guns rattling, would think that the blind horse
was stumbling over them. The noise waked me, and I soon
discovered that it was over among the Georgians, and I lay
still until all the excitement was over, then the laughing
began, but they were not all laughing, it was not so funny
to some of them. Some were cursing and wanted to find
and know the fellow who started it. I saw Ed Roach the
next day, and I asked him what was the matter over in
his camp last night, and he told me all about it, and we
laughed heartily. It rather makes me smile now when I
imagine just how it was. Ha! Ha! At early dawn the
next morning, we were formed in line awaiting orders to
march, but before marching our brigade was closed
en-mass by each regiment being formed in close column of

98 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

division, and our Brigadier sat on his horse in the midst
of us, and there addressing us as his "Lads" informed us
of the hazardous undertaking that lay before us, and what
he expected of us, and what we might expect of him, and
the probable results that might follow. We were no longer
in doubt, and soon orders came to march, and we started
off in the direction of the Rappahannock. On our approach
near the river we were greeted by a shell from the enemy
who occupied a strong position on the opposite side, which
commanded the position on our side, and we began to move
up the river as if searching for a crossing that would turn
the enemy's right. Our artillery and that of the enemy
would keep up a regular duel across the river, while our
infantry unobserved kept moving slowly on up. Each posi-
tion that our corps would take would be occupied by some
of Longstreet's troops as soon as vacated by us, and we
would proceed further on up the river. All the while the
enemy on the other side of the river, would keep pace with
our movements, and would shell us at every point exposed
to their view. This kind of movement was kept up until
the 22nd when it was ascertained that Sigel of the Federal
army, had thrown a brigade across Hazel River (one of the
tributaries of the Rappahannock) to support a force of
cavalry that had been sent over to attack our wagon train.
This movement was well known to Jackson, and he ordered
General Ewell to detach one of his brigades to meet this
force while he moved on up the river with the balance of
his force seeking a place to cross. Our brigade was ordered
to halt to meet this movement, and in the afternoon recon-
noisances were made, and by verbal information their posi-
tion was fully ascertained, and upon the arrival of (general
Hood with his brigade as a support, our Brigadier ordered
us to attack, which we did which was so sudden and furi-
ous, that they fled after the first volley, we pursuing, firing
and yelling, until they came to a small stream; in they
plunged, crawling up the bank on the other side to be shot
in the back and fall backwards in the water. That was fine
sport for this boy then. 'Twas here that we killed their
Brigadier General Bolin. Those that lived hastily sought
protection in Sigel's camp under his guns, and we were not
molested by their dashes any further. As well as I re-
member not a man in my company was hurt, but old Com-
pany "G" surely did hurt the Yanks at this place, as our
opportunity was so fair. The fight being over we with-

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 99

drew leaving the position in the hands of General Hood and
we proceeded on up the river in a hurry to overtake our
division which was some distance ahead. During the 23rd
and 24th there were continual clashes between our batteries
and those of the enemy across the river. The river was so
swollen by the heavy rains which prevented our crossing
at the place first selected, consequently Jackson had to seek
another crossmg. In pursuance of the plan of operations
agreed upon by Lee and Jackson. Jackson was directed to
cross above Waterloo, and move around the right of Pope's
army so as to strike the 0. & A. R. R. in his rear, getting
m between him and Washington City. This was a move-
ment attended with great danger, but in that day and time
there was nothmg too daring for "Stonewall" Jackson with
his foot cavalry to undertake to do, especially when directed
by the masterful mind of R. E. Lee. Longstreet was to
divert his attention, by threatening him in front, and follow
us as soon as we were sufficiently advanced. Our corps
cutting loose from the balance of army crossed at Hinson's
Mill 4 miles above Waterloo, passing through the little vil-
lage called Orleans, camping for the night near Salem after
a long and fatigueing march. The days were hot and sultry
but we had divested ourselves of everything that would be
a hindrance to a rapid movement and with an abiding faith
in our commander, coupled with an unfaultering belief in
the justness of our cause, we felt like we were superior to
anything we had to meet. This was our first day's march
to get in Pope's rear.

CHAPTER XXXIV

AN OLD VETERAN UNDER "STONEWALL" JACKSON

IN HIS SUMMER CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE

FEDERAL GENERAL JOHN POPE

No. 5.

Dear Friend:

After a hard day's march on the 25th we reached the
little village of Salem, about two hours after dark We
passed through the streets as quietly as we could, and went

100 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

into camp on the left of the road, making as little noise as
possible. We stacked our guns and were ordered to rest
in the rear and as near to them as possible, with orders to
be ready to move at a moment's notice. We spread our
gums and blankets and laid down to rest. I had not been
resting but a few moments before I heard our Adjutant tell
our Orderly to detail one man for picket duty, and report
to Lieutenant Brainard, who was detailed to command. I
become uneasy at once, fearing that I was the next man
in order for that kind of duty, and sure enough the Orderly
called my name. I answered and rose up promptly buckled
on my cartridge box, folding and throwing my gum across
my shoulder, and taking my gun from out the stack, I re-
ported promptly to Lieutenant Brainard. There were ten
or twelve others beside myself for that duty. In a few
minutes when all had reported we marched off very quietly
up a public road conducted by one of Stuart's cavalry offi-
cers. When we halted he told Lieutenant Brainard that
that was one of the main roads that led to Washington
City, and that the enemy's scouts had been seen in that
direction that evening, and he need not be surprised if he
were attacked before day, and keep his men wide awake,
and not be surprised. On hearing that, it had the effect to
drive away all desire to sleep. I was jumped up, and had
forgotten all about being tired from the long hot day's
march, and I was about as watchful as any of the others.
Two men were put on post at the time, alternating every
two hours. It came my time from two to four, but before
I had served out my time, two of our cavalrymen came out
to us with orders to Lieutenant Brainard to call in his
Videtts, and go to his command, the cavalrymen took our
places. We soon reached camp and our command was all
hustle and bustle, getting in line making preparations to
move. Our squad was disbanded, and each one of us or-
dered to report to our respective commands. With the first
streaks of the dawn of day, orders were received to march,
Swell's division leading the corps, and the Louisiana
Brigade, followed closedly by ours, leading the division.
After leaving Salem that morning we diverged to the right
crossing Bull Run Mountain at Thoroughfare Gap. Our
passage was undisputed and we made rapid progress that
evening, passing many beautiful homes that had been made
desolate by the execution of General Pope's infamous orders
that he issued to his army when he took command at Cul-

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 101

pepper Court House, the substance of which has already
been referred to. This day's march completely turned the
right of Pope's army, and he was so stupefied that he was
not aware of the fact until the middle of the afteroon, when
he hastily about faced and after committing several blun-
ders in the issuance of antagonistic and peremptory orders
to some of his corps commanders, he began to try to ex-
tricate himself from his perilous position by a retrograde
movement toward Washington City. 'Twas late in the af-
ternoon that we passed through the little village of Gaines-
ville, where Jackson was met by General Stuart, who had
by another route made a rapid march with some of his cav-
alry to overtake us. He guarded Jackson's right flank that
evening, and with a part of his cavalry guarded our rear
that night. The day had been warm, and sultry, the roads
dry and dusty, and the mixing of that dry dust with perspi-
ration caused a very unfavorable comment on our appear-
ance by a lady in Maryland a few days after that, which
I will refer to later on. It seemed as the sun turned, and
was lowering himself toward the western horizon — our
pace was quickened, sometimes double quick and sometimes
in a run to keep up. About sunset we came to a little
creek ; there was no bridge nor no way to cross in a hurry
but to wade. Our Brigadier sat on his horse near by and
in his good kind way spoke words of encouragement, call-
ing us his "lads" and telling us to hurry, "wade right
through, my lads," there is an important job for you just
ahead. We were now nearing Bristoe Station on the O, &
A. R. R. We were now clearly in the rear of Pope and on
his line of communication with his capital. Presently we
heard the whistle of an approaching train coming from
Warrenton Junction down where Pope's headquarters had
been that day. The Louisiana Brigade that had been lead-
ing that day formed line parallel with the railroad track
and gave her a broadside as she passed, while that was
going on we were rapidly approaching but arrived too late
to fire on the first train. Some of our cavalry had pre-
ceded the Louisianians and had charged upon the depot,
capturing nearly all the Yankees that were around the
place. They also cut the wire which completely severed
the communication between General Pope and his Capital.
When my brigade arrived the command, "On the right by
file into line," was given, and we were ready for the ne3d;
train. Myself, T. M. Renfroe and others tore up a rail

102 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

on an embankment that was about four feet high, and just
about the time wet got it torn up we heard another train
coming from below, regardless of anything, not dreaming
of what was in waiting for them at the depot. As soon as
the engine became opposite the right of the Louisianians
the firing began; the whole brigade gave her a broadside
in passing. Our regiment was formed on the left of the
Louisianians and as soon as she got opposite our right we
peppered her side until she reached the place where the rail
had been torn up, when the engine leaped headlong from
the tracks burying the pilot, and front trucks in
the ground clear up to the head of the boiler.
The engineer and fireman were killed. Several Yankees
were on the train wounded. Some few escaped in the dark-
ness on the other side. Listen! There comes another
train. See! There is her headlight, don't fire on her, for
she will be compelled to stop. Sure enough she run with
full speed into the rear of the train which had just pre-
ceded her, and such a piling up of freight boxes I had never
seen before and don't want to see again, but it was fun for
me then, it was war, and that was what I was so crazy to
leave home for. The other trains from below took the hint
and didn't venture, but were destroyed the next day to
prevent capture. There was a wounded Yankee officer
brought off the train and laid on a blanket by a fire, and
he was greatly astonished when he learned that it was
Jackson's troops on the ground. He wanted to see Jackson
and in a short time Jackson came walking along and Capt.
Gates pointed him out. The Yankee expressed surprise at
his appearance. By the time all this was over it was grow-
ing late. Manassas Junction with her immense amount of
supplies was only four miles away, and its capture was
one of the grand features of the expedition, and our Briga-
dier volunteered his services for that job. All those that
are living, that were on that march that day, will never
forget the closing scenes of that night around Bristoe Sta-
tion. But what about tomorrow? See next chapter.

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 103

CHAPTER XXXV

AN OLD VETERAN UNDER "STONEWALL" JACKSON

IN HIS SUMMER CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE

FEDERAL GENERAL, JOHN POPE.

No. 6.

Dear Friend:

After the capture of Bristoe Station and the wreck of the
trains, there was a calm, and General Trimble, who had vol-
unteered to capture Manassas, proceeded up the railroad
quietly through the darkness to execute the desire of the
Commanding General, taking only two regiments of his
brigade, the 21st Georgia and the 21st North Carolina,
leaving the 15th Alabama at the station with orders to clear
the track of the wrecked cars. The officer in charge
de-affairs, on examination reported it to be impossible for
us to clear the track of the wreckage with the means at
hand, and consequently the project was abandoned, and
there was nothing for us to do but to either go on to
Manassas or remain there the balance of the night. I was
anxious for the latter, for I was almost exhausted, for the
want of sleep and rest. In a short while we were ordered
out to the rear a short distance, and break ranks and rest,
but be ready to move at a moment's notice. We threw
ourselves upon the ground, and in a few moments we had
passed into dreamland perfectly unconscious, and indiffer-
ent as to what was going on at Manassas or what might take
place on tomorrow. It was about 12 at night and a little
sleep was what I needed. The long day's march of the 25th,
the loss of sleep at Salem, and the long hot day's march to
Bristoe Station the next day, coupled with the excitement,
and fatigue around the station, began to have its effect on
my power of endurance, but all this was known only to
myself. I was in perfect health, had plenty of rations and
ammunition, two commodities that no soldier likes to be
without, especially the latter for by its proper use we could
get all the rations we wanted. "Uncle Sam" had been very
liberal in furnishing these commodities of war, but not
without displaying some displeasure, and would offer re-

104 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

sistance to such an extent that some of the "Boys in Blue"
and some in "Grey" would get bit by the same kind of
snake, and after a spirited controversy, the "Boys in Blue"
would say, "Take them, your government is poor, ours is
rich, and we can get plenty more." There was an im-
mense quantity of these things stored at Manassas that
General Jackson wanted, and he had sent General Trimble
to capture them. We rested undisturbed until early dawn
of the morning of the 27th, when our Orderly came around
waking us up, saying get into ranks, we have orders to
move. We formed promptly, and were not long kept wait-
ing for orders to move. When orders did come we marched
toward Manassas, and we soon learned that General Trim-
ble had captured the place and that he wanted us to go to
his assistance at once to aid him in holding the place,
should he be attacked by superior numbers which was then
threatening him from the direction of Washington City.
We were followed by the 12th Georgia, which had the
night before been transferred to our brigade. We arrived
at Manassas about sunrise. General Trimble met us and
put us in position to resist an attack. It was not long be-
fore details were made from each company to get bacon
and crackers, coffee, sugar, rice and everything else in the
way of rations that a soldier needed, for they were there
in great abundance. Poor Yanks, we were then feasting
on what "Uncle Sam" had intended for them, but that was
one of "Stonewall" Jackson's ways. Each man was sup-
plied with just as much as he could carry. Marches had
been so continuous, bacon and crackers so plentiful that
we had quit cooking, and had broken up the "Mess" plan
and had paired offlin two's and three's. I had formed a
partnership with Barnett Cody and in supplying myself
with rations it became necessary that I should have some
way to carry my turn. I was not long in devising the
means. I procured a good Yankee knapsack and put a
25 pound side of bacon in one side, and Barnett seized on
to another knapsack and put in about 20 pounds crackers,
besides these we had as much coffee and sugar as we
wanted. We didn't take any rice or beans, for we had no
time to cook. The other boys, in fact all that wanted to,
supplied themselves the same as we did, as there was noth-
ing short in the quantity, and all had an equal showing.
There was an immense amount of government stores of
every description. Long trains were switched off on the

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 105

side tracks that contained clothing for Pope's army, all of
which went up in smoke upon our evacuation. General
Jackson arrived upon the ground shortly after we did, and
I saw him when he met General Trimble. He extended his
hand and congratulated him for his success. The sun was
about one hour high when the Federal General Taylor was
discovered with his New Jersey Brigade advancing to re-
capture Manassas. He was just from Washington, and
had disembarked from the cars just across Bull Run, about
three miles away. He was perfectly ignorant as to the
force he was advancing to attack, and came gallantly on
until in range of the artillery in the forts which had been
turned and were now manned by our men. They opened
upon him with such deadly effect and at the same time he
was attacked by some of our infantry, together with some
of Stuart's cavalry that they become panic stricken and
demoralized, and their retreat became a complete rout and
a great many of them were killed or captured. General
Taylor himself was mortally wounded, and Jackson said
of him in his report of this affair, that this advance was
made with great spirit and determination, and under a
leader worthy of a better cause. On the arrival of General
Hill's division they, too, supplied themselves with all they
could carry. General Ewell with three brigades of our
division had been left at Bristoe Station to watch and re-
tard the progress of the enemy who were fast approaching
in great numbers to "bag Jackson and the whole crowd,"
for such was one of the boastful orders of General Pope to
General Kearney. In the afternoon General Hooker of
Pope's army arrived with his division, and lost no time in
forming and attacking Ewell's division, but failed to drive
him from his position. Ewell held him in check, until Jack-
son could ration all his men, that were present, and load
all of his available wagons, and appropriate to our use
everything that we could carry, after all this being done
preparations were made to destroy the balance. When all
this was accomplished, Jackson ordered Ewell to withdraw
with his three brigades and come on to Manassas, which
he did while under fire, without being pursued. When they
arrived at Manassas, they helped themselves to everything
they wanted. We joined the division. Our brigade was
sent in pursuit of the fleeing New Jersey men as far as
Centerville, when we were recalled, and camped some-
where between Manassas and Centerville. The next mom-

106 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

ing our division struck out for Centerville passing our old
winter quarters abandoned in March, crossing Bull Run at
Mitchell's Ford. We halted near Centerville and remained
there till in the afternoon. I don't know what route the
other two divisions of Jackson's corps were marching. I
only remember that when we left this place we took the
Warrenton Pike re-crossing Bull Run at the Stone Bridge.
I felt all right then, and was at my best; was good rested
and had lost my desire for sleep. The sun was lowering
behind the Western horizon, and our march had become
so spirited that we were not mistaken in guessing that
something was going to happen in front, and our presence
was necessary. Boom went a cannon, followed in quick suc-
cession by others. What did it mean? It was in our front,
between us and Longstreet, but where was Longstreet?
He was left on the Rappahannock on the 25th and was to
follow us as soon as we had advanced far enough to keep
out of his way. It was the guns of Longstreet trying to
force his passage at Thoroughfare Gap. General Ricketts
of the Federal army had been sent there with his division
to guard the Gap, but Longstreet outflanked him and came
on. The fact was that our march had been such and was
made with such rapidity that we were in a perilous posi-
tion, but this was only known by the general officers. The
march had been such as to place Pope's army between us
and Longstreet, and we were between Pope and Alexandria
only 20 miles away, where McClellan was landing his
forces to reinforce Pope. He had already sent him two of
his corps which augmented Pope's force to about sixty-five
or seventy thousand men, but "Jackson and his whole
crowd" were not to be "bagged" by Pope. Jackson's old
division commanded by Brigadier Taliaferro, unbeknowing
to me, was in the advance, and had met the enemy's ad-
vance in the road near a small place called Groveton. Talia-
ferro left the main pike turning to his right when Jack-
son, who was watching everything, saw a favorable oppor-
tunity to attack and proceeded to do so with Talioferro's
division. It was growing dark and our division was hur-
ried forward as reinforcements. Our brigade was imme-
diately deployed and thrown into action, and notwith-
standing the darkness of the night it was the most san-
guinary engagement for the length of time my company was
in during the war.

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 107

CHAPTER XXXVI

AN OLD VETERAN UNDER "STONEWALL" JACKSON

IN HIS SUMMER CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE

FEDERAL GENERAL, JOHN POPE.

No. 7.

Dear Friend:

The fight that occurred that night was very obstinate by
the enemy, not lasting more than an hour. The position
of the left wing of the 15th Alabama was in a thick clump
of bushes, covering a space not exceeding four acres and
was very rocky. Our march, in line of battle which was
preceeded by a line of skirmishers, led through this clump
of rocky woods until we reached an old dilapidated fence
that skirted it on the opposite side. Our skirmishers had
halted at the fence and were firing on the enemy, which
were only a short distance in front. The space in front
was clear, but the night was so dark that the ''Boys in
Blue" could not be seen or located only by the flash of their
guns. The command of their officers could be distictly
heard. Our officers were giving orders pretty loud, and I
guess the Yankees heard them. They must have heard
General Trimble for it seemed to me that he could have
been herd a mile away when he commanded "Forward,
guide center." I have never heard as loud command before
nor since. The enemy in our front proved to be the 2nd
Wisconsin, Gibbon's Brigade, King's Division. I have seen
somewhere that it was styled the Iron Brigade. Although
dark, they had our range as well as we had theirs. We
could locate each other by the flash of our guns. Their po-
sition was out in the open, ours behind the old fence refer-
red to. We were not over fifty yards apart, and our casu-
alties were heavy considering the time engaged, but there
was no comparison in losses between our command and
that of the Yankees. During the engagement word came
from somewhere to cease firing, that we were firing on our
own men. This order was repeated to our company by
1st Lieut. C. V. Morris, of our company. I remember dis-
tinctly telling him that they were not our men for I could

108 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

see the brass buttons on their coats by the flash of their
guns, and they were certain to be Yankees to be firing on
us, and if they were not I had killed some of our best men.
Lieutenant Morris made a personal examination for himself
when he became convinced and ordered us load and fire,
which we did until they ceased firing on us and withdrew.
The fire from the Yankees was rapid and heavy. They
literally tore the old rotten fence into fragments; a rail
was no hindrance to one of their 56 calibre bullets shot from
an Austrian rifle. Here, in a very short time, my company
lost five good men killed, to-wit: T. M. Barnes (Mats),
Jones Hickman, Calvin Kirkland, Lot McMath and Alonzo
Watson, and several wounded, some severely. There might
have been others killed, but I don't remember, as I am only
writing from memory. My position in line at this fence
was in the immediate rear of Alonzo Watson. We were
both on our knees, he firing through a crack, and I firing
over the top of the fence. I stood as high on my knees as
possible in order to rest my gun on the top rail, my left el-
bow was at one time resting on his shoulder when all at
once I heard a "thud" and felt a ja rand poor 'Lonzo began
to relax and sink, exclaiming in a low tone, "Oh Lordy, I
am a dead man." These were his last words, life soon be-
came extinct, but I didn't move but kept loading and firing
until the fight was over. We moved our position a little
to the rear and rested for the night. Our dead and wound-
ed were all moved during the night, the dead buried and the
wounded carried to the hospital in the rear. I well remem-
ber the brightness of the sun the next morning as he
came up from the East, casting his rays of light over wood
and dale, and over the bivouacs of the contending armies.
We built small fires and made coffee, and made our break-
fast off bacon and crackers, for they were plentiful. There
was no breeze to scatter the smoke, and it went straight up
through the branches of the small trees. This smoke lo-
cated our position to the enemy, and presently here come a
shell crashing through the bushes. I heard it strike the
bushes, and looking in that direction I saw it coming toward
liS smoking, as if it were about to explode. It had hit the
ground before it reached the bushes and had partly spent
it's force and was coming slow, and could easily be seen.
Others saw it and several yelled "look out," and every one
of us fell flat to the ground. As it happened every one of
us fell out of its range, and when it struck the ground it

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 109

exploded, scattering its fragments in every direction above
us, and no one was killed, only one man in my company be-
ing hurt. Mose Maybin, his legs being slightly bruised,
caused by fragments of rocks that were scattered around
when the shell exploded, though it did not disable him from
duty. There were a half-dozen or more cups of coffee sit-
ting on the little fire, and the shell exploded so near that
it scattered the coffee in every direction, and we missed that
for breakfast. It damaged my old musket to such an ex-
tent that it was unfit for use, a thing that I did not regret,
for I had been wanting to get rid of it for some time and
was determined to do so if I could get hold of a good rifle,
and my captain did not object. On several occasions I had
felt that I was overmatched by the Yankees in the way of
arms and ammunition, and I was anxious for a change.
After the explosion of the shell the fires were all extin-
guished, and the shelling ceased in that immediate locality,
but some desultory cannonading and sharp-shooting was
going on to the left of our position. Before leaving this
place I obtained permission to go out in front of where we
had fought the night before, which was but a short dis-
tance. When I reached the Yankees position I saw the ef-
fects of our fire upon them. The 2nd Wisconsin was in the
immediate front of the 15th Alabama and their line of bat-
tle could be easily traced by the dead and wounded that
lay upon the ground. They were commanded by Colonel
O'Connor, who fell mortally wounded in this engagement.
I felt confident that I saw him that night on his horse
among his men, I shot at him once, but don't know the ef-
fect. As I have already said, they were armed with Aus-
trian rfles, carrying a 56 calibre minnie ball, I now availed
myself of the opportunity sought of changing guns, and
I picked up the best looking rifle I could find, and supplied
myself with a bountiful supply of ammunition to suit. When
I returned to my company, Captain Oates made no objection
to my gun and was very anxious, and had made repeated
efforts to have his company armed with rifles. As the sun
rose to two or three hours high the booming of cannon and
the cracking of small arms began to increase. Staff of-
ficers and couriers were dashing around, which was a pret-
ty sure sign that something was going to happen. We were
soon formed and moved bv the left flank. General Ewell

110 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

had been seriously wounded the night before and General
Lawton was commanding the division. He formed the di-
vision in line of battle on a ridge paralel to an unfinished
railroad, which ran through that section. The movements
of the enemy had caused Jackson to change his line some-
what, and so as to form it on, and paralel of this old un-
finished railroad which was an admirable position for de-
fense. In conforming to this new position our brigade was
hurriedly moved to the left, moving along the line of the old
railroad. Sometimes we would be protected by being in a
cut, and at other places we would be shelled and shot at
with small arms like all fury, until we would pass the ex-
posed points. In passing these exposed points is what I
term passing the fiery ordeal, in fact, and at one place I hes-
itated and stopped in a cut, preferring to wait until the fire
slackened in front. Sam Gardner, of Co. "I" stopped with
me, and we remained together until the regiment passed
and the firing had ceased. We consulted together as to
which one of us should make the break, for we knew that
on our first appearance a shower of balls would be sent at
us. I finally consented to make the break first, and we
eased along to the starting point unobserved, when I "duck-
ed," with gun in one hand and hat in the other, I ran the
gauntlet. It seemed from the volley that a whole company
might have fired at me, but they missed their mark and I
was soon under cover. I stopped and looked back at Sam
and laughed at him and told him to come through ; he hesi-
tated, and I finally told him that I could not wait any longer
and hurried on to my command which had halted not far
away and was formed behind the embankment waiting and
expecting an attack, as the skirmishers in front were hotly
engaged and the Yanks reported to be advancing in heavy
force. About 3 :30 P. M. they assaulted A. P. Hill's Divis-
ion on the extreme left wing with a heavy force, but was
repulsed.

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 111

CHAPTER XXXVII

AN OLD VETERAN UNDER "STONEWALL" JACKSON
IN HIS SUMMER CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE
FEDERAL GENERAL JOHN POPE
NO. 8.

Dear Friend :

The heavy assaults th?.t vcre being made on A, P. Hill's
Division, who occupied the left of Jackson's Corps were met
by his troops with great courage and obstinacy, and each
assault was repulsed with great slaughter. In order that
the reader may comprehend and understand the positions
of our troops at this time I will say that A. P. Hill was on
the left, Ewell in the center and Jackson's old division on
the right. Now you have our position. The line of battle
was along an unfinished railroad, each division, of course,
had its own reserves. It seemed to be the full determina-
tion of the enemy to crush Jackson before Longstreet could
arrive, but at this time while all those heavy assaults were
being made on Jackson, Longstreet's troops that had forc-
ed their way through Thoroughfare Gap, the evening be-
fore, were in hearing and coming with quick step to succor
their overtasked comrades. There were but two brigades
of Ewell's Division, our's and Lawton's, that were on the
front line at this time, the other two, Early's Virginians
and Taylor's Louisianians were in the rear as our reserves,
to be put in when necessity demanded. The heavy assaults
made upon A. P. Hill having failed, the enemy doubled his
forces and attacked our position with great determination
and vigor. Our skirmishers in front that had been so hotly
engaged all the P. M. finally yielded to overwhelming num-
bers and com.e running in, closely followed by a line of bat-
tle. They came hurrahing and huzzahing as if they thought
that would cause a panic among us, and that we would ran.
We were true and tried veterans of Jackson's Corp, and no
such racket as that could run us away. Our position was
a good one for defense, and we were determined not to yield
it unless the officers so ordered. Here came their first line,
and when in range we give them a volley, they halted and

112 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

lay down flat upon the ground. On came the second line
until they reached the first and they halted. The third line
came hurrahing until they reached the others that had pre-
ceeded them, and they halted. Our fire was so fast and
accurate that they could not be made to advance any nearer
and the fire was so fatal that it caused them to become one
intermineable mass of humanity, and the efforts of their
officers to get them to advance had no effect and they would
do nothing but retreat. But they did not lose hope nor
cease their effort to break our line. They would form with
fresh troops and advance again and attack with great de-
termination to break our line, but we were not to be bro-
ken. With all their hurrahing and great display of bravery
we were not the boys to be run away from that position.
Attocks of this character upon Jackson's line continued 'till
dark, each attack being repulsed with great loss to the ene-
my, l3ut while these attacks were being made upon Jackson
late in the P. M., the advance division of Longstreet's
Corps, commanded by General Hood, arrived on the right
and rear of Jackson, near Gainsville, where they were met
by General Stuart, who put them in posession of all the
facts regarding the positions, and conditions of things gen-
erally, when Hood with his division followed by others,
filed to the right to meet a demonstration then being made
by the enemy on Jackson's right. Hood was not long in
finding the enemy, and with his accustomed vigor proceeded
to attack at once. The attack was made by the gallant
Texans, assisted by troops just as brave from Southern
States. The attack by these troops was of such spirit and
determination that the Yankees gave way at every point,
and darkness put a stop to this conflict for this day, August
29th. The arrival of Longstreet was being anxiously looked
for by us, and it did not arrive a whit too soon, for the
heavy and incessant attacks that had been made on us had
been so frequent, and with heavy odds against us that I
could not help but feel a little uneasy for fear he would
break our line somewhere ; but after each assault the "Rebel
Yell" could be heard which was animating and was always
accepted as a signal of victory and tended to restore confi-
dence. The news of Longstreet's arrival was published
along the line, and was greeted by the "Rebel Yell," which
was heard by the defeated Yankees. I don't remember
that my company lost a single man in this whole day's
fighting; we were well protected by being behind an old

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 113

railroad embankment, and there was no part of us exposed
except our heads, although my memory may be at fault,
some one might have been wounded or killed, and have es-
caped my memory, not impossible. Night coming on, the
battle ceased, we remained in our position, resting on our
arms during the night amid the dead and wounded of the
enemy who lay in heaps a few paces in front, the wounded
most piteously calling for help, but conditions were such
that none could be rendered by either side. An awful
night it was, never to be forgotten by me, and I do hope,
dear reader, that you may never have such an experience
as I had that night. Americans against Americans.

CHAPTER XXXVIII

AN OLD VETERAN UNDER "STONEWALL" JACKSON
IN HIS SUMMER CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE

FEDERAL GENERAL JOHN POPE ]

NO. 9.

Dear Friend :

The battle on the 29th of August on the plains of Manas-
sas was not a decisive one, but was yet to take place. The
Federal general was quick to boast, and unscrupulous in
his dispatches ; he had already telegraphed General Halleck,
the commander-in-chief at Washington, that he had won a
great victory, and was master of the situation, when in fact
he had not gained a foot of ground, and all his heavy as-
saults upon our line had been repulsed with heavy loss.
After each assault and repulse of the enemy they would be
followed by our skirmishers until they would halt to re-
form. Our skirmishers would engage their skirmishers
when they attempted to advance. When the night came on
the enemy ceased his attacks and went to making prepara-
tions for a renewal of the battle the next day, the 30th.
Our skirmishers had followed them so closely that when
they halted the commands of their officers could be dis-
tinctly heard and understood, which left no doubt of a cer-
tainty that they intended to renew the battle at early dawn.
They had heavy reserves that had not yet been engaged,

114 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

and it was those troops that they were putting in position
to assault us at dawn. All these things that were taking
place in front were made known to our officers and they
made all preparations that was necessary to be in readiness
to meet them in the morning. Such as rectifying our line,
and having us furnished with a bountiful supply of ammu-
nition. There was not to be anything short about that,
every man to his place, and when the enemy came he was
to keep cool, load, take good aim and fire. I considered at
this time that an inexaustible supply of ammunition was
one of the first necessities, and rations the second ; for with
plenty of ammunition and it accurately expended, I could
get rations, when upon the other hand, without ammunition
I would have to run and devour what rations I had on a
retreat. See? I still held on to my Austrian rifle and re-
plenished my shortage in ammunition out of the cartridge
boxes of the dead Yankees that used calibre 56. By 11
o'clock all preparations for the m^orrow was made, and it
was comparatively quiet along the main line, but in front
on the picket line a desultory fire between the pickets was
kept up all night, firing at the flash of each others guns.
There was a sentry kept on watch on the embankment of
the railroad for the purpose of giving the alarm should a
sudden attack be made on our skirmishers in front, but
none occurred. When we received orders to rest, we spread
our "gums" or blanket on the ground and laid down, and
there in silence I remember to have breathed a silent
prayer, rendering thanks to God for his protecting care
over me during the day just closed, and asking a continu-
ance of same tomorrow. I was tired and weary and it was
some time before I could go to sleep. I was disturbed by
the cries of the wounded "Boys in Blue" who lay just over
the embankment in front. As I lay "ruminating" over
their condition I could not help but have sympathy for
them in their unfortunate condition, I drew, in my imagi-
nation a picture of my self in their condition, far from
home, no one but an enemy to look to for help. They had
obeyed the commands of their offcers, and had fought us
bravely and had met their fate like men, just as we would
have done had we been in their places. As the morning of
the 30th broke we were quietly aroused from our slumber
and got under arms. Some of the boys made small fires
and went to making coffee, and our breakfast was of bacon,
crackers and coffee. As the light from the East lifted her

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 115

mantle over the field it was discovered that the skirmishers
were from one to two hundred yards apart, and the firing
began in earnest. The cannonading along the whole line
commenced, which betokened the approaching contest. Our
whole corps maintained its line of the previous day, and
Longstreet, also far to the right held his position of the
evening before. Another one of Longstreet's Divisions ar-
rived that morning and was held in reserve. About 8
o'clock A. M. our orderly was called on for a detail of one
man to go to the front and relieve the skirmishers who
had been out since the evening before. It was not my
time to go on skirm.ish, but being armed with a rifle, and
the orderly knowing that I preferred that kind of fighting
to any other, did not hesitate to detail me, and I did not
hesitate to go. There were similar details made from each
company, and we were deployed in front of the railroad
embankment, and advanced to the positions of our skirm-
ishers. They were hotly engaged and it was a dangerous
undertaking to reach them and equally as dangerous for
our skirmishers to withdraw. On our arrival at the proper
place, I took position behind a tree and began to put in
some good shots with my Austrian. It would pop like a
small cannon and was a subject of remark by my captain
which I will refer to later on. The "Boys in Blue" lay flat
upon the ground content with holding their position and
keeping us employed. For a good part of the day the
action was fought with artillery. Our artillery was admir-
ably posted in our rear, and having obtained an accurate
range of their heavy masses of infantry, their fire was the
most destructive of any previous engagement during the
war. An advance of their infantry was momentarily ex-
pected, for they were in plain view in our front, and their
movements could be seen which had every appearance that
an advance was soon to be made in heavy force. The
Federal General Pope had at last succeeded, after many
blunders, to organize his forces by putting Heintzleman's
Corps on his extreme right, and McDowell's on the left,
while the corps of Porter and Sigel with Reno's Division
was to occupy the center. About 3 P. M. he had complet-
ed his formation and a general advance was sounded. Boys !
look out, they are now coming! The bugler in our front
sounded, first, attention, then the advance, which they did
in rapid style. Their position was in an open field, our's in
the woods and behind trees, and I tell you, reader, when

116 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

they came within easy range we dotted the ground with
them, but others were sent to fill their places, until their
skirmish line became to be a solid line of battle closely fol-
lowed at a run by other lines. No amount of killing and
wounding we could do would check them. The grand and
desperate assault was on, and they seemed determined.
We had to retreat; they didn't give us time to fire in re-
treat, but come on rapidly, firing volleys into the woods
and huzzahing all the time. But stop! Somebody is not
far away and is hearing all this, waiting and ready to give
them a warm reception. When I reached the embankment
I just naturally fell over among our men and about faced.
"Look out boys, they are coming, lots of 'em." The boys
were ready, but by some cause unknown to me they failed
to attack all the front of the 15th Alabama, but seemed to
have divided, a part obliqueing to the left and a part to the
right. That which went to the left could not be seen, but
on the right they were in an old field in plain view, and
the whole of the 15th Alabama got in some deadly work at
a right oblipue. They just simply jammed up against the
embankment, opposite the right of the 15th Alabama and
one of the Louisiana regiments. They were so thick that
it was impossible to miss them. Cicero Kirkland, of my
company, who is living today, in his enthusiasm and reck-
less bravery, mounted on top of our breast-work and poured
buck and ball into them as fast as some of the boys could
load and hand him a musket. I expected to see him shot
down every second. The Louisianians ceased firing and
threw cobble stones over the embankment at them. I saw
them going over lighting upon the heads of the Yankees
just as thick as I ever saw corn go into a pen at an old time
"corn shucking," It was more like that than anything
that I can compare it to. Doubtless you may not know
what an old time "corn shucking" is as the Southern farm-
ers have long since abandoned the practice. Ask an old
time darky, he will tell you all about one. But to return,
they advanced and attacked our line in closed column of
division, (an old soldier knows how thick that made them)
and they were in plain view of Colonel, now General, S. D.
Lee, who at that time was in command of about twenty-
four pieces of artillery which was posted on a cannonad-
ing hill in our rear, where he could play upon them from
start to finish, or until they would get near enough for the
small arms, and it would be dangerous to fire over our

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 117

heads. What a slaughter! what a slaughter of men that
was. At first bomb-shells, sharpnel shells, then grape-
shot, and as they came nearer canister was poured at them
which mowed them down, but still those that lived would
close the ranks and press forward. I don't remember just
how many stands of Stars and Stripes I saw in this mass
of troops. They would go down often to be raised again
by some one else. The pressure was so heavy that I saw
the 13th Virginia coming in a run to reinforce this part
of the line. When they reached the embankment they
never halted, but crossed over right in the midst of the
"Boys in Blue." This was a sublime spectacle to gave upon.
The Virginians and New Yorkers engaged in a deadly
strife contending for the mastery of the situation. I saw
Virginia's colors dip several times at the Stars and Stripes.
I could plainly see the motto of Virginia, Sic Semper Ty-
rannis that was inscribed upon their flag, and no one knows
but myself the feeling it created in me, to see these colors
so close together dipping at each other, and the men falling
around them. The Virginians were assisted by Louisian-
ians and Alabamians, and it was not long before a general
stampede among the Yankees took place, and some few that
lived escaped, but the slaughter among them had been great.
This attack was made by some of the best troops in Pope's
army. Porter's Corps. While these attacks were being
made on Jackson, Longstreet's troops on the right were
crowding them upon their center, and upon the general
giving away of the enemy in front, Jackson ordered his
whole line forward, driving the enemy before us. Long-
street about this time, anticipating an order from Gen. Lee
for a general advance, threw forward his whole command
against the Federal left and center, and swept grandly on,
putting the enemy to rout from each stand made by them,
causing another stampede in their efforts to cross Bull Run
at the memorable Stone Bridge. Longstreet's forces en-
gaged the enemy on a part of the old battle-field of 1st
Manassas. Our advance was slow and cautious. We con-
tiuned the advance about one mile, meeting with no resist-
ance. It was dark, the pitiful cries for help from the
wounded "Boys in Blue" far to the right could be heard,
but there was no time nor opportunity to render assistance.
We were halted, stacked arms and lay down in the rear of
them to rest for the night, August the 30th, the balance I
will tell in the next chapter.

118 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

CHAPTER XXXIX

AN OLD VETERAN UNDER "STONEWALL" JACKSON
IN HIS SUMMER CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE
FEDERAL GENERAL JOHN POPE
NO. 10.

Dear Friend :

In reflecting over the latter clause of the last chapter, my
mind wandered back to the scenes of this particular time
and place, and there are a few things that I remember that
came under my observation that I wish to tell before I pass
from the events of the 30th, to that of the 31st, and I will
begin by saying that the last attack that the enemy made
upon our position was with such numbers and with such
a determination to crush us, that the pressure become so
great as to cause Jackson to ask Longstreet for reinforce-
ments, but Longstreet in speaking of this affair afterwards
said, "That from an eminence near by the masses that were
attacking Jackson were in plain view and within easy range
of batteries in that position and that it gave him an ad-
vantage that he did not expect, and he made haste to use it
by ordering up several batteries and began to enfilade their
line, which proved to be so destructive that it was evident
that the attack upon Jackson could not be continued ten
minutes longer, and he made no movements with his troops
toward reinforcing Jackson." This may not be verbatim
et literatim, but is the substance of his report of this affair.
The "Boys in Blue" had made heroic efforts to crush us and
break our line by increasing their strength to five, yea
ten to one, but we "Boys in Gray" were fully determined in
the defense of our position, it mattered not what numbers
were brought against us. The boys in blue could not stand
the resistance they met in the front from the small arms
and the enfilade fire from the artillery into their left
flank, throwing grape-shot, cannister-shot, solid shot and
bursting bomb-shells of every description, dealing death
at every step, producing scenes of carnage that was hor-
rible to behold. This was the last attack made on our line
on the evening of the 30th, and as I said in the last chapter.

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 119

a general stampede followed and a few of the living es-
caped I mean to say, that this was the conditions of
things in our immediate front, for it looked to me from the
heaps of dead and wounded that lay on the ground that
there were but few that escaped. After this repulse the
small arms in our front ceased, but our artillery m the
rear played upon the retreating fugitives with deadly ef-
fect until they went entirely out of sight and range, when
their artillery began to reply, though feebly. In a few
minutes after this repulse we heard a great yelling on our
left down among the troops of A. P. Hill's Division. All
eyes were turned in that direction and was anxious to
know the cause. The yelling came nearer and nearer until
it struck the left of our division, and at last around the
curve of the old R. R. a man on a horse was seen coming
in a slow gallop, with head bare and a cap in his hand m
acknowledgement of the cheers that were being given, and
as he approched some one recognized him and shouted
that's "Stonewall" Jackson and we went wild with ^-
thusiasm, throwing our hats in the air and giving the
"Rebel Yell" at the top of our voices. He came on top the
railroad embankment mounted on "Old Sorrel" in a slow
gallop, followed by one courier. He was dressed m an
old dusty, dingy, faded gray uniform with the legs of his
pants stuffed in the legs of a coarse pair of boots. Three
faded stars and a wreath that he wore upon the collar of
his coat was the only mark that distinguished his great-
ness. He did not go far before he halted, and with raised
cap in hand, he hollowed out at the top of his voice "At-
tention." All was ready in a moment, when he in a sharp
shrill voice commanded "forward," and at the word we
dashed over the embankment and moved on slowly and cau-
tiously. Our advance lay through a piece of woods about
one hundred yards wide, when we came to a large open
field. The firing on the right over on the Warrenton Turn-
pike was of the heaviest character. This was Longstreet's
forces driving the left wing of the enemy on to his center.
They swept the enemy before them from each successive
position. It was the most sublime and thrilling scene that
my eye had ever beheld. As far to the right as the eye
could range the Southern Cross could be seen fluttering m
the breeze and the bayonets glittering in the sun when they
would emerge from a scope of woods into an open field.
We could hear the "Rebel Yell" which was evidence that the

120 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

"Boys in Blue" was on the run, and the "Boys in Gray"
were in hot pursuit. When Longstreet's troops were giv-
ing the finishing strokes on the right our corps in solid
line were slowly advancing, the front well covered by skirm-
ishers, for the purpose of attacking them in flank should
they attempt to cross Bull Run at Sudley Ford. They had
become so demoralized that they had lost their organization
and had but one object in view, that was to cross Bull Run
before Jackson could overtake them. There was nothing
in our front, but as I have said before, away to the right
the battle was raging with great fury. Long streaks of
smoke was curling over the tree tops, wafting away on the
evening breeze and as the sun was setting the last stand
made by the enemy near the "Henry House" (of the 1st
battle of Manassas fame) was broken and the Yankees fled
precipitately leaving their dead and wounded on the field.
Our whole front was the brillant spectacle of a victorious
army in pursuit of what might be correctly termed a de-
moralized and panic sticken rabble, but the darkness of
the night put an end to the pursuit and by 10 o'clock quiet
prevailed all along the line, except now and then a shot
from a scout could be heard. On several occasions during
this day, (the 30th) there were scenes of close encounter,
and a more murderous strife never before occurred on
American soil. Taking it all in all, this was a grand day
for the Confederates. The timely arrival of Longstreet's
forces on the right, relieved us from the pressure of over-
whelming numbers, and give us a chance of a more equal
contest. The firing having ceased and the advance halted,
and as I said in the preceding chapter we stacked our
arms and rested in rear of them that night. I was greatly
fatigued and slept soundly, with nothing to disturb me ex-
cept groans of wounded "Boys in Blue" that lay about on
the ground. The doctors and litter bearers were busy all
night doing what they could for suffering humanity. When
we awoke the next morning the 31st, it was ascertained
that the enemy had retreated to Centerville, where he was
met by the army corps of Sumner and Franklin, said to
number nineteen thousand fresh from the army of the Po-
tomac. General Stuart kept General Lee so accurately in-
formed as to the movements, positions and conditions of
the enemy that General Lee made no mistake. Centerville
is a small village about 20 miles from Washington City,

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 121

and was well fortified, and it was in these fortifications
that Pope with his shattered and demoralized army took
refuge, and halted long enough to issue a scanty supply of
rations and ammunition to his men and began to reorgan-
ize to resist our advance. General Lee was in full posses-
sion of Pope's position and condition, that on the morning
of the 31st he ordered Jackson to turn his position by cross-
ing Bull Run at Sudley Ford. Before we started on this
march, I with others from the regiment, were detailed for
fatigue duty, and was ordered to report to some officer, I
don't remember who now, and he took us back to our battle
ground of the evening before. There we stacked our guns,
and each man was furnished with a spade and we were
ordered to bury the dead Yankees. I had never buried
any one, and didn't know how, but I soon learned. I did
as I saw others doing, that was to press their stiffened
limbs together, getting them as straight as possible, then
rolling them in a blanket and laying them as near due East
and West as I possibly could, then spade out a hole about
20 inches deep their full length, then turn him in on his
back and throw the earth on him. If he had no blanket,
nor nothing else that I could wrap him in, I would put his
cap or hat over his face to keep the dirt out. That was a
terrible job for me. The weather was so warm, and some
of them had been there two days, that it was with some
difficulty that some of them could be handled at all, and I
tell you, my dear reader, I could hardly endure it, but I
had to. Orders them days, were orders and had to be
obeyed. I guess there were a hundred or more engaged in
that kind of work, while there were others engaged in re-
moving the wounded. It did not take long to bury one, as
the ground was soft and mellow, and was easy to spade.
I suppose I buried as many as fifteen during the time I
was there. That was a job that I was tired and sick of,
and was glad when about the middle of the P. M. we re-
ceived orders to go to our command, and we left a great
many unburied. All our wounded had been carried to hos-
pitals and our dead buried. Our command had moved, and
we were late finding them. They had crossed Bull Run at
Sudley Ford, and had taken a country road that led into
the little river turnpike that leads in the direction of Fair-
fax Court House. When I reached my company. Captain
Oates called me to him, and there told me for my gallantry
and deportment in the skirmish and battle of yesterday he

122 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

would promote me to be his 4th Corporal. This compli-
ment was very unexpected, as I was not aware of the fact
that I had done anything to merit it, and ventured to ask at
what particular time, he remarked, "I was watching you
on the skirmish and could distictly hear the rapid report
of your Austrian rifle, and knew you were getting in some
good work on the Yankees." I thanked him for the compli-
ment and felt proud that my conduct had been such in all
these hard engagements as to meet the approval of my
commanding officer. Up to that time I had never thought
of or sought promotion to any office ; I was content to be a
private, and as such do my whole duty to my coutnry. By
this promotion my position in the ranks was changed. I
now had to leave my old place and march at the foot of
my company. I was then the "Little Corporal" of the
Henry Pioneers. We did no fighting on the 31st and rest-
ed quietly during the night.

CHAPTER XL

AN OLD VETERAN UNDER "STONEWALL" JACKSON

IN HIS SUMMER CAMPAIGN AGAINST THE

FEDERAL GENERAL JOHN POPE

NO. 11.

Dear Friend :

Our rest on the night of the 31st was one of quietude, all
"calm and serene." We were away from the battlefield,
out of hearing of the groans of the wounded, and being
jaded, tired and weary, a good night's rest at this particular
time was a great blessing, and I felt greatly refreshed when
I rose the next morning and answered to roll call. As well
as I remember my company was about sixty strong when
we entered upon this campaign about the 20th, and this
roll call revealed the fact that from various causes such as
death, disabled from wounds and absent sick, we had about
twenty-five or thirty to answer. The boys that were there
present that morning had passed through three bloody days
of turmoil and strife on the plains of Manassas, and there
stood as living monuments of God's unbounded mercy.

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 123

ready, at the command of Lee and Jackson to make another
battlefield as horrible as any of the others of the last four
days. The officers high in authority didn't seem to be in
any great hurry, and we were given plenty of time to make
coffee and eat breakfast. We had been no trouble to our
commissary since the morning of the 27th, as our supply
that we had provided ourselves with over at Manassas had
not been exhausted, and besides that, we had had access to
the well-filled haversacks of the dead boys in blue, so that
there was nothing short in the ration department at that
time. As the sun began to rise over the tree tops and pour
his warm rays over the fields, the occasional boom of a
cannon, and the familiar sound of the pickets rifle could be
heard far to the right in the direction of Centerville. After
a lapse of time we fell into line and began to march along
the Little River turnpike that led in the direction of Fair-
fax Court House, a little town between Centerville and
Washington City. Our march was slow, with frequent
stops, lasting sometimes as long as an hour, as if to give
time to our generals to locate the true positions of the ene-
my. We moved on in this way until we had fairly turned
Pope's position at Centerville, and was just about to get in
his rear again when he took the alarm and began to move
his troops to prevent it. Our march was so slow that it
was late in the P. M. of the 1st of September that we reach-
ed Ox Hill, better known to the ItSh Alabama as
Chantilly. The place was nothing more than where
the road from Centerville intersected the Little Riv-
er turnpike, where we had picketed during the win-
ter of '61, and early winter of '62. On reaching
this place we were halted in the road and were
commanded to front," facing to our right in the direction
of Centerville, when all at once the skirmishers that had
been marching on a paralel with us all day was attacked.
A. P. Hill's Division was in our rear, and when the firing
commenced, he ordered three of his brigades forward to
support the pickets. Our brigade, being the rear brigade
of Ewell's Division, which preceeded Hill that day, was
ordered forward also. We had not gone far before we
met our skirmishers in retreat, closely pursued by the
Yankees. In a short while the firing on the right by Hill's
troops became extremely heavy for the numbers engaged.
We were in a thick body of woods, so thick that we could
only see a few yards in front, but the hissing bullets from

124 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

the enemy as they came rapping the bushes and trees, and
occasionally hitting a man, was evidence to us that they were
not far away. We halted and delivered several rounds in
that direction. During this engagement, a cold and drench-
ing thunder shower swept over the field, striking us square-
ly in the face. The noise of the falling rain to some ex-
tent drowned the noise of battle. The commands of our
officers could not be heard in some time, but notwithstand-
ing the heavy down-pour of rain, we kept on firing until
dark put an end to the conflict. The enemy ceased firing
and we did the same. We were ordered to about face, and
retire, which we did, going nearly back to the turnpike and
camping for the night. I will here relate a strange inci-
dent that occurred while we were falling back from our
advanced position to where we halted and went into camp.
From the circumstance, it seemed that sometime during the
evening, the enemy had been in possession of that part of
the woods that we had advanced in, and in maneuvering
around, one of them had dropped his watch, and in our
falling back Daniel McLellan of my company hitched his
foot in the chain and picked it up. It was a fine gold
watch and chain and he sold it to Lieut. H. C. Brainard of
our company for the sum of $130 in C. S. A. currency.
Lieutenant Brainard afterwards sent it home as a present
to his sister Laura, who after the war married Capt H. C.
Reynolds. They are now both deceased, but have living
children with us today, one of which is the owner of this
same watch. Strange, but true. This battle was of no
decisive result, to either side. The fact is that General
Pope was so badly beaten that he was anxious to gain a
little victory, however small, in order to cover his false dis-
patches that he had been sending to Washington from the
field, and in order to do so he ordered his fighting "Joe
Hooker," McDowell, Reno and Kearney's Divisions of
Heintzleman's Corps to attack us, which they did, resulting
to them the loss of two of their generals, Kearney and
Stephens, the former a West Pointer and having the repu-
tation of being one of their best division commanders. The
attack that he made upon us at this time was with the hope
that he might gain a little victory and thereby have some-
thing to support his ludicrous claim of having the victory,
for such a claim had been made by him, after he had been
driven from off the Rappahannock, on an on over the plains
of Manassas, and with his demoralized army had sheltered

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 125

himself behind the entrenchments at Centerville. The at-
tack developed our position, and he realized at once his po-
sition and condition, and he telegraphed General Halleck
at Washington that he thought it best under the circum-
stances that his army should withdraw to the entrench-
ments around Washington, and set to work to re-organize
and re-arrange it, and that by doing so some disaster might
be avoided, for he had no idea of the demoralization that ex-
isted among officers of high rank in the Army of the Po-
tomac, arising form a personal feeling in relation to the
change of commanders. The fact was he had sustained a
most disastrous defeat, and was seeking an opportunity of
laying the blame on one of his subalterns, which he suc-
ceeded in doing, resulting in the cashiering of one of the
best corps commanders there was in the Army of the Po-
tomac, retiring him from service, but after a lapse of twelve
or fifteen years after the war ended, the case was re-opened
by Congress, and upon an unprejudiced examination of the
court marshal proceedings he was restored to full rank.
In accordance with General Pope's wishes. General Hal-
leck issued orders for his retirement to the fortifications
in front of W^ashington, and Pope on the 2nd of September
issued orders directing the routes to be taken by each corps.
We remained in position all day the 2nd, expecting an at-
tack, but none occured. When night came on I was de-
tailed to go on picket. Mose Maybin was detailed as Ser-
geant and was put in command of the squad. I was Cor-
poral of the guard which was my first duty as such. We
proceeded down the Little River turnpike about one mile
in the direction of Germantown, a little village not very
far away. We were conducted by an officer on a horse,
and arriving at a house we halted, and the officer instruct-
ed that two men should be put on post at a time, alter-
nating every two hours. At a late hour I, with two other
men were on post, when we heard some horsemen coming
from towards the enemy, one was whistling. We let him
come as near as our orders would allow, when I ordered
him to halt. He laughed and said he had been expecting
to be halted for some time, and that we could lie down and
sleep, for there was no danger, the Yankees had retreated
and were then safe within their entrenchments around
Washington City. He lit from his horse and told us of his
narrow escape that evening. He said "Boys, I got into a
hornet's nest before I knew it, and I tell you I had to put

126 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

spurs to escape." He was jolly and jovial, full of fun,
and cracked several jokes, and at last complimented us on
our victory, when he bid us good night and left us, to find
General Lee and Jackson. This was no other than J. E. B.
Stuart, our cavalry commander, we knew him at first and
felt no danger of a surprise. There were no disturbance
that night, there was not even the sound of a gun to be
heard. What a change! But there was another venture
lying before us, many more battles were yet to be fought.
We had won the crowning victory in Virginia, the gates of
Richmond had been freed from Federal soldiers and pushed
back to the entrenchments of their own capital. Our adven-
tures had been so daring and our achievements so great that
the Yankees thought there was nothing too hazardous for
troops of Jackson. I fell out with General Pope when I
read his first order that he issued to his army when he
took command down in Culpepper County, and if you have
been a close reader of my letters on this campaign, you
would have observed that I have been after General Pope
all the time, and now, gentle reader, I have followed him
under "Stonewall" Jackson to his stronghold in front of
his capital, there I leave him, as a defeated braggart, chaf-
fing under disappointment. On his arrival he relinguished
the command of the army and little Mc was restored and
begun at once to re-organize it, which he did and soon had
it up to a high state of proficiency. The reports and or-
ders of the prominent officers of both sides relative to this
campaign have already been written, and is interesting
reading matter for an old veteran that was there. I will
not give any figures in regard to the losses, as they are
matters of history which you can find if you so desire.
Well, on the morning of the 3rd, it was ascertained that all
the Yankees had gone, and we were ordered oflf picket to
join our command, and soon we were on the road that led
to Dranesville and Leesburg, camping on the night of the
4th near the big spring between Leesburg and the Potomac,
which was nearby. Now, kind reader, this chapter closes
my account of "Stonewall" Jackson's campaign against the
Federal General John Pope in the summer of 1862. I have
made many errors, I have not told half of what I do remem-
ber of this campaign, for it was one of the most brilliant
and frought with more dangers than any that had occured
up to this time. There were many acts of bravery by our
oflficers, and some of the boys that I would like to mention,

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 127

but fearing it might be too invidious, I have refrained. I
pass from this now, and will endeavor to give my recollec-
tions of "Stonewall" Jackson's campaign in the State of
Maryland.

CHAPTER XLI

AN OLD VETERAN'S RECOLLECTIONS OF "STONE-
WALL" JACKSON'S CAMPAIGN IN THE STATE
OF MARYLAND, 1862, NO. 1.

Dear Friend :

It had been the talk for a good long time that, if General
Lee would march his army into the State of Maryland,
that the strength of his army would be increased several
thousand, and after we had done enough for General Pope
in Virginia, it seemed that the accepted time had come for
Lee to march his army into Maryland. As I said in the
last chapter that our division camped on the night of the
4th of September near the big spring between Leesburg
and the Potomac, which was nearby. Some time during
the next day (the 5th) we fell into ranks and marched to
the banks of the Potomac, which was but a short distance,
where there was a ford, and there we were told that we
had to cross by wading. What! wade the Potomac river?
Yes, wade the Potomac river. How strange ! Had any one
told me in my school days that the Potomac river could be
waded, I would have been ready to have disputed it, for
our fiery Southern orators very often in their speeches re-
ferred to the Potomac and the Rio Grande, and I was led
to believe that the former was some large stream that di-
vided the North and South, and the latter was another large
stream that divided the South from the West. So you can
see that I knew but little about the geography of our coun-
try. I only knew that there was two rivers somewhere by
that name at that time, but as I have grown older I have
learned where they are, and that at certain seasons of the
year either of them can be waded. -Now then here we are,
at the water's edge, ready to cross. What next! We halt!
We see the Virginians who are leading the division cross-
ing. We receive orders to strip ourselves of our lower

128 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

garments, roll them up along with our ammunition and hold
them up out of the water and go in, and thus we went in.
The water did not part for us on either side to enable us
to cross on dry land, but we hit it up to our waist and we
had to be careful to keep from falling down, and I have no
doubt but some did, but I don't remember any one falling
and getting ducked. Our division, which was Ewell's, but
at that time commanded by Brigadier General Lawton of
Georgia, was in the advance and the Virginia Brigade pre-
ceeded ours (Trimble's.) As I have already said, the Vir-
ginians were the first to cross, and I have learned since
that it was done for effect, as Virginia and Maryland joins,
it was as a voice from Virginia speaking to her sister State,
saying, here we are, we have come at last to assist you in
throwing off the yoke of tyranny that have held you down
since the riot in Baltimore in 1861. We have come that
you may be allowed free speech and enjoy the liberties of
other American citizens. Did they come? The sequel will
show. When our regiment reached the other side of the
river, there on its banks was stationed a band playing,
"Maryland, My Maryland," and as soon as we could dress
we gave a yell and proceeded on our way we knew not
where. Nobody seemed to be in a hurry and the march
was at leisure. Everything passed off pleasantly all the
evening, and when night came we went into camp. There
was no excitement, no disturbance of any kind, and we rest-
ed quite well during the night. The next morning we fell
into line and pursued our journey, until we arrived at a
little town called Frederick City, which is situated on the
right bank of the Monocacy River, where also the Baltimore
& Ohio R. R. crosses. On our march from the Potomac
to this little town, we saw but very few men. At some of
the houses we were greeted with cheers and smiles, and
the waving of hats and handkerchiefs by the women, girls
and boys, which was a token of our welcome, but at others
the doors would be closed which was a token that we were
an unwelcome guest, and we generally knew that they were
"Yank" inclined. The apple trees in the orchads along our
route fairly groaned under the weight of ripe apples, and
under some of the trees the ground would be half covered,
so we could get the best from off the ground. The people
did not object to us getting just as many from off the
ground as we wanted, and we were not prohibited by our
officers, although an indiscriminate straggle to get apples

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 129

was prohibited. In a short time, two or three men could
get enough to supply his company. They were a great
luxury. We arrived at Frederick City on the 7th and went
into camp on the east side, or the Washington side, of
the river opposite the town. Our camp was near the rail-
road and wagon bridges that spanned the Monocacy at this
place. I don't suppose we were more than twenty miles
from Washington City, where a mighty army was being
organized to take the field under their old leader, G. B. Mc-
Clellan. At the same time General Lee was concentrating
his forces to resist an advance of the Federals until certain
things in other quarters could be done. We privates did
not know anything, and was only there to answer and obey
all orders from Lee and Jackson. We didn't see much of
Lee and Jackson while in this camp, but couriers and staff
officers were constantly on the go. Stuart, with his cavalry
was between us and Washington, watching every move of
the enemy, and keeping Lee posted. Next.

CHAPTER XLII

AN OLD VETERAN'S RECOLLECTIONS OF "STONE-
WALL" JACKSON'S CAMPAIGN IN THE STATE
OF MARYLAND, 1862, NO. 2.

Dear Friend :

While in camp at Frederick City, the weather was as
pleasant as could be desired. The sun shone out beauti-
fully in the day-time, sending forth his rays of warmth
just right to make us feel good. The nights were dark,
except for the light of the stars, which shone with all their
brilliance and glory from a clear blue star-lit September
sky. The nights were a little cool, but with a gum-cloth
and blanket spread upon the ground and two bunking to-
gether covering with a blanket and gum on top to keep off
the cold dew, made it comfortable enough. Those of us
that had no guard duty to perform, strolled around camp,
waiting and wondering what would turn up next. The line
officers knew that something was brewing, but could not
surmise as to a certainty. As for me, I only wondered, and
give myself no concern as to what would be next. One night

130 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

while here, after I had ate my supper, which consisted of
fried bacon, biscuit, hard-tack and coffee, and answered to
roll call, I lit my pipe and sauntered off to the camp of the
31st Georgia, which was not far away, to see my old friend,
Ed Roach. I soon found him sitting around his camp fire,
eating his grub, which consisted of fried bacon, biscuit,
hard-tack and coffee. I had just partook of the same va-
riety and refused to eat with him. I sat down, leaning
against a tree and continued to smoke my pipe until Ed
and his mess-mate was through with their supper and
cleaning up the dishes, etc. After he got through he lit
his pipe and we went on a stroll. Some two or three hun-
dred yards out of camp we came to an old uncultivated
field where we sprawled down upon the ground to smoke,
rest and talk. We soon began to relate to each other the
incidents of the hard marches, and battles that we had
passed through over in Virginia since last we met. We
talked of our acquaintances in each others commands and
those of other commands; some of them our school-mates
that was fast dropping out. We talked of our people at
home, not excusing the girls that we had told good-bye.
God bless them, there are but few of them living now. Oc-
casionally I can see one, her once ruddy cheeks are fur-
rowed by wrinkles of time, and her once beautiful hair is
now silvered and gray, and like myself began to show age,
which suggests a thought. A few more years and then.
After staying out as long as we wanted to, we returned to
camp, to find that some of the boys had "turned in," while
there were others sitting up, some singing, some smoking,
some telling war stories, while there were others listen-
ing and laughing, and having fun generally. My bed-fel-
low, Barnett Cody, had retired and I crawled under the
blanket and gum with him and was soon in dreamland.
Our engineers in the day time were busy drilling holes in
the rock piers that supported the railroad bridge, prepara-
tory for its destruction, and occasionally during the day we
could hear sounds like cannon when they would touch off
their charge of powder. We did not know and cared less
about what the enemy was doing. We only knew we were
near Washington City, where Pope's demoralized army had
fled, and it was reasonable to suppose that hasty prepara-
tions were in progress for its re-organization, and sure
enough, in a few days it was known that Pope had been
releived and McClellan had been placed in command of his

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 131

old army again. This restored confidence in the ranks and
among some of the subordinate officers, but there were two
Federal officers occupying high positions that were contin-
ually punishing McClellan, accusing him of tardiness, viz:
Halleck and Stanton. Mc was a democrat, purely Ameri-
can, and waged the war on American principles — that of
humanity and fairness, but this was objected to by such
men as W. T. Sherman, John Pope, Phil Sheridan, and one
General Hunter, of Shenandoah Valley fame. One lady of
Virginia published him in one of the Richmond papers as
being a persecutor of helpless women and children, a hun-
ter of pig-pens, cow-stalls, chicken-roosts, horse-stables and
corn-cribs, and what he could not appropriate to his own
use he applied the torch to destroy. McClellan would not
tolerate such in his command, therefore his mode of war-
fare was not approved of by the extreme Southern haters
of the North. General Lee had a high estimate on McClel-
lan, as an able commander and as a conscientious gentle-
man. Pardon the digression. If my recollection serves
me right, early on the morning of the 10th we were ordered
to be ready to move at a moment's notice, and at about 9
A. M., A. P. Hill, with his division, begun to pass and
cross the river on the wagon bridge, entering the streets
of Frederick City. Our division came next following Hill
on the Hagerstown turnpike, Jackson's old division, fol-
lowing us. Frederick City was full of Southern sympa-
thizers, as Bradley T. Johnson had raised a large company
of cavalry in that neighborhood at the outbreak of the war,
and were then serving with J. E. B. Stuart. We marched
pretty rapid for several miles as if there were something
ahead that was about to "drop." I straggled out to get
two or three canteens filled with water; when I had a
chance to hear some friendly words pass between one of
our cavalrymen and a young lady that he was acquainted
with. Our troops were passing by at a quick step, all
stained with rain, dust and dirt, and was devoid of all
pomp of war. We were so unlike soldiers that she had
been used to seeing that she exclaimed : "Why, John, how
can such a dirty, filthy set of soldiers defeat the neatly
dressed boys of the Army of the Potomac? Such clothes!
All ragged and filthy." John was sitting on his horse with
one leg thrown over the pommel of his saddle, listening.
When she got through, John remarked, "Bessie, we don't
put on our best clothes to kill hogs in." This was a stunner

132 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

to Bessie and it caused an outburst of applause from those
that were listening. I immediately left the crowd and hur-
ried on to catch up with my command. "Stonewall" Jack-
son was a great curiosity to some of the people of Freder-
ick as his men, for it was said that crowds of people were
contiuously hanging around his headquarters peeping
through the windows, as if anxious to catch him at his in-
cantations. A correspondent in one of the Northern papers
wrote of him, and our appearance while in Maryland; he
said that "Old Stonewall" was the observed of all observers;
he was dressed in the coarsest kind of homespun, seedy and
dirty at that ; worse still, he wore an old slouched hat which
any northern beggar would have considered an insult to
have offered him, and in his general appearance was in no
respect to be distinguished from the mongrel bare-footed
crew who followed his fortunes. He said that he had heard
much of the decayed appearance of the Rebel soldiers, but
such a looking crowd! Ireland in her worst straits could
present no parallel ; and yet they glory in their shame." I
only mention this quotation for the purpose of showing you
the estimate that some of the Northern critics had of Jack-
son and his men at this time. We cared nothing then for
good looks, all we wanted was plenty to eat — plenty of am-
munition— a good gun, and plenty of game, which we found
in a few days further on. Our first day's march brought
us on the west side of South Mountain, where we went into
camp on the Hagerstown turnpike. Here was issued one
roasting-ear to the man, another luxury. I roasted mine
with the shuck on, and would rub it with a piece of fat
bacon, then sprinkle on a little salt and then what I did was
enough. We rested well all night, and the next morning
we started again, we knew not where nor for what purpose,
but I will tell later on.

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 133

CHAPTER XLIII

AN OLD VETERAN'S RECOLLECTIONS OF "STONE-
WALL" JACKSON'S CAMPAIGN IN THE STATE
OF MARYLAND, 1862, NO. 3.

Dear Friend :

I said in the preceeding chapter that our first day's march
out from Frederick in the direction of Hagerstown put us
on the west side of South Mountain, which branches off
from the Blue Ridge in the neighborhood of a little village
called Boonsboro, forming what was called Pleasant Valley.
This was a beautiful country, level and the large fields of
corn and the large fields of red bloom clover, with
its luxuriant growth was evidence of the fertility
of the soil. The beautiful residences, with their
surroundings along our route toward Hagerstown, de-
noted wealth and happiness. The people along our route
did not seem to realize what was going on, or what was
soon to happen among them not many days hence. At
many of these houses, women, girls and boys had assembled
to see "Stonewall" Jackson's Corps pass. At nearly every
place we were greeted with cheers and hoozas for Jeff
Davis and the Southern Confederacy. Of course, we ac-
knowledged by giving the "Rebel Yell." It was strictly
against orders to straggle or molest anything the citizens
had, and as well as I remember the order was obeyed ex-
cept as to straggling, for it was said that on this account
General Lee came near loosing the battle of Sharpsburg,
which took place a few days after the time that I am now
writing about. As well as I remember, we didn't know
where we were going, or what was in store for us to do,
but one thing that we all knew, and that was that old
"Stonewall" had his head set on something which would de-
velop in a few days, and all we had to do was to march
when ordered, and halt when ordered, and if we wanted to
know what was to be done it was our business to be there,
and sure enough, in a few days we found out what was "in
the air." As I have already said we were marching on the
Hagerstown turnpike, but before we reached that little
town (which was just over the line in Pennsylvania), we

134 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

turned to the left, leaving Hagerstown to our right, and
pursued a direct course toward Williamsport, a town on
and near the bank of the Potomac. Our march was of
moderate gait, giving plenty time to rest, and was unat-
tended with any excitement or incident to have caused un-
easiness or alarm. We camped for the night and remained
until the next morning, when sometime during the day we
were ordered to recross the Potomac. This we did by wad-
ing at the ford opposite the town of Williamsport. I am
only guessing when I say that this crossing is about fifty
miles above Leesburg, where we crossed over into Maryland
on the 5th. After crossing we made a hurried march out
to the B. & 0. R. R., which leads westerly to Wheeling in
West Virginia, and eastwardly to Baltimore, running
through Martinsburg, Harper's Ferry and Frederick City,
where we had left the balance of the army. We were near
Martinsburg, a beautiful little town, pretty evenly divided
in sentiment between the North and South. It was no
trouble for us to get up a scrap between the little boys as
we passed through, as they would gather on the sidewalks
to see us pass, some of the little fellows would hollow "hur-
rah for Jeff Davis," another would answer by saying ''hur-
rah for Abe Lincoln;" we would say, hit him Jeff Davis, or
Abe Lincoln, as the case might be, and thus the scrap
would begin, the Jeff's and Abe's would gather from every
direction, when a general melee would begin, lasting until
the mothers and sisters would interfere, which generally
caused a hasty retreat of the beligerants, but it was fun
for us. A. P. Hill's Division was in the lead, and as they
approached this little town, the brigade of Yankees that
was there fled to the stronghold of Harper's Ferry, which
augumented the garrison at that place to eleven thousand.
Subsequent events shows that it was known by Lee and
Jackson that there was a force at each of those places and
it was supposed that the advance upon Frederick would
cause those places to be evacuated which would open up
his line of communication with Richmond by a shorter
route. This, however, did not occur, and it became a mat-
ter of importance that those places should be captured. We
knew nothing of General Lee and the balance of the army
that we had left at Frederick, but by the 13th we could be-
gin to see the cause of our tardiness. General Lee had to
send a force to occupy Maryland Heights, and a force to oc-
cupy Louden Heights on the South side of the Shenandoah,

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 135

while Jackson's Corps occupied the front stretching from
the Potomac on his left to the Shenandoah on his right.
Thuf you will see that we had them bottled up at Harper s
Ferry and it was only a question of time for their surren-
der or a terrible battle to take place, for escape was im-
Dossible There we were in plain view of Bolivar Heignts,
about one mile distant, which was occupied by the enemy,
and had been so well fortified, and the timber all felled
with the tops toward us, which gave it a fearful appear-
Tnce, and would naturally put a fellow to thinking seriou -
Iv to have to attack such a looking place as that, but it
-Stonewall" orders, that's enough, we are ready to obey.
On account of the movements of some of the other troops,
the attack was delayed and we allowed to look and wait,
for we were ready to assault.

CHAPTER XLIV

AN OLD VETERAN'S RECOLLECTIONS OF "STONE-
WALL" JACKSON'S CAMPAIGN IN THE STATE

OF MARYLAND, 1862, NO. 4. i

^In the preceeding chapter I said that on account of the
movements of other troops the attack upon Harper s Ferry
was delayed, and now I will proceed to tell the cause, but
I didn't know then. It has been made known that before
■ we left Frederick City, General Lee issued a general order
for the movements of his army, directing Jackson to pur-
sue the route that we did pursue, thereby driving the
Yankees that were at Martinsburg into Harper s Ferry,
where the "whole crowd could be bagged"— and directing
McLaws with his division to proceed in the direction of
HarDcr's Ferry and occupy Maryland Heights, which com-
manded the town from the Maryland side. The heights
were occupied by the Yankees and McLaws met with a
stubborn resistance, and there was considerable delay m
getting his infantry and artillery in position, but when
once in position he had complete control of the town from
that side General Walker with his division, was ordered

136 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

to recross the Potomac below the Ferry and occupy Loudon
Heights on the Virginia side, where he could enfilade their
line of fortifications on Bolivar Heights from the left.
Harper's Ferry is situated in the fork of the Potomac and
Shenandoah Rivers, thus you see that McLaws occupied a
position where he could rain shells on them from the rear,
while Walker could do the same thing on their left, and as
I have already stated, Jackson's Corps of three divisions
occupying the front or Western side, reaching from the
Potomac on our left to the Shenandoah on our right. The
order directing the movements of the army from Frederick
was sent to General D. H. Hill, and it is said that this of-
ficer, in a moment of passion, threw the order on the
ground, and when our people evacuated the place and the
advance of the enemy reached there, this order was picked
up by a Yankee and no time was lost in conveying it to
General McClellan, as it revealed to him much needed in-
formation as to General Lee's plans. McClellan's first ob-
ject was to relieve Harper's Ferry by sending a force to
attack McLaws in the rear, but McLaws held the gaps in
the mountain passes long enough to aid Jackson in captur-
ing the place, although it took considerable time to get
ready, and no doubt that Jackson was in great suspense.
Late in the evening of the 14th, it was made known by sig-
nal from the Maryland and Loudon Heights that McLaws
and Walker were ready and were only waiting for the sig-
nal from Jackson to commence the bombardment. Jack-
son began to make preparations for the attack at early
dawn the next morning. It is said that he issued
but one order, and that was in a simple and blunt way
when he ordered A. P. Hill to "turn the enemy's left flank
and enter Harper's Ferry." And in order to gain some
important advantage for the attack the next morning he
observed a hill on the enemy's extreme left occupied by in-
fantry without artilley, and protected only by an abbattis
of felled timber. He ordered General Hill to seize this
crest, and in compliance with that order, Hill ordered
Generals Pender, Archer and Colonel Brockenbrough, with
their brigades to seize this crest, and at the same time he
ordered Generals Branch and Gregg, with their brigades,
to march along down the Shenandoah, and taking advant-
age of the ravines intersecting its steep banks, and estab-
lish themselves on the left, and rear of the enemy's works,
holding his other brigade in reserve. This was all accom-

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 137

plished during the night, and at the same time Colonel
Crutchfield, Jackson's Chief of Artillery, was not idle, for
he succeeded during the night to drag ten guns belonging
to our division across to the South side of the Shenandoah,
so as to enfilade the enemy's entrenchments on Bolivar
Heights, thereby taking his nearest and most formidable
work in reverse. We infantry fellows were not allowed
to build fires that night, and we lay in rear of our guns,
to sleep if we could, or lie there and imagine the result
of the events of the morning. I have no doubt but that
there were many prayers offered to the Almighty that night
imploring his protecting care and divine assistance to pass
safely through the fiery ordeal that stared us in the face,
which semingly to us we had to pass. At early dawn,
in strict obedience to orders the attack upon the garrison
began. As soon as it was light enough to distinguish ob-
jects, the pickets began to fire on each other. We were
aroused from our slumber and ordered into ranks, and there
we stood in suspense, waiting for orders. As the sun be-
gan to shed his light from the East, the firing became more
rapid, the fight was on. There was a signal station near
us, where couriers were constantly dashing to and from.
This station was in communication with McLaws and Wal-
ker, and I happened to step out of ranks a few minutes
and went near the station and I heard the signal officer
say to a courier, "Tell General Jackson that McLaws and
Walker are ready," and the courier dashed off and soon re-
turned with a message, as I supposed, from Jackson, and
soon a rapid and vigorous fire was opened from the batteries
all along our line, and those on Maryland and Loudon
Heights, and also the batteries of Colonel Crutchfield, down
on the Shenandoah. The shells rained in on them from
every direction for about two hours, when a courier came
dashing along shouting ''The white flag is up, the white
flag is up!" We could see it from our position, and I tell
you, reader, there was a proud set of boys. The firing
ceased all along the line and the agony with us was over.
Seventy-three pieces of artillery, about thirteen thousand
small arms and eleven thousand prisoners, besides a large
quantity of military stores fell into our hands. General A.
P. Hill was left with his division to receive the surrender
and secure the captured property. Jackson with his other
two divisions set out for Sharpsburg, Maryland, and Mc-
Laws and Walker was ordered to follow without delay.

138 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

Our command did not have the chance of going over to
Harper's Ferry as there seemed to be a pressing need for
us in another direction. We marched that evening about
twelve miles, when we went into camp and cooked three
days rations, and ordered to be ready to march at five
o'clock the next morning. We were all glad that Harper's
Ferry had been so easily captured with so little loss of
life on both sides, but we were sorry that we were not
allowed to go over into the place. That was our second
time to look upon Bolivar Heights and it was our last,
Sept. 15th, 1862.

CHAPTER XLV

AN OLD VETERAN'S RECOLLECTIONS OF "STONE-
WALL" JACKSON'S CAMPAIGN IN THE STATE
OF MARYLAND, 1862, N0.5.

Dear Friend :

We were up pretty late on the night of the 15th on ac-
count of having to cook three day's rations. We were
ordered to be ready to march at five o'clock, and reville
sounded in time to get us up and attend roll call, and be
ready to march when orders came. After putting on our
accoutrements, getting into ranks and answering to roll
call, we were ordered to stack arms and rest until further
orders. Of course, we were glad to here order to break
ranks and rest, and we did so by sprawling ourselves on
the ground and so many of us were taking a morning
snooze. We had not heard of the hard fighting that had
been going on over in Maryland between the balance of
General Lee's army and the advance of McClellan's, neither
did we know where they were or what was next to be done,
but we soon ascertained that McClellan had pursued Lee
vigorously from Frederick City to Boonsboro gap in South
Mountain, where Lee had halted Gen. D. H. Hill's Division
for the purpose of delaying the enemy until Harper's Ferry
was captured by Jackson. McClellan lost no time in as-
saulting Hill's position at the pass, and a sanguinary en-
gagement ensued. Hill, with his small command, repulsed
the repeated assaults of the Federal army, and held him

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 139

in check for five hours. This resistance had secured suf-
ficient time to enable Jackson to complete the reduction of
Harper's Ferry, and Lee, knowing his weakness, determ-
ined to withdraw from the gap and retire in the direction
of a little town called Sharpsburg, which was near the Po-
tomac, where he could more reeadily unite with Jackson's
Corps and McLaws' and Walker's Divisions, who had aided
in the reduction of Harper's Ferry. As well as I remem-
ber, at about 10 o'clock, we were ordered into line and
marched off in the direction of the Potomac, arriving be-
tween 12 and 2 o'clock. This ford was shallow, with a
good bottom, and was near a small village on our side called
Shepherdstown, and was about midway between Leesburg
where we had crossed over on the 5th, and Williamsport,
where we had re-crossed back into Virginia on the 12th in
coming around to Harper's Ferry. We were ordered to
pull off and wade again, and of course it took some time to
undress and then dress up after we had crossed over to
the Maryland side. When we got over and dressed, we
struck out at a rapid gait to overtake the troops that had
preceeded us. The little town of Sharpsburg was not more
than two mile, or hardly so far away, down in a bottom on
the Hagerstown turnpike surrounded by hills or small
mountains. We marched up a long slant for some distance,
then quitting the road, turning to the left we were marched
into a heavy body of oak woods, large oaks with little un-
der-growth. As each division arrived, it was marched in
and stacked arms, and ordered to rest. I guess it was
something like three or four o'clock and all was "calm and
serene" with us, but it was not long to remain so. Shortly
the sounds of cannon could be heard in a northerly direc-
tion; and as time passed the sound became more distinct
and we could tell that it was getting nearer, which was
evidence that Lee's troops were falling back and McClellan
advancing. The booming of cannon increased so that it
seemed that a battle was in progress. Listen! the
crack of a carbine is heard! Listen boys! Stuart's
Videttes are giving away, and the Federal cavalry are ad-
vancing. Presently "Boom, boom, boom" went the sound
of our cannon, now I guess you will halt, but in a few mo-
ments more th ecrack of Enfield rifles are heard. One,
two, three, the fire increases and becomes more rapid. Lee
has halted his forces and about faced as if to say to Mc-
Clellan, you will have me to fight before you can proceed

140 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

further. McClellan knew it, and begun to feel all along
our line that evening and concentrating his forces for a
general attack the next morning. Lee was not idle in mak-
ing his preparations to meet the mighty host of ninety
thousand, well-fed, well clothed and well armed army that
was to be thrown against his forty thousand dirty, dingy,
ragged and jaded veterans, with the Potomac at our backs
not three miles away. Just think of it ! Ninety thousand
against forty thousand! but we could "lap water like a
dog" and were true, tried and trusty and were not to be
driven into the Potomac. At dark our brigade was moved
in the direction of the firing that we had heard before the
sun went down. We were marched through a field and a
large body of oak woods, passing what is known in history
as Bunker's Church, a frame wooden building situated on
the North-east side of this belt of wx)ods, near the Hagers-
town and Sharpsburg pike about half a mile from the latter
place. This church was used that evening for a hospital,
and there were a few wounded in it as we passed, but they
were all removed that night, as the house was riddled with
bombshells the next day. We were not allowed to talk
above a whisper, and in fact, not much of that was going
on anyway for the time began to be serious, no noise of
any kind was allowed. We moved slowly, as if creeping
up on something, and presently we come to troops in line
of battle, and upon enquiry it was ascertained that they
were Hood's Brigade of Texans. They told us that they
had been fighting the Yankees that evening, and that they
were in line of battle not very far away and in heavy force.
We took their place and they retired. There we lay all
night on the ground, not allowed to unbuckle, nor undo
anything we had on, only to wait and see what the next
day would bring forth. We had not been in line but a
short while before one man from each company was de-
tailed to go on picket to relieve the pickets of Hood's
Brigade. Our company had to furnish a seargeant, and
it was Seargeant Mose Maybin's time, and he went, and I
never saw him again. The pickets out in the woods in
front were shooting at each other all along during the
night, and they were so close that occasionally we could
hear a bullet go singing oyer us, which had a tendency to
keep us awake. Thus we lay on the cold ground all the
night of the 16th, waiting for the dawn of that memorable
day, the 17th of Sept. 1862. In the next chapter I will tell

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 141

what happened as I now remember. I had forgotten to tell
that all our brigade and nearly all of the regimental field
officers were either killed or wounded in the engagements
over at Manassas, and we were without a brigade comman-
der, but Captain Gates and several others of the line peti-
tioned the proper authorities for a commander for the
brigade, and Colonel John A. Walker of the 13th Virginia
was assigned to command. Our Colonel (Lowther) was as
usual, sick and back with the wagon train. Colonel Wal-
ker was a fine commander and filled the bill. We all had
confidence in him. He afterwards became to be a briga-
dier. We were always glad to see him after his promotion,
and it always seemed that he had a kind recollection of
Trimble's Brigade, and felt to some degree that we had
contributed to his promotion. Our regiment was ably
commanded by Captain J. B. Feagan of Co. "B," after-
wards Colonel Feagan. I will say something of him in the
next chapter.

CHAPTER XLVI

AN OLD VETERAN'S RECOLLECTIONS OF "STONE-
WALL" JACKSON'S CAMPAIGN IN THE STATE

OF MARYLAND, 1862, NO. 6

Dear Friend :

At early dawn on the 17th, or as soon as objects could
be distinguished, the skirmishers of both sides began to
fire on each other, and as the sun in the East began to
throw his refiecting rays of light over the top of South
Mountain, the firing increased and it was in this early
engagement that Seargeant Mose Maybin of my company
received his death wound. General Lee was now prepared
to deliver battle, and meet the mighty host that he knew
would be thrown against him that day. General Lee did
not intend an advance upon McClellan, but took position
to resist any further advance of the Yankee army. Our
skirmishers, after a spirited contest for an hour or more
was driven in and followed by heavy lines of solid infantry.
We remained in line, ready and waiting for the general
advance. The batteries of both sides opened a furious

142 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

fire all along Jackson's front, under cover of which the
enemy advanced his masses to attack. Our corps occupied
the left of General Lee's line of battle, extending far to the
left in the direction of the Potomac. Our right joined the
left of Longstreet's forces. At about 7 o'clock the enemy
advanced his double and tripple lines against us, and we
met them with the utmost resolution and for several hours
the conflict raged with great fury and alternate succesj.
My regiment, the 15th Alabama, was on the extreme right
of E well's Division, and joined Longstreet. We were
without any protection whatever ; we had sit or lain on the
cold ground all night with no covering to protect us from
the cold dew of a September morn in that cold climate,
and our limbs had become so stffened and benumbed that
would have prevented an active movement by us unless
there had been some urgent necessity which occurred about
eleven o'clock, which I will endeavor to explain later on.
About two hundred yards in our rear, and opposite Bun-
ker's Church, there was a hill that our people had crowned
with artillery. It seems to me now that there were not
less than twelve guns there which done the most of their
firing over our heads, and as many, if not more of the
enemy's guns were replying all the time, and shot and shell
from both sides were constantly passing, not more than ten
feet above our heads, and I tell you, reader, that was a
very unpleasant place to be in. Longstreet's Corps stretch-
ed back to our right and rear, occupying the crest of a hill
overlooking the slope to the Antietam Creek, and the valley
beyond to the base of South Mountain. The Yankee bat-
teries over there could enfilade our lines, and had it not
been for the burning of a large house on our right, I have
always thought that we would have been driven from our
position by the fire of their cannon, but the smoke from the
burning house obscured our position from view while we
were engaged with the infantry in front. It was a face
to face combat between the 15th Alabama and the 10th
Maine. This fact I ascertained some sixteen years ago,
through a correspondence with Maj. John M. Gould, of
Portland, Maine. He had the kindness to invite me to
meet with them at a reunion of the 1st, 10th and 29th
Maine, to be held on the battlefield by the above named
regiments on the 17th of Sept. 1891, and had I been able I
should have went, for I was satisfied that that fellow would
have made it pleasant for me, barring the recollections of

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 143

the loss of some of the best men in my company. Our
correspondence was entirely without bitterness or parti-
sanship. He addressed me as his friend in Gray and I
would reply as my friend in Blue. Our correspondence
has long since terminated and it may be that he has "cros-
sed over." In this engagement the positions of Co.'s K,
G and B was protected to some extent by a slight rise in
the ground in our front. We loaded and fired on our knees
just raising high enough to miss the ground in front.
There was a fence about fifty yards that run diagonally
across our front, and it was at this fence that the 10th
Maine lost so heavily. They made repeated efforts to
cross, but each time they would be met with such a shower
of "buck and ball" that would cause them to run back to
the woods where they would re-form and come again.
When they would reach the fence they were so near that
I could see the buckles on their caps and buttons on their
coats. They would mount the fence and with each volley
from us I could see them tumble forward and backward
at such a rate as to check their determination. Their
colors would go down, but there was always some one to
raise it again. They were a brave set of fellows, but they
could not drive us. They fought us long and hard, and fin-
ally they retired to the woods for a more complete organi-
zation, and to be re-inforced for a renewal of the attack.
While we were thus engaged, the battle on our left was
raging with great fury. The main assaults were being
made on Jackson's Corps. Hood's Brigade of Texans had
been sent to re-inforce Jackson, and they became hotly en-
gaged. Our ammunition was running short, and Capt. J.
B. Feagan, who was in command of the regiment (Colonel
Lowther being absent sick), ordered details to be made to
go to the ordnance train and bring ammunition. The firing
in our front had slackened, and we were lying idle holding
our position waiting for ammunition, when Gen. D. H. Hill
rode up in our rear and asked "What regiment is this lying
here?" Captain Feagan replied "the 15th Alabama." "My
God," roared General Hill, "is this an Alabama regiment
lying here?" "We are out of ammunition," says Captain
Feagan. Hill roared out again, "Haven't you got bayo-
nets? Take rocks and go forward." At this juncture
several officers rose up, and men in the ranks protested by
exclaiming in loud voices, "Don't you do it, Captain," and
Captain Feagan remained quiet and Hill rode off. He af-

144 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

terwards preferred charges against Captain Feagain for
disobedience of orders, and upon a trial the court exhonor-
ated Captain Feagan and complimented him for his good
judgement, a rebuke to General Hill's rashness. General
Hill did not know what was in front as well as Feagan
and the men did, but he soon found out, for he ordered
Colquitt's Brigade of Georgians, who belonged to his divis-
ion, to re-inforce that part of the line when really we were
not being pressed at that time. They came up in fine
style and passed over us, and as it happened, little Johnnie
Mathews, who was known by some of us before the war,
belonged to the regiment and company that passed over
ours, was recognized and he paused long enough to shake
hands with a few of us that he knew. He bade us good-
bye and broke off in a run to overtake his company. Soon
they encountered Hooker's Division of Sumner's Corps
when the firing for a few moments was extremely heavy,
and a stream of wounded Georgians came pouring to the
rear. We never saw little Johnnie Mathews again for we
afterwards learned that he was killed in that engagement.
I knew him before the war, and had cultivated a friend-
ship for him that old mother time will never efface. Peace
to his ashes. The Georgians met with such overwhelming
numbers that they had to give way, and here they came
pell mell, and our joints that had been so stiff and benum-
bed now became limber, and I tell you, reader, we "got"
with the Georgians. My individual line of escape lay di-
rectly across the hill that our artillery was on, and as soon
as our infantry had passed out of the way, they turned
loose a sower of grape and cannister that put a check on
the pursueing enemy. The Yankee batteries that was
posted on the other side of Antietam Creek had a direct
flank fire on the right of our battery on this hill, and as
soon as the infantry got out of the way, the batteries in
front turned loose and I can't see how man or horse got
away from there. I had to pass through, or near by, to
our battery, and it was like running the gauntlet, for as
I passed the shells and solid shot was playing havoc with
our battery, but we lost no guns. When on this hill I
looked back to my right where the left of our line lay, and
I distinctly saw three line of battle advancing on Lawton's
Georgians, commanded by Colonel Douglas. The Geor-
gians were lying behind a little breastwork made of fence
rails, quietly waiting for them to come near enough to deal

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 145

a death blow at a single volley. I and others had no time
to halt around that battery, and hurried on to get out of
range. As I passed I turned to the right, coming to the
rock fence that was on one side of the Hagrstown turnpike,
I fell over as quick as I could, others doing the same. About
this time McLaws' and Walker's Divisions arrived from
Harper's Ferry and a part of each division was thrown
forward to meet the mighty host that was trying to crush
Jackson's Corps. Lawton's Georgians had turned loose
upon the advancing Yankees and put a check on them, such
a roar of musketry was seldom heard and there I was, away
from my command, without ammunition, not knowing
where it was or what to do. The solid shot and unexploded
shells kept knocking down the rock fence, and my position
soon became untenable, so I concluded that I would move
on down the pike in the direction of the little town of
Sharpsburg, which was not far away down in the bottom.
When I got down there I found General Colquitt and several
other officers of distinction standing in the road begging
men to halt and fall into ranks, of what looked to me as a
straggler's brigade. I told them that I was without ammu-
nition, and they cited me to a place where I could be sup-
plied. I filled my box and pockets and went where they
directed and fell into line. I asked the lieutenant com-
manding for a certificate of my presence and detention in
that command, he wrote on a small slip of paper the fol-
lowing: To whom it may concern: I hereby certify that
Corporal W. A. McClendon of Co. "G" 15th Alabama Regi-
ment, was detained to do service in front of Sharpsburg,
to assist in checking the advance of the enemy near the
bridge across the Antietam. Signed Lieut Ga. com-
manding." I folded the slip and put it in my pocket and
felt some easier. Our position was behind a fence, with
a corn-field in front. The corn was in roasting-ear, the
rows running at right angles to the fence, which enabled
us to have a fair fire at the Yanks as they advanced down
the rows. The contest up on the hill, in the direction from
which I came, and on the left of Longstreet's front, was
raging with great fury. Somebody's children were being
hurt. We were not long in waiting before they showed
themselves in our front, and commenced to advance down
the corn rows, and as soon as they came near enough we
gave them a volley which sent them back disorganized.
We kept firing as long as we could see one in range, and

—10

146 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

at last the smoke became so thick that we could not see
anything. I quit shooting and lay down, for I could not
see anything to shoot at. They ceased their attack on us,
and fresh troops coming in they fell back, consequently we
were idle and some of the men began to leave the ranks to
hunt for their commands. This was objected to by the
officers, and I made no attempt to leave and remained
there fully two hours, ready to do whatever I was com-
manded to do. The contest for the possession of the bridge
across the Antietam was in progress, and the slaughter was
something like to that of Bonapart's passage of the bridge
of Lodi. It was defended by that unreconstructed Georgan
Bob Toombs, with two regiments of his brigade. They
repulsed five different desperate assaults made by greatly
superior numbers, but the Georgians maintained their po-
sition with distinguished gallantry. The enemy began to
extend his line to the left down the creek as if to cross be-
low, and Toombs withdrew his command when the enemy
began to cross, but was met by General Jones, which put
a check to their advance from that direction. After this
the emergency of our detention passed, and we were or-
dered to break ranks and go to our commands. I set out
at once, and passing through the little town, I entered an
apple orchard and there helped myself to all I wanted from
those that had fallen from the trees. I passed by some
straw stacks that were two feet above the ground and sev-
eral men had taken refuge under them. I knew only one
of them, and that was Johnnie Nelson, an Irishman that
belonged to Co. ''K." I asked him if he knew where the
regiment was and he replied "No" and looked so indifferent
that it left the impression on my mind that he did not care.
I did not know which way to go or what to do. What
bothered me was being away from my command, and did
not know but what they were in the heavy fighting that was
going on in front. I had understood that Gen. A. P. Hill,
with his division from Harper's Ferry was momentarily
expected to arrive. I went up a long slant toward a heavy
belt of woods and sat down. Soldiers were passing to and
fro, some lost from their commands the same as I was. I
enquired often for the 15th Alabama, but no one could tell
anything about it. The sun was about two hours high when
General A. P. Hill arrived with his division. He threw
forward his batteries along with Gen. D. R. Jones and re-
inforced him with three brigades of his division, and the

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 147

progress of the enemy was soon checked and his line began
JS-'^ST. ^^d bpg^an to fall back. I was an eye witness to
this hght, and it was animating to me to see Hill's trooDS
advancing and firing in such fine style. The enemy fell
back m confusion pursued by the troops of Hill and Jones
until he had reached the protection of his numerous bat-
teries on the opposite side of the creek. It was now nearly
dark when the firing ceased. I moved on up the hill where
I saw a line of men, but it proved to be men belonging to
several commands lost like myself. They began to call
out their commands and I began to call for the 15th Ala-
bama. I called several times as loud as I could, and at last
some one answered "Here." I called again, receiving the
same answer. I moved on in the direction of the voice
until I came up to the man that had been answering, and
Ifound It to be Daniel McClellan of my company, who had
been sick and had fallen behind. He had not been in the
engagement, consequently he could give me no tidings of
our company It was dark and after consulting over our
condition and the situation of affairs, we concluded to stay
there until morning. We spread our guns and blankets at
dronn?H S ^ 1 ^^ oak and there undisturbed we soon
dropped off to sleep, not however, until I had told him of
our hard fight that day, and the loss of four or five of our
best men.

CHAPTER XLVII

AN OLD VETERAN'S ACCOUNT OF "STONEWALL"

JACKSON'S LAST DAY IN THE STATE OF

MARYLAND, 1862.

Dear Friend :

All Confederate veterans know how easily it was to
sleep, after a hard day's fight, when an opportunity was
offered. He would only have to be still a little while be-
fore he would fall into a doze, even under bursting shells
and the sound of small arms he would fall asleep Thus it
was with myself and Daniel McClellan on the night of the
17th. At early dawn we started to the front in search of
our command. Other soldiers were moving in the same

148 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

direction, some in squads commanded by an officer, all
moving to the front, bent upon the same mission as our-
selves. We came out of the woods into a large field where
we could see a mile to the front, and in the far distance
I discovered a line of troops, which I recognized by their
colors to be Virginians, occupying pretty much the same
position of the day before. This proved to be Jackson's
old division on the left of his corps. We hurried on in
the direction of our position of the day before, until we
came near the belt of woods that Bunker's Church was in,
and not far away I recognized the colors of the 15th Ala-
bama, and we proceeded directly for them. When we ar-
rived, as well as my memory serves, there were about sixty
men with them, and they were commanded by Lieut. C. V.
Morris of Co. "G," who is familiarly known to us as Colonel
Morris, an aged and honored citizen who now resides at
Ft. Gaines, Ga. Lieut. L. L. Guerry of Co. "C" was second
in command; he has crossed over. The boys were telling
of yesterday's battle, who were killed and who wounded,
and what they did. They all had been more or less en-
gaged after we left our position of the early morning. Of
course, I had to tell my experience, that I had fought in
what I called a straggler's brigade. I produced my cer-
tificate of detention, which eliminated all doubt, if any ex-
isted of my unfaithfulness. I was proud to get to my
command, but was made sad when I learned that our Order-
ly Sargeant Joe Balkum had been killed and Sargeant J. J.
Carr had lost his right arm from which he died; either of
them would have made fine officers. Others kept coming
in and by nine o'clock we had a pretty good regiment, con-
sidering the arduous service that we had lately performed.
All the regiments of the brigade were gotten together, and
took position in line in the division and made ready to meet
a renewal of the attack that was expected would be made
that morning. Desultory firing had been going on be^-
tween the pickets all the morning and an attack was mo-
mentarily expected but happily for us none came, for we
were tired and worn out and needed rest, but we would
have obeyed and would have hurt the Yankees worse that
day than we did the day before, as our position was better.
About 11 o'clock a truce was ordered for the purpose of
removing the wounded and burying the dead. I was not
on the detail, but straggled over as near to our position
of the morning before as I could, looking for Orderly

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 149

Balkum, but I did not find him. I passed through a low
rocky bottom in the woods, just in the rear of the position
of Lawton's Brigade of the morning before and there I
saw boys in Gray and boys in Blue, cold in death, lying
close to each other, almost touching each other in some
places, and I am sorry to say that some of them were partly
denuded. Colonel Douglas of the 13th Georgia was one of
the slain that I recognized, and he was partly nude also.
Ghastly spectacles were abundant as the eye ranged over
this scene of mortal strife. The scene was so sickening
and the cries of the wounded so pitiful, and I so powerless
to help that I turned away in silence and wended my way
back to my command, wondering how and when this cruel
war would end. During the day the wounded were re-
moved, and the dead buried. General Lee had special
reasons for not renewing the battle that morning, in con-
sequence of the arduous service that we had done, having
been deprived of much rest, making long marches and many
without shoes and all these things together had greatly re-
duced our numebrs before the battle commenced. Our
ranks had been greatly diminished in the terrible action of
the day before, so much that he was too weak to assume
the offensive, and he preferred to wait for a renewal of
the attack upon him. The day passed without any demon-
stration by the enemy and it was reported that he was
waiting for re-inforcements. General Lee could not ex-
pect any, but had formed his line with what he had. and
was ready to receive them in a much better position than
of the first day. History says that Fitz John Porter's
Corps of the Yankee army did not fire a gun the first day,
and that a strong division under General Couch arrived
that evening from Washington, and these facts being known
by General Lee, he did not think it prudent to wait for an-
other attack, consequently during the night of the 18th
we were quietly withdrawn to the South side of the Po-
tomac, crossing at the same ford near Shepardstown where
we crossed over on the 16th. Our crossing was made quiet-
ly, without loss or molestation, back to Virginia once more.
Thank God! with whole hide and bones. I just naturally
felt like I had been a long time from home and had to my
joy returned. I was just simply tired out and no one but
myself knew how glad I was to recross the Potomac. I
was glad that we were not attacked as was expected that
day. Our loss in field officers had been heavy. Several

150 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

brigadiers and colonels had been killed, but the loss of the
Federals had been greater than ours as they were the as-
sailants. Major Generals Mansfield and Reno were killed,
each commanding a division in Sumner's Corps and several
brigadiers and colonels were killed and wounded. Major
General Hooker was also wounded. History gives our loss
at eight thousand. The sacrifice of officers on both sides
had been serious. I give it as my opinion that the battle
of Sharpsburg or Antietam (as some called it,) was the
hardest battle that was fought by Lee's army during the
war. I base my opinion upon the general condition and
numbers of both armies at the time. It was an all day
fight. The Confederate line was weak, but the Federal
line was strong, and they could re-inforce their line when-
ever and wherever they wanted to. We could not do it,
but would have to stand with our depleted ranks and meet
every assault made upon them without flickering, which
was characteristic of the Veteran Corps of "Stonewall"
Jackson. 'Tis true, our line was broken in several places,
but at no time did we become panic stricken and desert
the field. They had the numbers, we had the courage and
confidence to meet them in every attack. With but two or
three exceptions we held our same positions on the 18th,
that we did on the 17th, and thus we stood with our de-
pleted ranks staring the Federal army in the face ready to
meet the increased host that could have been thrown
against us that day, but the Yankee's general hesitated,
he was afraid to venture. It has been conceded by impar-
tial histroy that this was a drawn battle, but the Federal
commander had to say something to appease the wrath of
his government; and on the 19th, after Lee had re-crossed
everything back into Virginia, he telegraphed his govern-
ment "that he did not know if the enemy were falling back
to an interior position or recrossing the river, but we can
safely claim the victory as ours." But in a very short
while after this despatch he ascertained that Lee had re-
crossed the Potomac, he consoled his government with an-
other telegram saying, "The victory is complete, Lee has
been driven back into Virginia, and Maryland and Penn-
sylvania are safe." McClellan wa stoo badly hurt to push
his advantage if he had any. He knew his condition better
than any one else, but his government was chafing under
disappointment. It had long been the talk that if Lee's
army could advance into Maryland that there were thous-

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 151

ands of Marylanders only waiting for a chance to join our
army to assist in throwing off the yoke of tyranny that had
so long held them down. At Frederick City about the 8th
of September, General Lee issued an address, (which is
somewhere in history) directed "To the People of Mary-
land." In this address he told them the object if his visit,
and giving them an opportunity of rallying to our colors
if they so desired, not to oppress or wantonly destroy any-
thing they had, but I think they were sorter like some of
Jubal Early's men were in the Valley in the summer of
'64. It was said that when his lines were broken at Fish-
er's Hill, he would dash around on his horse commanding
the men to "rally, rally men, for God's sake rally," and
some of his men, to guy the old fellow by replying, "narry
rally. General, narry rally." So that was the way with
the people of Maryland, with the exception of a few, they
didn't rally worth a cent, preferring to gaze upon both
armies, fearing a confiscation or a conflagration, by the
Yankees. So the object of the Maryland campaign to some
extent was a failure, although we had some Marylanders
with us that was as true as steel, and loyal to the last. God
bless them, all honor to them wherever they may be. I
have disgressed somewhat from my main subject, but will
return by saying that the 18th day of September, 1862, was
the last day that "Stonewall" Jackson spent in Maryland.
He was killed the next May, and his corps never went into
Maryland again during his lifetime. As I have already
said, we re-crossed the Potomac by wading and marched
out about four miles and went into camp. I have forgot-
ten to say that there was a canal on the North side of the
Potomac, which was made dry by cutting the lock above.
The banks were dug down which made it easy to cross, and
in the next chapter I will tell you what use the Yankees
made of it when they started in pursuit.

152 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

CHAPTER XLVIII

STONEWALL JACKSON'S CORPS BACK IN VIRGINIA

IN CAMP AT BUNKER HILL BY AN OLD

VETERAN.

Dear Friend :

If my memory is not at fault, our division (E well's)
was the last to recross the Potomac and Lawton's Brigade
of Georgians was the rear brigade. As a matter of pre-
caution the skirmishers were left in front to conceal our
movement. I don't remember seeing any soldiers, or any
property of any description abandoned on our route down
to where we crossed the Potomac. When Lawton's Bri-
gade crossed a company from the 38th Georgia was de-
tailed as pickets to guard the ford. This company was
called "The Irvin Invincibles" and was largely composed
of men from this county, (Henry.) During the night the
pickets that had been left in front was quietly withdrawn
and the way was clear for the Yankees to advance, if they
wanted to. Early on the morning of the 19th they dis-
covered our adsence and began to advance. Colonel Pen-
dleton, our chief of artillery, had planted four guns on a
hill above the little town of Shepherdstown, for the purpose
of resisting their advance, and the Yankees soon engaged
him with a number of guns to overmatch, and under cover
of their fire they began to advance their infantry. There
was an obscure way by which they could reach the canal
unobserved by our artillerymen, and they didn't fail to take
this advantage, and passed down by small squads until they
had no less than a brigade in solid column in the canal.
They then moved down in the canal by their left flank un-
observed by our pickets until they became opposite the
ford, and all at once the command forward was given,
they rose up out of the canal as though they had come out
of the ground, and immediately made a dash for the river,
and began to cross by wading. They began cheering, with
their familiar Yankee brogue by yelling "hooza, hooza" as
if to frighten our pickets away. Our pickets were on the
opposite side, stationed behind trees, and everything

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 153

else that afforded protection and immediately be-
gan to fire on them while crossing, killing and wounding
a great many of them while in the water. The fire from
our pickets were insufficient to check them. There were
too many for our boys, and those that lived come right on,
and our men had to back and let them cross. It was said
that they crossed over a division when they formed line
of battle, threw out skirmishers, and began to advance
slowly for the purpose of ascertaining our position. Jack-
son being always on the alert, was knowing to all this, and
he sent A. P. Hill down with his division to meet them and
according to his custom, he was not long in finding them,
and his attack was so sudden and furious that the Yanks
broke for the river, but Hill crowded them to the water's
edge, and many of them found a watery grave, many of
them surrendered rather than run the risk of being shot
down in the water. (I would have done the same thing.)
The fight being over, Hill established his pickets and be-
gan to move his wounded and bury his dead, and then
marched his division back, and went into camp. I don't
know when or how the dead and wounded Yankees was dis-
posed of, for the battle-field was three miles avv^ay, and I
never went back to see, but I suppose they were properly
attended to as was our custom. Peace and quietude then
reigned supreme, and the usual interchange of visits among
the soldiers of different commands commenced. One of my
visits was to the 38th Georgia, and to the company that
had been left on picket at the river when the Yanks cros-
sed on the night of the 18th. I had several acquaintances
in that company, one in particular that I will mention, and
that was no less than our good old man, W. W. Kirkland,
who still lives an aged, honored. Christian gentleman, and
is loved by all that know him for his manly bearing and
virtue. He is familiarly known as Uncle Wilce, with not
an enemy on earth, or in heaven. He knew me when a
boy, was glad to see me and delighted to tell me his ex-
perience while on picket at the river, when the Yankees
come across. I was an intent listener and took great de-
light in his story. He said, "they just come right on, hoo-
zaying and hoozaying, as though they were driving a drove
of cattle or trying to scare us with their noise. I loaded
and shot them as fast as I could and I certainly must have
downed some of them. If I didn't, the fault was in my
gun, but we couldn't keep them back, and to keep from be-

154 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

ing captured we had to retreat." Uncle Wilce hasn't for-
got it 'till this day, and enjoys to tell about it yet. When
he crosses over, surely a good man will be gone. Our camp
was in a thick woods where fuel and water was plentiful.
We were ordered to cook two day's rations, and we had to
wait until our "pot" and "spider" wagon came up, which
was momentarily expected. When it come, a rush was
made by one from each mess to get a spider ; I represented
my mess, and luckily I seized on to a spider and started
to camp with it, and on my way I discovered that it was
marked, which indicated that it had a special owner. It
was marked on the handle by having three notches filed in
the handle, and it was up to me to disfigure it so that the
rightful owner would not recognize it. When I arrived at
my camp I laid the handle on a rock and with another I in-
tended breaking it below the notches, but just as I raised
my rock to come down on it, some one says, "Don't break
it, it's mine." I looked up and saw that it was Lieutenant
Strickland of Co. "I." I withheld the blow and surrenderd
the spider as gracefully as I knew how, but not without
remorse, for I knew that I had done wrong. My mess-
mates guyed me considerably, but I could say nothing, only
for them to do better if they could, consequently we had to
wait until some of the rest of the boys fininshed their cook-
ing before we could cook a mouthful. This, however, was
frequently the case, for cooking utensils was very scarce.
While at this camp, I went out foraging for honey one
night. One of my company ascertained where some other
soldiers were going to rob some bee gums at night, and his
plan was to play officer with a guard and fain a capture
of the whole crowd and get the honey. After roll call he
donned an officer's uniform and the three or four others
that he had let on to it, got our guns and quietly, unob-
served, slipped out of camp. Our leader knew exactly the
spot of woods that the gums was to be brought to, and we
hastened on for a mile or more. Suddenly we halted, no
one speaking, but gazing intently down into a piece of
woods where we were informed that the gums was to be
brought. This is rather a squeamish piece of business,
thought I to myself. I had just begun to realize the peril-
ous position I might get into, and the more I brooded over
it to myself, the more serious it became, until I was on the
eve of dropping out and retracing my steps back to camp,
but all at once the light of fire flashed not fifty yards away.

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 155

"That's them" whispered our leader. Directly a knocking
commenced, as if to lift the lids off the gums. More light
was made. Much laughing and talking in subdued tones
were heard, and the constant passing around the light rep-
resented half, or a dozen men, a pretty good crowd for us
to tackle, thought I, but I am going to stick if I am cap-
tured myself. After a reasonable length of time, we
marched on to them briskly. We came up from different
directions. There were only five or six of them and as
luck would have it we had no trouble in getting rid of the
whole crowd. Each one had an excuse for absence until
the last one left, the very thing we wanted them to do.
The night was cool and the bees being of the good kind we
had no trouble with them. They had robbed about three
gums and their honey were in camp kettles and our com-
mander thought it wise to get away from there as soon as
possible. We picked up the three or four buckets of honey
and hastened back to camp. On arriving we concealed it
the best we could, and for several days enjoyed eating good
honey. We expected the next day that the citizen who
owned the gums would be around looking for his honey,
but none came, he might have been in the war. We didn't
know what house they came from, the other fellows did.
We remained in this camp for several days. I did not
know what was going on in the balance of the army. After
a few days we broke camp and marched in the direction
of Winchester, halting, and going into camp about five
miles North of Winchester at a large spring near the turn-
pike. This place was called, and is know by the men of
Lee's army as "Bunker Hill." There was no town, noth-
ing but a large spring surrounded by a beautiful level, fer-
tile land. When we were first there, in the early spring
the surroundings indicated wealth, but the ruthless invader
had been there, and had laid waste to everything that could
not be appropriated to their use. The famous "Stone-
wall" Brigade of Virginians were mostly raised in these
parts, which intensified the hatred of the Yankees against
these people. The spring alluded to above afforded enough
pure water to supply Lee's army without muddying it.
While at this camp we turned in our old smooth bore mus-
kets, and was armed with new Enfield rifles out of the lot
that had been captured at Harper's Ferry. Ammunition to
suit was issued (56 calibre minnie ball), and we were all
glad of the change, for we felt like we would be more on

156 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

equality with the Yankees at a long distance than we were
with our old muskets. As well as I remember, we spent
twenty days of October at this camp, and the next move
we made it was to cross the Blue Ridge in the direction of
Culpepper Court House.

CHAPTER XLIX

AN OLD VETERAN UNDER "STONEWALL" JACKSON
IN THE BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG
DECEMBER 13TH, 1862.
Dear Friend :

The weather during the latter days of September and all
during the month of October was ideal for the movement of
troops. There had been but little rain, and the roads were
good. We knew nothing of the movements of the Yankees
and cared less. They seemed to be idle, waiting for re-
inforcements. Our ranks, after the battle of Sharpsburg,
and up to the battle of Fredericksburg, had received con-
siderable strength by the return of the absentees from
hospitals and otherwise; notwithstanding all this we were
out-numbered by the Yankees two to one, as we generally
were. Our march from Bunker Hill to Culpepper Court
House was made with leisure, nothing to molest or impede
our progress. History says that the government at Wash-
ington was chafing with impatience at the tardiness of their
commander, McClellan. He began to concentrate in and
near Harper's Ferry, but made no forward movement. On
the 6th of October President Lincoln ordered an immediate
advance, recommending that he should take the interior
line between Washington and Lee's army and make an
early battle, but McClellan still hesitated and weeks wore
on without any decided movement. The beautiful weather
of September and October had finally passed without any
demonstrations of moment being made. The cold, bleak
November winds begin to whistel over the fields and moun-
tains, and it was getting about time for something to hap-
pen. McClellan's hesitation and timidity became so evident
to his government at Washington that he, to his surprise,

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 157

was relieved of the command of the Army of the Potomac
and General Burnside assigned to command. He found at
his command a splendid army under good discipline, such
as it's former commander always had. It was divided into
three grand divisions, each consisting of two corps, and
were commanded by Generals Sumner, Hooker and Frank-
lin. Of course the Yankee generals of that army had all
been planning to defeat Lee, and capture Richmond and
Burnside at once proposed to go to Richmond via Freder-
icksburg, by crossing the Rappahannock by means of pon-
toons, and with his one hundred and ten thousand men
brush Lee with his sixty thousand out of his way and pro-
ceed to Richmond by Hanover Court House, but let's see
how near he came of carrying his plan into execution.
About the 18th of November General Lee received infor-
mation that confirmed the impression that Burnside was
moving his whole army in the direction of Fredericksburg.
He had already occupied Stafford Heights, had fortified
and planted seige guns which commanded the town, and
was making every preparation to cross. General Lee had
already moved some of his army down there to resist a
sudden attempt at crossing. Our corps was some twelve
or fifteen miles below, near Port Royal, a little town on
the river. General Lee concentrated his army, took po-
sition on Maryea's Heights, and began to fortify. Long-
street's Corps occupied the left of our line and our corps
the right. Cold weather had set in, and we were without
quarters. As the days wore on each army was preparing
for another "spat," one to advance and assault, and the
other to resist. General Lee had stationed Barksdales
with his brigade of Mississippians in the town, and along
the edge of the river to impede their progress as long as
they could when the Yanks began to lay his pontoon to
cross. From our position we could hear more or less can-
nonading every day, in the direction of Fredericksburg,
and about the 10th of December we received orders to cook
three day's rations, and be ready to move at a moment's
notice. We knew something was going to happen pretty
soon, as orders of that kind was always a prelude to a
battle or a long march. It was said that Burnside had a
powerful artillery force attached to his army, of which no
less than one hundred and forty guns, overlooked the town
of Fredericksburg, and commanded the course of the river
and the opposite bank. The corporate authorities had been

158 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

summoned to surrender the city with a threat that in case
of refusal the city would be bombarded at a certain hour
the next day. The women and children began at once to
leave their homes, carrying with them only what they
could on their backs. The bombardment did not take place
at that time. At early dawn on the 11th, our signal guns
announced that the enemy was in motion. Some time early
in the morning he commenced to lay two pontoons, one op-
posite the city and the other about one and a quarter miles
below, near the mouth of a little creek called Deep Run.
From an early hour until 4 P. M. our troops that had been
stationed to resist, sheltered themselves behind the houses
on the river bank, and repelled several efforts of the enemy
to lay his bridge opposite the town, driving them back with
great slaughter. At the lower place there was no protec-
tion for our men, and they could only keep up an annoying
fire from whatever protection they could find, and for a
moment the enemy retired. Then they turned loose not
less than one hundred guns upon the city. Houses fell,
timbers crashed, dust rose from brick houses, flames from
the burinig buildings ascended, while there poured out a
stream of unlucky citizens who had remained too long.
Our troops, unable to withstand the fire of the batteries,
and a superior force of the enemy's infantry that lined the
banks on the other side, were withdrawn and left it free
for the Yankees to cross and come on. They began at
once to lay their bridges, and when completed they sent
up a cheer and begun to cross., General Lee had accom-
plished his design in delaying them, until he could concen-
trate his forces. Burnside, availing himself of the dense
fog on the river, continued without molestation to cross
his army over. It taken nearly all day of the 12th, and
late in the evening when he had formed his line, he fell
along Lee's front, only to find him in compact lines ready
to receive him. While all these things were taking place
at Fredericksburg, our corps was on the march to take our
place in line. A. P. Hill had preceeded us, and his divis-
ions had been placed on Longstreet's right and extended
to Hamilton's crossing on the railroad. Our division, com-
manded by General Early, and Jackson's old division, com-
posed Jackson's second line, while D. H. Hill's Division
was our reserve. This was our formation when we arrived
on the A. M. of the 13th. Jackson had numerous batteries
posted all along his front so that he could fire on their ad-

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 159

vancing columns whenever they attempted an advance on
his line. Early in the morning, the plain between our po-
sition and the river where the Federal army lay in great
force was enveloped in fog, and it was under cover of this
fog that he formed his three grand divisions for assault.
Only occasionally in the morning part of the day could his
lines be seen in consequence of the dense fog, but all the
while loud commands could be heard on the plain that in-
dicated that troops were marching and counter-marching,
forming to advance. All was feverish with expectation.
Between nine and ten o'clock the sun lifted the foggy veil
from the valley and there stood the Yankee army in plain
view just ready to advance. Our batteries at once, from
the left to the right (where we was) began their murder-
ous work upon the long lines of their densely crowded in-
fantry that occupied the level plain between us and the
river. More than a hundred pieces, and some of large
calibre, was turned loose upon our position under which
their infantry advanced and assaulted Longstreet's po-
sition with great determination, but was repulsed with
great slaughter. Their attacks upon Longstreet was re-
peated, after redoubling their forces, but the last assault
was attended with no more success than the first. "While
these attacks were going on he extended his left far beyond
Jackson's right, and began to make preparations to attack
Jackson in front and on his right flank. J. E. B. Stuart,
with his fine division of cavalry, and the gallant Maj. John
Pelham who commanded the Stuart Horse Artillery, pro-
tected our right so they could not reach our flank and had
to assault us directly in front. Sumner, who commanded
the right grand division, and Hooker the center, had met
with such slaughter that any further attempt upon Long-
street was abandoned, and now it was up to Franklin to
attack Jackson with the left grand division. My brigade
was commanded by Col. R. F. Hoke of North Carolina, and
was directly in the rear of Gen. Maxey Gregg's Brigade of
South Carolinians, were attacked with such overwhelming
numbers that caused them to fall back, and in General
Gregg's effort to rally his men he was shot and killed al-
most instantly; this caused some confusion, but they never
broke but kept falling back, contesting every inch of ground
the advancing enemy gained. Colonel Hoke called us to
attention, and ordered us to fix bayonets. A perfect stream
of wounded was passing to our rear. The firing in front

160 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

was of the heaviest kind. The cheers of the advancing
Yankees could be plainly heard. They v^ere following and
crowding the South Carolinians with perfect joy, but poor
fellows, they did not know what they were soon to meet.
Capt. W. C. Gates (Now General Gates), was in command
of my regiment, and was eager to order an advance but
had to wait until Colonel Hoke ordered. When everything
got right, Hoke ordered us forward, with orders not to fire
until we had passed our men in front. We soon came upon
them when we halted and was ordered to fire, and immedi-
ately we raised the "Rebel Yell" and rushed on to the
Yankees with the bayonet. They could not stand. They
were not expecting such a deadly volley. They broke and
we after them down the hill to the cut in the railroad where
we overhauled a goodly number of them crouched down,
waving white handkerchiefs to surrender. Gur troops on
the right and left charged simultaneous with us, and had
the same success. The railroad made a curve at this place
and as far as I could see to the right and left there were
Yankees and our men all mixed up together. The South
Carolinians had killed and wounded a great many when
they advanced upon them, and they were lying scattered
about, some beyond the railroad. We were ordered to halt,
after we had crossed over the railroad. The Yankees went
to the rear in a hurry. I believe they were really anxious
to get out of it. Captain Gates ordered us back to the rail-
road and there we remained awaiting orders. There was
a powerful army just in front, and we made ready to meet
an attack from them. Gur artillery just in our rear, com-
manded by the youngest artillery officer in Lee's army, was
dealing destruction to their infantry all the time. Their
seige guns from Stafford Heights tried in vain to silence
him. This was the only assault made upon us that even-
ing, and dark coming on, the firing ceased "except now and
then a stray picket." There was a little broom sage in our
front and the fire from the enemy's bombs had set it on fire
and several of the wounded Yankees were unable to get
away, and the blazing straw swept over them like a hurri-
cane. Those that were able fought the flames manfully
with their caps, and those that were not able to fight was
considerably singed. Cruelty to their own men. About
dark we received orders to lay off everything except our
canteens and cartridge boxes, load and fix bayonets, and
be ready to move at a moment's notice. What does all this

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 161

mean? It was soon reported that we were going to charge
the Yankees. We were not to speak a word and was to be
preceded by our artillery which was to be drawn by hand.
I had seen what was in front before it became dark, and in
my imagination I conceded it to be a hazarduous under-
taking. I had been in one night fight over at Manassas
which satisfied me, and somehow I had a peculiar horror
for night fighting, and could picture in my imagination the
most horrible things. It was "Stonewall" Jackson's plan
to drive them into the river and doubtless we would have
succeeded if General Lee had not opposed it. General Lee
thought that they would surely attack him the next day,
and he did not want to lose his advantage by risking a
night attack. The order was counter-manded, and I was
detailed to go on vidette. I was told to advance out in
front about twenty-five yards, and there watch until I was
relieved. I knew by going that far out I would be near
the Yankees. It was dark, except the star-light. I did
not know then that any one else from the regiment had
been sent out, but I afterwards ascertained that similar
details had been made from each company. I crawled as
low as I could in the scattering broom sage as far as I
thought I was ordered to go. I kept looking back to see if
I could, how far I was out. I was in constant dread for
fear I would crawl into the Yankee lines, for I knew they
were nigh, and I had to be cautious. When I decided that
I was far enough out I halted and crouched down until I
could just look above the top of the straw. I was not there
long before I discovered something dark just ahead of me
lying on the ground. I decided that it was a Yankee lying
there in silence to take me in. I cocked my gun, and took
position to shoot at the first word or movement that might
be done. I sat and watched for a minute or more without
discovering any movement from whatever it was. I had a
thousand thoughts in a minute. I would look back oc-
casionally. I was not going to surrender without a difl?i-
culty. I eased up a little nearer, near enough that I
punched him gently with my bayonet, then it was that I
ascertained that it was a dead Yankee that had been killed
about four hours. I eased up to where I could lay my
hands on him. The thought struck me to rifle his pockets,
and take off his shoes, but upon examination I found his
pockets wrong side out, and his shoes gone. He had been
robbed by his own people. There I sat beside my dead

—11

162 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

enemy in the dark, one who had lost his life in trying to
subdue a people who asked for nothing more than "Equality
in the Union, or Independence out of it." While there,
meditating over our condition, the thought entered my
mind that neither our parents, kindred or friends at home,
could draw the picture in their imaginations of our con-
dition and situation at that time. Nothing but the "All
Seeing Eye" could do it. I was near enough to the Yankees
to hear them cough and clear up their throats. We had
no orders to shoot unless they advanced. There was
wounded Yankees lying between our lines sending up the
most pitiful cries for help I ever heard. Some were calling
for water, some calling the names of his friends, but none
answered or went to their relief. Neither side could help.
The night was cold and there is no telling how some of
them suffered. Some of them may have died during the
night by freezing. 'Twas here that I heard the Masonic
word of distress given, but I did not know what it's mean-
ing was then. Such was the condition in our front on the
night of the 13th of December, 1862. We fought the bri-
gade of the Pennsylvania Reserves; one young fellow that
belonged to the 13th Pennsylvania lay wounded at the rail
road and it was from him that I got my information from
as to what troops. I remained out on post about two
hours, when I was relieved by a man of another regiment
which had come down to relieve ours. I went back to my
command, and we soon after moved out quietly to the rear,
about two hundred yards and after rectifying our line we
were ordered to rest. It was after midnight, cold and
damp. We were not allowed to build fires and the only
way to keep warm was to huddle together. This we did,
and slept as best we could 'till daylight, when we were
aroused and put in shape to receive the attack that was ex-
pected to be made. When night closed in the shattered
masses of the enemy took refuge in the city, leaving their
dead and wounded scattered all over the battlefield. The
Yankee army was now at an appalling extremity, crowded
in the city with a river in their rear, and I always thought
that if we had crowded them that night according to Jack-
son's plan we would have been successful. It was said
that General Lee candidly confessed his error in not order-
ing the attack as Jackson had suggested, and gave as a
reason that the attack on the 13th had been so easily re-
pulsed, and by so small a portion of his army, that he did

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 163

not suppose that the enemy would limit his effort to one
attempt and preferred to wait for another attack. It
would have been a suicidal policy for us to have advanced
on them in the day time, for they had at least one hundred
guns planted on Stafford Heights on the opposite side of
the river, that commanded the entire battle-field. We lay
all the day of the 14th in the rear, expecting to be called
into action at any time. There was no demonstration
made by the enemy that day, and each army lay still, and
only sharpshooting and an occasional shelling was indulged
in during the day. The 15th passed off quietly without an
attack. We were necessarily ignorant of the extent to
which the Yankee army had suffered, and was only made
known to us when on the morning of the 16th we found
that he had availed themselves of the darkness of the night
and the prevailance of a violent storm of rain and wind to
recross the river, A great victory had been achieved by
us with the small loss to that of the Yankee's, and with this
engagement ended active operations of both armies during
that year, and each commander began to take positions
to go into winter quarters, with the Rappahannock River
intervening. Our corps was moved down the river about
twelve miles, where we went into winter quarters and
there remained until my brigade was broken up, and each
regiment was transferred to other brigades composed of
troops from the same States. I don't mean to say that the
organization of the brigade was completely destroyed.
My regiment, the 15th Alabama, was transferred to Law's
Alabama Brigade in Hood's Division, Longstreet's Corps.
Another regiment from another State took our place, and
Colonel Hoke of the 21st North Carolina was promoted
to command it. Law's Brigade was composed of the 4th,
15th, 44th, 47th and 48th Alabama regiments, and when
we broke up from our old brigade, which was Trimble's,
we marched back up toward Fredericksburg, going into
winter quarters where some other troops had moved from.
We were sorry to leave our old comrades, for we had gain-
ed an envious reputation while together, and we did not
know what kind of metal we were going to be attached to,
but we found them all O.K. Now, kind friend, with the
battle of Fredericksburg ended my career under the im-
mortal "Stonewall" Jackson and the next two years of my
service was in Longstreet's Corps from here to Appomat-

164

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

tox. Many were the battles and skirmishes engaged in
before the end came, the 9th of April, 1865, of which I
will undertake to tell in the next volume, should life last
to write it.

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 165

PART SECOND

CHAPTER I

REMINENCES OF AN OLD VETERAN OF THE 15TH
ALABAMA REGIMENT, LAW'S BRIGADE, HOOD'S
DIVISION, LONGSTREET'S CORPS, FROM
FREDERICKSBURG, VA., TO APPOMAT-
TOX COURT HOUSE.

Kind Friend: , , , .. ^

It has been two years since I finished my narrative o±
events while under ''Stonewall" Jackson, and as I have
been spared to nearly see my 64th birthday, I assume the
arduous task of telling only a part of my service in Long-
street's Corps from Fredericksburg to Appomattox, and
this will be from memory, therefore it will be replete of
many things that occurred. My regiment, the 15th Ala-
bama was transferred from Trimble's Brigade, Ewell s Di-
vision, 2nd Corps, (Jackson's) to Law's Alabama Brigade,
Hood's Division, Longstreet's 1st Corps, A. N. Virgmia,
some time in January, 1863. We were sorry to separate
from our old comrades and have to fight under a new com-
mander We were greatly attached to "Stonewall Jack-
son for he had never known defeat, but the law requiring
State troops to be brigaded together had to be obeyed, and
we bid farewell to our old brigade and marched to take
our place in Law's Alabama Brigade. We had constructed
comfortable winter quarters, and we thought it a hardship
to leave them not knowing that we would find any in our
new position, but when we arrived at our new command
we were assigned to a position that had been occupied by
another regiment that had been transferred to another com-
mand They had constructed rude huts as we had done,
and had to give them up to be occupied by other troops.
At that time there was a general moving among the troops
for the law for brigading the troops applied to all the

166 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

States as well as Alabama. I don't suppose that any regi-
ment experienced any inconvenience by having to leave
their quarters, and going to others, for the whole army had
gone into winter quarters and had built huts as a protec-
tion from the cold wind, rain and snow, and I think the
Yankee army had done the same thing. As well as I re-
member the weather was intensely cold, and snow was on
the ground four or five inches deep. Our camp was on
Maryea's Heights, near the battle-ground of the 13th of
December, on the left of General Lee's army. The timber
had been cut away and we were in plain view of the city of
Fredericksburg, two miles away, with the open plain ex-
tending to the city. This plain was occupied by the two
grand divisions of Burnside's army. The right was com-
manded by General Sumner, fronting Longstreet, the left
commanded by General Franklin, fronting Jackson. It was
Hooker's Division of Sumner's Corps that made such a des-
perate and determined assault on a part of Longstreet's
forces, which resulted so disastrously to what was after-
wards known by us to be the "Irish Brigade," commanded
by Brigadier General Maher, an Irishman. It was said
that their attack was resolute and determined, causing
such a loss that there was not enough left to organize any
more. Their brigadier was killed and nearly all the other
officers. It was Cobbs' Georgians that these Irish Yankees
were butting against, which resulted in putting them out
of business the balance of the war. It was this assault
that the gallant Brigadier General Thomas R. R. Cobb of
Georgia was killed. No truer patriot ever drew blade
than he in defense of the South. The position of Cobbs'
Brigade was well nigh impregnable, and could be held
against great odds. Such was the opinion of General
Hooker, when General Burnside called him into council the
night after the battle. It was said that they were dis-
cussing the propriety of renewing the attack the next
morning, when General Hooker expressed his doubts as to
his ability to accomplish anything, as it would only add a
greater slaughter of his men and vigorously protested
against a renewal. With this protest offered by General
Hooker, General Burnisde decided to withdraw, which he
did, greatly to the disappointment of General Lee. Pardon
the disgression. I will now return to our doings in camp.
I said the snow was four or five inches deep, yes; and it
frozed over, and remained so for several days. We soon

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 167

became reconciled, and applied ourselves to the new order
of things that the change had brought about. Those of us
who liked the sport of snow-fighting fell in with the bal-
ance of the division and made a vigorous attack on McLaws'
Division. Our division was commanded by Colonel Little
of a Georgia regiment. I don't know who commanded Mc-
Laws' Division, but it was a colonel. He and Little were
on horses, and it's useless to try to tell how severely they
were pelted. It was a sport that I enjoyed although I
would be roughly handled at times, occasionally some great
big Georgian would down me, and get astride of me, and
would fairly bank the snow in my face, and around my
neck. I would hollow for help, and if none came the fel-
low would get sorry for me and let me up, when I would
begin pelting away at some one, trying to retaliate for the
treatment I had just received. I don't thing if I was to say
that there was three thousand engaging in that snow-fight
I would be exagerating. Hood's Division, vs. McLaws'.
There were small engagements every day between regi-
ments, and sometimes brigades, as long as the snow lay on
the ground. I was worsted pretty badly at times, but sum-
ming all up, I guess I come out as well if not better than a
great many others. In a few days the snow melted and
the ground became to be slush and remained so until a
cold North wind would come and dry off everything, when
camp would be pleasant. A part of the time while we
were at this camp, late at evening we could look away
North beyoud Fredericksburg and across the Rappahan-
nock River over in Yankeedom, and see Prof. Low's bal-
loon with a man in it, overlooking our army. He was too
far off to be reached with a shot from our cannon. At last
it came our company's time to go on picket, to be gone one
day and night. We had to go down on the Rappahannock
below Fredericksburg, near where the Mattaponix creek
empties into the river. We relieved a company that had
been there twenty-four hours, occupying the same quarters
the did, which was a large brick dwelling house which had
been deserted by its occupants on the approach of Frank-
lin's Corps about the 12th of December, for it was near
this house that he laid his pontoons and crossed over, oc-
cupying the left of Burnside's army. At this time the
weather had moderated so as not to be unpleasant. There
were only three post to keep up, and the vidette would only
have to remain on post two hours, consequently he would

168 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

not suffer with cold before he was relieved. Those of us
that did not have to go on duty, would pass the time off
most pleasantly by singing old time sacred music songs,
while others would be patting and dancing. The house
was large enough so all these things could go on at once,
and one would not disturb the other. Our officers enjoyed
the fun as well as the men. The Yankees had their picket
post on the other side of the river opposite to ours. We
were only sent to guard against any sudden attempt that
they might make to lay their pontoons and recross. We
were not allowed to shoot at them, nor have any communi-
cation with them whatever. From four to six A. M. it came
my time as corporal to go with three men to relieve the
three that had been on from two to four. After I had went
the rounds I returned to quarters and when the streaks of
day began to light up in the East I sauntered off up the
river a short way, and took my seat on the trunk of a small
oak that had canted over by the roots near the edge of the
water. The bank in my rear hid me from view. The
river at this place was so narrow that by talking a little
loud we could understand each other. When it got light
enough to distinguish objects on the other side a Yankee
emerged from the bushes that skirted the outer edge of a
sand bar, he must to have seen me as he came down to the
water's edge, and began bathing his face and hands. When
he rose he looked over at me, and in a subdued tone said,
"Good morning, Johnnie." I nodded to him. Continuing,
he says, "Johnnie, have you got any sugar and coffe over
there?" I shook my head. Continuing, "Have you got
any tobacco?" I nodded yes. He then said, "If you will
send me over a plug of tobacco, I will send you over a cargo
of sugar and coffee." I nodded all right. He stepped back
a few steps and picked up a piece of plank ten inches wide
and about two feet long, sat down on the sand and began
doing something, I could not tell what, but I afterwards
found out. He had bored three holes, one at each end and
one in the middle, he did this with his pocket knife. He
set up three little sticks, in these holes and put pieces of
newspaper tied with strings on them, which imitated a
three-master schooner, the paper answering for sails. He
was but a few minutes at it, and when he finished he put a
sack of ground coffee about six inches long, mixed and pro-
portioned with sugar just right to sweeten any quantity
you would like to make, on the little craft and he pushed

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 169

her from shore. I sat and watched the little craft with a
great deal of anxiety, for I began to get uneasy for fear I
would be caught by the officers. It was curious to see how
it would tack in different directions, and ripple along on
the small waves, all the while drawing nearer to my side
of the river. It finally landed about thirty yards below.
I was ready to unload the ship and did, without asking the
permission of a government officer. I rolled up a plug of
tobacco in a copy of the Richmond Examiner and put it on
board. He motioned to me to go above and shove it off ; I
did as directed and in a few minutes it landed below him.
He was proud and so was I. The paper that I sent him
had a scathing rebuke to the U. S. government for enlist-
ing negroes to fight us Southerners. I had marked the ar-
ticle, and it caught his eye as soon as he opened it. He read
about a minute and says, "Pretty good." About that time
some of his friends called him and told him that the officer
of the day was coming and that he had better get away
from there. With this notice, he rose up, and taking a
handful of cartridges from his box, threw them into the
water, looking at me he said, "Don't you wish you was at
hom.e this morning?" I nodded yes. He hurried off and
was soon lost to sight and I sauntered back to quarters
feeling shy with my sack of sugar and coffee. I did not
use any of it until I returned to camp, and then I kept it a
secret from all except my mess-mates. I always thought
if I and that fellow ever met and recognized each other
he would have offered his hand as a token of friendship for
his acts proved to me that his heart was not in the war,
and he was in it only by the force of circumstances.
The celebrated Texas brigade belonged to Hood's Division,
and I had several acquaintances in the 1st and 5th Texas
that I had not seen since June, '62. I visited them and
found but few of them there, some had been killed and
others permanently disabled since last I saw them. These
were boys that left Henry County with their parents to
make their homes in Texas several years before the war
commenced, and I was glad to meet them. As well as I re-
member it was some time in the early part of February
that we had to abandon our winter quarters and march with
the division in the direction of Richmond. It seems to me
now that we were on the march two days. We marched
through Richmond, and went into camp about three miles
South of the city, on the Petersburg road. It was reported

170 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

that General Lee apprehended an attack upon Richmond
via of Petersburg, and we were in position to repel any as-
sault that might be made from that direction, and to be
nearer our depot of supplies. About sundown, Jackson,
Ward, myself and Lieut. Brainard started back to Richmond
The lieutenant was our passport to pass us over the bridge
that spanned the James river. There were guards stationed
at each end, and all the lieutenant had to do was to show his
stripes, and that was enough to pass us along with him.
It was a dark, cold, cloudy night threatenting snow. We
went into a theatre and remained about two hours, and
when we came out everywhere was covered in snow and
it still snowing heavily. We strated back to camp and af-
ter crossing the river and passing through Manchester, we
were in the broad road. The snow had so completely cov-
ered the ground that every where looked like a road, until
we began to come to a fence on each side, but until then,
one or the other of us would miss our way, and go into a
ditch nearly waist deep. When we arrived at camp some
of the boys were up standing around a fire with their oil
cloths spread over their shoulders. They were in a bad
humor, and said things that I will not undertake to repeat
here. That was one of the trials of the life of a soldier
that we frequently encountered after that. The question
with me was, what am I to do. Snow all over the ground,
and nowhere to lie down. I was tired enough just to pile
down anywhere. I could see little mounds about covered
with snow. It was two, sometimes three men would be
covered up with their blankets and oil cloths, all covered
with snow under there sleeping soundly. I called for my
bed fellow and he answered several yards away. I had
some difficulty in reaching him in avoiding stepping on, and
blundering over some one that was covered up and asleep,
everything looked level after I left the fire. I found my mate
and eased under the blankets with him, and I was soon
sound asleep. When I woke up the next morning I could
look at the little mounds and see a little volume of smoke
ascending from the heads of each, caused by the breath of
each one as he breathed through the snow. After awhile
we rose, shook our blankets and brushed away the snow,
gathered some dry brush and sticks around and went to
building fires preparatory to cooking breakfast. This was
generally done through the whole camp, and by the middle
of the afternoon the snow had disappeared only in

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 171

shady places. We remained here a few days looking and
expecting all the time for something to turn up. All at
once, one day we received orders to draw two days rations,
cook them, and be ready to move at a moment's warning.
We hardly got done cooking before the drum beat for us to
fall into ranks. Colonel Gates formed the regiment and
we took our place in line with the brigade, and it was not
long before we was in what seemed to us, as a forced march
back in the direction of Richmond. We passed through
hurriedly, and took the road that lead out toward a little
town called Ashland, some twenty miles away. We arrived
in its neighborhood about dark and went into camp. The
next morning we fell in again and retraced our steps. The
dirt road was all slush and the marching was extremely
bad. After awhile we came to a railroad that led to Rich-
mond and General Hood ordered the division on to it. Then
it was a short step, and a long step the balance of the way
until we struck the paved streets of Richmond. We passed
right through, and moving again on the railroads towards
Petersburg. After marching ten or twelve miles we went
into camp on the right side of the railroad, camping in a
large body of oaky woods minus of any undergrowth. We
afterwards learned that the forced march out to Ashland
was made to be in striking distance to aid General Lee at
Fredericksburg, should the enemy attempt to recross again,
which General Lee had reason to believe that he was mak-
ing preparations to do, but it proved to be a false alarm
and we were ordered back. We remained in this camp
pretty much all the month of March, and about the first of
April we were ordered to Suffolk. We marched through
the city of Petersburg and took what they called the Jerusa-
lem plank road. This was good marching as far as the
plank lasted. As well as I remember they lasted until we
came to a small village called Jerusalem, near a small river
called Black Water. We were three or four days on this
march, and when within a few miles of Suffolk our advanced
guard encountered the outpost of the garrison of Suffolk.
It resulted in a running fight then by our advance, until
they reached the environments of the city. We approached
as near as we could on one side, and formed a long line
around all of one side, and sharp-shooting was the order
of the day on through the month of April. That was a
sport that I was fond of (If you call it sport), and I could
indulge in it every day. One day I shot at a Yankee stand-

172 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

ing on his breast-works, he hollowed back at me, "You shot
too high." The next shot I lowered my sights and fired,
he never told me any more of the range of my bullet. C. L.
Renfroe, who now resides in Marshall, Texas, was behind
a big pine log with me, and is a witness to the incident.
Not long since, in our correspondence he reminded me of
the incident, a circumstance that I had long forgotten until
he mentioned it. I made some very narrow escapes some-
times. I would have close calls by bullets from the Yankee
pickets. Several of our regiment was killed and wounded
while here. I could not see, then, the object in sending our
division off down there, but I afterwards learned that that
country was likely to be run over with the Yankees, and it
was the object of our commissary department to gather the
supplies for the army before the Yankees could pillage the
country, which they soon would have done had it not been
for the arrival of Hood's Division. We were as a guard
for our wagon trains and I suppose there were an immense
amount of supplies collected and sent to a railroad that came
down that way from Petersburg. We remained a few days
in our position that we took when we first arrived. We
moved around what seems to me now on the North side of
the town, and immediately entrenched ourselves. Our
breastworks were not very strong, but strong enough with
other advantages that we had to make us feel secure. We
invited attack, but could never draw the Yankees beyond
their picket line. Firing was going on somewhere on the
line of the division nearly all the time. It become to be
monotonous and was hardly noticed. One evening, Cap-
tain John Cousins of General Law's staff called for volun-
teers to go with him at night to undertake to capture a
small steam boat that lay in the Nansamond River below
Suffolk. The river was narrow and the boat was tied up
on our side. Cousins had spied out the route where as he
thought it could be captured by making a sudden dash upon
it. Some twenty-five or thirty from the brigade had volun-
teered to go with him. I obtained permission from Lieut.
C. V. Morris who was at that time in command of the com-
pany to go with him, and according to an understanding
we assembled at Law's headquarters about dark. Here the
Captain give instructions haw he wanted us to act. Getting
through, we started off, not allowed to speak to each other.
When we arrived at a certain point he halted us, and had
us to get down on our knees in single rank, that being done

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 173

we began to crawl, on one hand, and knees for we had our
gun in the other, and could not use but one hand. It seemed
to me that we crawled at least half a mile, sometimes in
briars and bushes and occasionally a gulley would have to
be crossed. We had got near enough to the boat to see the
lights and to hear the bells ring. We halted, and lay flat
on the ground for a considerable time. I could not imagine
the cause of delay, but I afterwards learned that our leader
had to do some reconoitering before we could proceed fur-
ther. I heard the sentinel hollow out twelve o'clock and all
right. After a considerable lapse of time our leader came
crawling down the line ordering us to about face and move
off in the direction from whence we came. The under-
taking was a failure, and we went back to camp. The
captain explained to us that the boat was too well guarded
for us to make the attempt to capture it. In 1894 when the
Confederate Veteran Reunion was at Birmingham, I met
him for the first time after the war. I made myself known
to him and in our conversation I mentioned the incident.
"Oh yes! I now remember," said he. "I had forgotten it
long ago." He smiled and said, "Well Mc you boys didn't
know how near we all came to laeing captured that night."
I replied no, I didn't know anything about it. "Well," said
he, "we were nearly surrounded when I ordered a retrogade
movement." The fact was that some deserter that knew of
the undertaking had informed the Yankees of it, and they
made preparations to take us in. I would have volunteered
to go with Cousins anywhere, for he was a man of courage
and fine judgment, and a noted scout. He was an English-
man by birth and education, and a man of note in the bri-
gade. We all called him Law's wild man, on account of the
dress he wore, and manner in which he wore his hair. He
was a strange looking man altogether from any one that I
had ever seen. He resides at Glenn Allen, Va. A few days
before we left Suffolk he said something that give offense
to Colonel Connelly of the fifty-fifth North Carolina regi-
ment, and he asked Cousins for a retraction. Cousins re-
fused and the colonel challenged him for a duel. Cousins
promptly accepted, and the colonel mounted his horse and
rode away. Major Belo volunteer to take the colonel's
place, and came over and informed Cousins that he would
take the fight off the hands of Colonel Connelly. Cousins
told him all right, and agreed to use Mississippi rifles at
forty yards. Their seconds arranged for the time and place,

174 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

and the next morning they met and ever3rthing being ar-
ranged according to the "Law Duels" the word was given.
They both fired and the major was seen to wince a little,
Cousins stood erect, folded his arms and remarked to the
major that they were doing d — n bad shooting. The major
was snicked a little about the neck and blood was seen to
trickle down his breast when a parley between the friends
of each commenced and the matter was amicably adjusted.
I only heard the guns, but my captain (Gates) was a wit-
ness. About the first of May General Longstreet received
an urgent order to proceed at once to the relief of Lee on
the Rappahannock. The foraging teams were out and
Longstreet delayed his move until the next day, but in the
mean time for the purpose of holding us there the Yankees
made a heavy attack with their skirmish line all along our
lines. Their loss was considerable, as we fought under
cover. Some time during the night we abandoned our po-
sition and moved hurriedly to Ivor Station on the railroad.
The march was extremely tiresome on account of the deep
sand. That part of Virginia is a low flat piney woods
country, land very poor with bad water. We reached the
station about one o'clock, P. M. The sun shone brightly,
no breeze stirring, with the heavy sand, and without cool
water the march became necessarily slow before we reached
the train. There was a great deal of straggling done, men
sick and faint, fell out of ranks and flanked off to one side
to hunt water, and I was one of them. I flanked off through
the woods in search of a house, and after going half a mile
I found a house with only women and children as its occu-
pants. I asked for water. They had none at the house
fit to drink and I gave one of the boys three cartridges to
take my canteen to a spring and fill it. They were good
Southern people and v/ere willing to relieve my suffering.
I unbuckled my trappings, pulled off my coat, and lay down
in the shade of a tree in the yard and waited for the boy to
bring the water. He came in about half an hour, but the
distance to the spring was so far and the sun-shine so
warm, untill the water became warm in the canteen. How-
ever, I was greatly relieved, rested and cooled off, and I
was ready to pursue my journey to the depot. They gave
directions so that I took a near cut, and was not long in
getting to the train. The company had got aboard of a flat
and when they saw me coming they hollowed to me to run.
I would be left. I did run as fast as I could; I was sick

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 175

and exhausted and was not fit for service then. Pretty
soon the train pulled out for Petersburg. It ran slow and
I don't remember exactly at what time we arrived, but it
was dark, and we were marched out a piece and went into
camp. It was here that we heard of the heavy fighting
that was going on at the "Wilderness." The next day we
marched rapidly for Richmond, and boarded a train there
at the Fredericksburg depot, and went up the Orange and
Alexander railroad as far as a station called White Hall,
where we got off and marched in the direction of the Rapi-
dan River. The fighting at the "Wilderness" was all over
with, and Lee had gained a complete victory over the Yan-
kee army commanded by Joe Hooker, without the aid of
two strong divisions of Longstreet's Corps. Sadness pre-
vailed in the 15th Alabama when we heard of the death of
our former corps commander, "Stonewall" Jackson. This
was his first battle without us, and the idea prevailed that
had we have been there it might not have occured, but such
was fate. The division encamped about two miles of Mor-
ton's Ford, on the Rapidan, and our regiment was sent there
with orders to resist at all hazards any attempt the Yankees
might make to cross at this ford. We were most pleasantly
situated, and had nothing to do only to guard this ford
and drill a little. While at this camp I became feeble, and
began to wane, and some time in June I took the fever.
There was a grand review of the whole army, and I was
left in camp, not able to go. I always protested going to
the hospital, and Dr. Wilson, our assistant surgeon, treated
me in camp. At this time, the middle of June, there was
being made great preparations for a grand move some-
where soon, and the grand review of all the army was a
preliminary to the move. Lee's army at that time had
never known defeat, and began to think that it was invin-
cible After the battle of the Wilderness (Chancellors-
villej and the death of Jackson, Ewell succeeded to the com-
mand of the Second Corps. The army was well organized
into three Corps de arme, Longstreet first, Ewell second,
and A P Hill third. I lay for several days m camp under
mv little tent with a scorching fever, and at last, one even-
ing about the middle of June I was aroused by a man
bending over me with a paper in his hand with niy name
on it He told me that I was billed to go to the hospital,
get up. and get into the ambulance, and he would take me
to the nearest station, which was Rapidan Station on the

176 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

Orange and Alexander R. R. I rose up on my elbows and
discovered that all the tents had been struck and the regi-
ment gone. I had awaken from my delirum, and then be-
come cognizant of the fact that I was a sick boy. The fever
that day had rose to such degree that, that and the medicine
had caused me to become delirious and I knew nothing
about the time the regiment fell into line to move. The
first word I spoke after I had sorter come to, was to ask
where the regiment had gone. He replied that he did not
know, as the whole army was on the move. There now. He
assisted me to and into the ambulance and drove around
to other little tents to get others that was left sick as I had
been. After getting his load of sick he drove off to the
station, arriving there just before sundown. There I saw
some evidences of a fight that had occured near Brandy
Station between J. E. B. Stuart's cavalry and the Yankee
cavalry. I saw a few prisoners, arms and accoutrements
that had been captured and was then on their way to Rich-
mond. We did not have to wait long for a train. We were
assigned to the genral hospital at Lynchburg. All that I
have written in this chapter has been entirely from memory.
The dates are only approximately correct. I will tell more
in the succeeding chapters.

CHAPTER II

REMINENCES OF AN OLD VETERAN OF THE 15TH

ALABAMA REGIMENT, LAW'S BRIGADE, HOOD'S

DIVISION, LONGSTREET'S CORPS, FROM

FREDERICKSBURG, VA., TO APPOMATTOX

COURT HOUSE.

The train carrying the sick of Hood's Division arrived at
Lynchburg some time in the night. It was met by the am-
bulances, and the sick was conveyed out about a mile west
of the city where there was many buildings constructed for
a general hospital. The buildings were new, well ventilated
and surrounded by a large grove of oak trees, where the
convalescents would resort to, for recreation and rest "un-
der the shade of the trees." On arrival I was assigned a

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 177

"bunk" about midway the building. There were two rows
of "bunks" and an aisle between. It was well lit up with
candles, and I soon discovered that I was surrounded by
sick men from various commands. It was not long before
I was visited by the surgeon in charge, accompanied by a
man called the "Hospital Steward." He was a South Caro-
linian and he did everything possible to hold his job. I still
had fever. The doctor called it camp fever. It was inter-
mitting, or remitting, sometimes would cool down, and then
reach to a hundred and four or five degrees. The first
thing they did was to bathe me all over in cold water and
give me a change of clean underwear. Then came the quin-
ine. Oh my ! A hospital ! Is this the place that I am to
die at? Miserable! Miserable! Far away from a loving
word of sympathy or a caress from the lips of mother or
loving sisters. A touch from no one except from the rude
hand of a man. These were the thoughts that flitted
through my mind while lying prostrate on my bunk. Men
were dying and being removed to the "dead house" constant-
ly. One night, a fellow that occupied a bunk next to me
died. We talked to each other in the early part of the night,
and little did I think that he would die before another sun.
I dropped off to sleep, and sometime after midnight I awoke
and to my surprise they were fixing to carry him out to the
dead house. In about a week my fever gave way, and I be-
gan to eat solid food. I regained my strength rapidly, and
was soon able to go down to the shady grove and loll around
with the other convalescents. In strolling around one day
I came across Ben Singletary and Ranee Kirkland, men that
I knew at home. They both were afflicted with bone scurvy,
which afflicted their legs so that they could not march.
There was a young fellow there that belonged to the 16th
Mississippi by the name of Bill Couch. I and him soon be-
came chums and strayed together a good deal after he got
able to walk. His large toe nails had tucked down and
wouldn't grow no other way, and the doctor pulled them
out by the roots with a pair of forceps. Talk about a pain-
ful operation, that will do to be called one, but he stood it
like a man and was soon well. The doctor said that was
the only remedy. I left him there, and never saw, or heard
of him again. There came a young fellow in my ward one
night that had been wounded in the head. The doctors ex-
amined him and found that the ball had hit him square in
the forehead and came out at the back of his head. They

—12

178 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

told him that nothing could be done for him, and that if he
had any preparations to make, he had better be at it, for he
could not live. The fellow disagreed with them about that.
The doctors left him, and went about their business, leaving
the fellow grumbling because they had no hopes for him.
He grumbled four or five hours and became loud in his de-
nunciatory remarks about the doctors. At last the doctors
came, and told him just to satisfy him they would probe his
wound, and in doing so, found that the ball had just run
under the skin over the skull and came out on the other
side in the back part of his head. There! said the doctor,
you will be all right in a few days. The fellow replied ''By
G — d, I told you so." The doctors laughed and went on.
While at this hospital, as well as I remember, it was the
28th I received a letter from one of my sisters conveying
the sad intelligence of the death of my father, which occur-
red on the 23rd. This was sad news to me, for I had a
great desire to see him, and recount to him the many inci-
dents of my life as his soldier boy. He was an old soldier
himself in his boyhood days, and well do I remember how
interesting his stories would be when he would re-
late of his thrilling experiences he had with the
Indians, but fate had decreed otherwise, and I had
to accept it as the inevitable I was getting along splendid-
ly, and began to feel like going back to the army, but where
was it? No one at the hospital knew, if they did they kept
it a secret. About the first of July the doctor announced
that all that wanted to go to the army to fall into lines out-
side the hospital. There were fifty or sixty besides myself
fell in. There were some turned down, and was not allowed
to go, the doctor pronounced them unable. I was passed
and told with others to get our belongings and march in
line down to the depot, where transportation would be ob-
tained for each of us, and be ready to board the first train
to Staunton, a beautiful little town at the head of the Shen-
andoah valley. We did so, and arrived in due time. There
we found five or six hundred soldiers that had accumulated
there on their way to the army. We were held there two
or three days, and with the arrival of each train the crowd
was augumented to about one thousand. While here we
learned of the great battle of Gettysburg being fought.
Having different reports they created no little excitement.
We were informed that we would have to march as an es-
cort or guard for a long ammunition train that then was

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 179

getting ready to start to General Lee's army. We were all
supplied with a bran new Enfield rifle with cartridge boxes,
bayonets and forty rounds of ammunition to match, I often
have thought of the pretty little short Enfield I drew. It
was made at Salisbury, N. C, and was a dandy. I was
anxious to try it, but opportunity never offered before I
had to give it up. About the fifth of July the long ammu-
nition train drove out onto the pike and we formed in single
rank on each side. When all was ready, we moved off down
the pike that leads down the beautiful valley of the Shenan-
doah towards Winchester, and the Potomac. The distance
to the latter being one hundred and ten miles. We had
plenty of rations and the march was only frolic for me, I
enjoyed it. We were four days making the trip. We left
the train packed on the Virginia side of the Potomac, op-
posite Williamsport, in Maryland. I had already met some
of my company that had been wounded at Gettysburg, but
they did not know much as to who, and how may was killed
and wounded, for they left as soon as they were wounded.
We crossed the Potomac on a pontoon bridge that spanned
the river below Williamsport. We were partially organized
and commanded by commissioned officers that were on their
way back to the army. We marched in the direction of
Hagerstown, some eight or ten miles from the Potomac,
when we began to meet some of the army. The officers
could not hold us in line any longer, each man was anxious
to find his command, and we dispersed in every direction.
The first man I met that I knew was my old friend, Dick
Trawick. He was a member of the Henry Greys and be-
longed to the 6th Alabama. At that time there was a great
difference in our dress. I was what was called a hispital
rat, let out with fair skin and clean clothes. Dick was
barefooted, his pants torn off half way to his knees, his
shirt black and dirty, with half dozen canteens full of water.
He was detailed to go for water the day before, and his
command moved off while he was gone, and he got lost off
from them. When he saw me he hollowed at me and asked
me if I had seen Rodes' "foot cavalry." I told him no. He
went his way and I went mine, hunting my command.
Dick was a good soldier and still lives in Geneva county.
After wandering about through the different commands, I
at last found Longstreet's Corps, then Hood's Division, then
Law's Brigade. After I found the brigade I was not long
in finding my regiment and company. I reported to my

180 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

Colonel, W. C. Gates, and from him I learned of the terrible
battle, and the losses of our regiment and my company.
My Captain, H. C. Brainard, 1st Lieut. John A. Gates and
2nd Lieut. B. H. Cody had been killed or mortally wounded.
Brainard was killed. Gates and Cody mortally wounded,
from which they died in a few days. The ranks of my old
company had been so depleted since they left me sick on the
Rapidan, that it was a mere skeleton. It was sad to me to
think of some of the boys and to know that I would never
see them again. My company was commanded by our 3rd
Lieutenant, T. M. Renfroe, a noble, brave officer. He re-
counted to me the particulars of the battle and it was noth-
ing short of a miracle that any escaped. The company was
without non-commissioned, as well as commissioned offi-
cers. My colonel called me to his quarters and told me he
would promote me to be Grderly Sergeant of my company,
so I began to act at once in that capacity. The army had
fell back to near the Potomac, and formed line and built
breastworks. The Yankee army had pursued, and when
they ascertained that we had halted, they only felt along
our line with skirmishers to find out our position. They
formed their line paralel to ours and only skirmished the
few days we remained there. I have since ascertained that
General Lee was anxious to be attacked in this position, but
Meade declined. Our command shared with him in the
desire to be attacked, for we felt like we had a position
that could not be carried by assault, although the Potomac
was near to our backs, and a defeat at that time and place
would have been most disastrous. We only had one pon-
toon across the river to pass the immense wagon train to
the Virginia side. We invited attack every day but it was
refused. It was said that Meade's army was so crippled
at Gettysburg that he would not hazard an attack. Not-
withstanding, the heavy losses of Lee's army, they had not
lost its morale. After remaining in position three or four
days we crossed the river unmolested, and mrached in the
direction of Winchester. We camped for a few days at
Bunhill Spring, and then marched on through Winchester
and took the left hand pike leading to Culpepper Court
House, crossing the Shenandoah by wading near Front
Royal. It so happened one day that our regiment was lead-
ing the advance of the infantry and the Yankee cavalry got
in our front and run back our cavalry Videttes that was
preceding the infantry. Colonel Gates threw out Co. "D"

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 181

as skirmishers and brushed them out of the way, but not
without the loss of their gallant commander, Captain Head.
He was a fine officer and his loss was irreparable to his com-
pany. The whole regiment was sorry that Captain Head
had been killed. Colonel Gates had him wrapped in a
blanket, put in an ambulance and conveyed to Culpepper
Court House and there buried him by the honors of war.
We camped near the Court House in a fine shady grove, re-
maining there all the balance of July. I don't remember
the exact day we moved from there, but it was some time
in the early part of August when we moved in the direction
of Fredericksburg. We did not know anything about the
movements of the Yankee army, and cared less. It was
reasonable to suppose that J. E. B. Stuart, our great cav-
alry commander, would keep General Lee informed, and we
would be moved at the right time and place. We were
marched down the Fredericksburg pike, crossing the Rapi-
dan at Morton's Ford, and camped seven or eight miles
South of Fredericksburg. Since the death of my father
in June, I wanted to come home and told Colonel Gates if
he saw any chance to get me a furlough, I would appreciate
it; he promised that he would. All through the month of
August there was nothing doing with us, only moving to
a new camp occasionally, which was good for our health.
Some time in the latter part of August General Lee issued
a general order that one man from each company would be
granted a furlough for thirty days to go home. This man
was to be the most meritorious man of the company, and
was to be selected by the officer commanding the regiment.
Two applications from each company was to be sent up by
the officer commanding the company. Lieut. T. M. Renfroe
was commanding the company and Col. W. C. Gates the reg-
iment. There was three selected from my company, John
Shepherd, G. C. Renfroe and myself. The lieutenant would
not decide what two, from the three, and he proposed to
us to draw. We agreed, and proceeded to draw when it fell
to my lot and G. C. Renfroe as the ones to be recommended
to the Colonel. Renfroe, who was a brother to the lieuten-
ant, was a transferred man from the Barbour Greys, 5th
Alabama. I was one of the originals of the company.
According to orders, our applications was forwarded to the
colonel and he to decide between Renfroe and myself. Ap-
plications of a similar character from the other companies
were flooding the colonel's desk, and he had a job on his

182 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

hands. Somebody was going to get mad, and cuss the
colonel for partiality. These were momentous times with
Renfroe and myself, both waiting the decision of the colonel.
A day or two passed without any hearing. I was under
great suspense. I had no claim as to merit, for Renfroe
had always done his duty and was as good soldier as any-
body. I had only one claim on Colonel Gates, and that was
he was my captain when I volunteered and Renfroe was a
transferred man. What would he do? Which one of us
would he turn down? That was the question. At last one
day the orderly call was sounded and Sergeant Lingo went
to the colonel's quarters. I and Renfroe, and others of the
company was watching. Who would, and who would not
get it had been the chief topic for discussion since the appli-
cations had been forwarded. We see Lingo coming back,
with a paper in his hand. There was a considerable
gathering at Lieutenant Renfroe's tent. I kept my dis-
tance. Lingo handed the paper to Lieutenant Renfroe, he
glanced over it a moment and read, "Respectfully returned,
disapproved, W. C. Gates, Colonel commanding." "Here
Green, here is your application disapproved." "Just as I
expected," exclaimed Green, "that's what a transferred man
gets, it matters not how faithful he may have been." He
poured out vials of wrath on the colonel and the lieutenant,
his brother, was not at all pleased. My friends were re-
joicing that I had won the plum. I said nothing in an ex-
ulting way, but my heart within leaped for joy at the
thought of going home to see my mother and sisters that
I had not seen in over two years. The next thing with
me was, how long will it be before I start? Days and
nights wore on, I became uneasy, fearful that we would
have another battle and that I might get wounded or killed.
These were my thoughts and I was in great suspense again.
We moved from this camp, camping in a piney grove near
Hamilton's crossing on the Richmond and Fredericksburg
R. R. The warm days and nights would pass, and I could
hear nothing from my furlough. Gne man from each com-
pany of the regiment was having the same experienc that
I was. Couriers to the colonel's tent would come and go,
but nothing would be said about our furloughs. As well
as I remember late at night of the tenth of September, the
orderlies call was sounded, which I promptly attended, and
when a representative from each company had reported the
colonel announced that the furloughs had come, and gave

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 183

orders for the man to go to the commisary and draw three
day's rations, cook them that night, and be ready to take
the train the next morning at Hamilton's crossing, where
transportation would be furnished us to Richmond. The
colonel then began to call the sergenats from the different
companies beginning with Company "A" and so on down
until he came to "G," the letter of my company, when he
skipped to "H" and so on down to Company "L" the last
company in the regiment. Well ! I drew long breaths, won-
dering what was the matter, what had become of my fur-
lough, I stood still and said nothing. As the furloughs
would be handed to the sergeants, they would disperse and
go to their companies. After all had left the colonel in-
vited me into his tent, and after repeating the orders about
rations and transportation, he told me he would get from
General Law an extension of six days on mine if I would
arrest some deserters from our company, and send them
back ; of course I gladly accepted that offer. He told me to
call at his tent the next morning before I left. I went back
to my company and my mess-mates were ready to assist
me in getting rations, and helping me to cook them. I was
ready in time the next morning and called at the colonel's
tent as I went by. He handed me an order from General
Law permitting me to stay at home six days after the ex-
piration of my furlough, which kept me from being mo-
lested at home by the provost guards, he also gave me some
letters to deliver to parties at home. I bid him good-bye,
and with a whole host of others hastened to the depot.
There I found a great many from my division that was com-
ing South; Alabamia4ns, Georgians, South Carolinians and
Texans. All of Hood's Division, starting for home, but the
poor Texans could not cross the Mississippi, and they stop-
ped along with relatives in other states. We all got trans-
portation and the long train pulled out for Richmond. Then
we had to obtain transportation home. We could not leave
until the next day, and we lay on the beautiful lawn in
Capitol Square. The guard tried to rout us out but we
would not be routed, and remained all night. After the
police found out who we were and our business, no further
effort was fade to run us out of there. The next morning
we went hunting for the Quartermaster and the place to get
our transportation. What we said to the fellow in charge
had but little effect. Time was precious with us, and we
was in a hurry. We were told that the office would not

184 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

open before twelve o'clock; that didn't suit, for that was
the time for the train to leave for the South. General Hood,
that was wounded at Gettysburg was there and some of
the Texans made known to him our condition, and after
roaring out a few oaths, repaired to the transportation of-
fice and we all followed. After a few sharp words of com-
mand from Hood, the Quartermaster increased his clercial
force and began to grind out our transportation. Mine was
to Ft. Gaines, Ga., and return. We left that day on time,
and I had a pleasant trip of three days to the point of des-
tination; coming through the Carolinas and Georgia, the
Texans dropped off except those that went up by Lynchburg
and on into North Alabama and Mississippi. I arrived at
Ft. Gaines late in the evening, crossed the Chattahoochie on
a flat and walked out seven miles to Mrs. Tom Knight's,
v/here they were delighted to entertain a Confederate sol-
dier. Besides Mrs. Knight there were three grown daugh-
ters, one son in the war and one too young to go. They
were strong Southern people, and they were glad for a
good rebel to stop with them that was fresh from the army.
I was in twelve miles of home, and I was anxious to move
on, but they said stay all night, and they would send me
over to Abbeville the next morning. I consented, but I felt
rather cramped when I went in to supper. It had been a
long time since I had sat down to a table for a meal, espec-
ially with a refined family as they were, and I suffered with
no little embarrassment, but they did every thing to relieve
me, and I put on as bold a front as possible. The longer I
stayed and talked the better I got, and by morning a great
deal of my timidity had worn off. After breakfast, young
Knight hitched a horse to a buggy, I told them good-bye,
and started for Abbeville. I was glad to see my old town
once more and meet some of the old men that was staying
at home. After resting awhile I set out for home only four
miles. I met several on the way, and had to stop and talk
with every one, and lost so much time at this until it was
late in the evening before I got home. There was a lane
two hundred yards long down a gradual slant to the old
homestead. Things on every side looked lonely and deso-
late. I felt sad, for I knew there was one absent that I
would not meet. I approached slowly wondering how we
would meet, as I drew near the yard fence one of my sisters
came in the front yard. I knew her, but she did not recog-
nize me in some time. I slowed up, my other two sisters

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 185

and mother came in the front piaza, stopped and looked.
About that time a little negro boy named Pete came dash-
ing out at the front gate, and drawing near he turned

around, calling to Miss Polly, saying its Mas , calling

me by name. I then advanced quickly to the gate where I
was soon captured by mother and sisters. No one can imag-
ine the joy we had in meeting. Caroline, my old nurse
when I was a baby, came running to meet me, she was as
proud to see me as mother and sisters. Well, I was at home
to rest for a short time with mama. It was not long before
they begin telling me the particulars of father's death, and
how anxious he was that I might go through the war safe,
and return home to see him, but fate had decreed other-
wise. In a day or two, my home coming was known for
miles around, and the old people and a great many of the
young people began to drop in to see me. Several came
making inquiries about their relatives in the army. The
young boys, and the girls of all ages came to see me, and
it was not long before I was beseiged by the latter. A
soldier of my age was a great curiosity and they enjoyed
hearing my camp stories, I was fresh from the army then,
and memory good, I was well loaded, and could tell a great
deal. During my stay at home, I saw all my relatives that
were living, and had a good time with them. There was a
little girl in the settlement that had moved into it since I
had been gone, and some of my people had become so im-
pressed with her, that they had picked her out for me, and
had even wrote of her while I was in the army. I was
anxious to see her and sure enough in a few days I did, and
she caught me at once, but I never let her know it, for I
had another girl that I had left behind. I said that this
strange girl caught me, and to tell you the truth, reader,
I stayed caught, until the war ended in April 1865, and in
November following I caught her and she is with me to-
day. I had been at home some ten or twelve days, when I
began to make arrangements to carry into effect the in-
structions I had received from Colonel Oates when I left
camp for home.

186 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

CHAPTER III

REMINISCENCES OF AN OLD VETERAN OF THE 15th
ALABAMA REGIMENT, LAW'S BRIGADE, HOOD'S
DIVISION, LONGSTREET'S CORPS, FROM
FREDERICKSBURG, VA. TO APPO-
MATTOX COURT HOUSE.

There was a little squad of cavalry stationed in my town,
commanded by a Lieutenant Boiling. I conferred with him,
and asked him to go with me and aid me in capturing the
men that was at home, absent without leave. He readily
consented, and told me that that was his business, to arrest
all absentees and return them to camp. We set the day,
and appointed the place of meeting. Promptly on time he
with six of his troopers met me at the designated place,
and we set out for a half -day's ride to the home of the m.en
that I was after. I had but little trouble in finding them,
and met with no resistance when I told them my business.
I informed them to get ready they would have to go with
me to Abbeville that night. They complained a little, and
said they were making preparations to return in a few
days. That was not satisfactory, as that was not in ac-
cordance with instructions from headquarters. When they
fully ascertained that I meant "business" the wail from
their wives and children began. My heart almost melted
within for the sorrow that I had for their wives and little
children. Their entreaties for their husbands and father,
were enough to move the heart of the Duke of Willington,
or Bonaparte, the Emperor of France. I had to assume a
spirit of austerity though without harshness. I endeavored
to conceal my sympathy and in a plain manner made them
understand that they had to go voluntarily if they would,
otherwise forcibly. The fact was they thought they would
be tried by court marshal for desertion, and be condemned
to be shot. I succeeded in consoling their wives and chil-
dren upon that fear, and we soon got ready, bid farewell
and moved off for Abbeville arriving there about ten o'clock
at night. I turned them over to Lieut. Boiling with in-

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 187

structions to send them to their commands as soon as pos-
sible, for it was a time when every able-bodied man was
needed at the front, and there was no time for sulking.
They were sent back to the army through the proper chan-
nel, and was finally pardoned by an amnesty proclamation
from President Davis, when they entered immediately on
duty with the company, and fought well until one of them
was severely wounded at Fussle's Mill, August 16th, 1864,
which disabled him from further service. The other de-
serted, and went to the Yankees one night while on post
in January, 1865. They both came hom^e, and were re-
spected citizens in the settlemient in which they lived, I
have no harsh words for them now. They have long since
crossed over, and all I have to say, "May they rest in peace."
In a few days after this, news came that a hard battle
had been fought at Chickamauga, Ga., and that a part of
Longstreet's Corps had been sent from Virginia to rein-
force Bragg's army, and was engaged in that battle. This
was startling news to me and I was inclined to discredit the
report, for I neither saw nor heard of any preparations be-
ing made for that miove when I left the army only a few
days before, but in a day or two the report was confirmed,
and that Hood's division was there, and engaged in the
battle and that Gen. Hood had lost his leg. This made me
extremely anxious to hear from my regiment, especially
my company, for I had a brother-in-law, and some cousins
in the company that I was deeply interested in their safety.
In a short time I received word that my Lieutenant, T. M.
Renfroe, was at home wounded, and wished for me to go
over to see him. This I did, and found him suffering with
a fractured elbow. He was lively, and free to talk and
he gave me a full history of the part taken by the regiment
and company. The loss of our company was heavy, and
among the slain was my brother-in-law, Wm. G. Moore.
This was sad news to me, for I would have to be the one
to tell my sister when I returned home. My cousins went
through sefe, but several of my comrades that I left in
camp in Virginia were killed, and others maimed, so that
it rendered them unfit for further service in the ranks. He
told me that the corps followed in three days after I left
camp, so as in other instances, I was fortunate to be ab-
sent from that battle, as well as that of Gettysburg. A
kind providence provided. After remaining with him till
late in the afternoon, I returned to my home where mother

188 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

and sisters were in waiting to hear what news I had from
the battle of Chickamauga. I did not know how to break
the news to my young widowed sister. When I returned
I was met at the gate by all of them anxious to hear the
news from the battle, I could not help from observing a
look of fear in my sister's countenance, and they detected a
glimpse of sorrow depicted upon my countenance, "What
news! What news! have you from the battle." We whipped
the Yankees, and drove them from off the field back into
Chattanooga, said I; but not without serious loss to my
company. Then addressing my sister, I said to her, "Sis, I
am sorry to have to tell you that your husband, Billie
Moore, was killed." O, God! may I never experience just
such a scene again. Of course I consoled her all I could,
and the few remaining days of my stay were wrapped in
sadness and gloom for her, and his family, that did not live
far away. This was a sudden check to my joy at home, and
I longed for the day to arrive when I would take my leave
for the army. There was no more pleasure at home for
me as all pleasure had banished, and my home that for a
fev^^ days had been one of joy was now by the cruel hand of
fate had been turned into a home of weeping and mourn-
ing. A few days before the expiration of my furlough I
started back to the army, taking the train at Ft. Gaines,
Ga., via Macon through Atlanta and on to near Chatta-
nooga, where I found my command entrenched on the ex-
treme left of Bragg's army which was comamnded by Lieut.
Gen. Longstreet. During my absence my company had
elected our Adjutant, Captain, our First Lieutenant refus-
ing the honor of promotion. I was his Orderly, having
been promoted by Col. Gates just after the battle of Gettys-
burg. I reported to him for duty and entered immediately
upon duty devolving upon the First Sergeant. I also re-
ported to Col. Gates, who was proud to see me, and he
gave me an interesting account of the part played in ac-
tion of the 15th Alabama Regiment. These were the first
days of October and we only remained in this position a few
days when the regiment with the brigade was ordered
across the Lookout Mountain, taking position in Wills' Val-
ley, and picketing on the Tennessee River nearly in the rear
of Chattanooga. While on this duty I had some thrilling
experience as a scout, making narrow escapes, which I
will undertake to tell. There were six regular scouts in
Hood's Division, that carried Whitworth Rifles. They

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 189

were Texans, Georgians and one Alabamian, and he was
from the 4th Regiment of Law's Brigade. They came to
our camp early one morning, and asked permission of Col.
Gates to allow them to cross over to Williams Island. Ihis
island contained one or two hundred acres, and was sur-
rounded by a split in the Tennessee separating above our
camp towards Chattanooga and coming together below our
camp The man who owned the island was a strong bouth-
ern man and the Yankees had a habit of crossing over the
other prong and going to the old gentleman s house, and
taking what they pleased, and it was this kind of a party
that these scouts wanted to meet. I wanted to go with
them bad. I obtained the consent of my Captain, Wad-
dell and Col. Gates and I asked one of the scouts to let
me take his place. He consented, and turned over to me
his Whitworth and a 44 revolver. To cross was the next
thinc^ to do. There was two "dug outs" (or canoes as we
called them) lying down at the water's edge opposite our
camp and as there were only two boats three of us had
to get in each boat. No sooner done we pushed from shore
and the man in the stern with his oar fought the switt
current manfully, and landed us at the designated spot.
We went ashore, making as little noise as possible, tiemg
up our little crafts to trees, we went in search for a path
that would lead us through the thick cane to an opening.

Sergeant Champion of the 4th Texas, was in coni-

mand and after rambling around awhile, a path was found.
He formed us in single rank, and enjoined secrecy Notice
Me " was his order. When I wave my left hand around
move to the left, and when I move my right hand around
move to the right; if I move my hand quick you move
Quick Such was his orders, and I don't know if they
would have been necessary had not it been that I was a
new man, and needed instructions, for I supposed that
the other scouts had been with him so long that they un-
derstood him thoroughly. It did not take me long to catch
on and we could be thrown into a skirmish line to the
riiht or left by the wave of his hand as if he had given it
bv the word of mouth. After receiving instructions we
proceeded on slowly, in single rank without even a whis
^er We had not gone far before we came to an opening
at the lower end of Mr. Williams' large corn field Here
Mr Williams' son, 14 years old, came to us and the bea-
geant got all the information from him that he wanted. He

190 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

told how many generally came over, and the time of day,
and where they landed. That was enough. We moved a
little down toward their place for landing, and took our
position about two steps a part behind a very large log that
was resting on another giving it a raise of about a foot

from the ground. I was on the extreme left next to

Chandler of the 1st Texas, on my right. I crouched down
upon my knees and done my watching under the log. Ser-
geant Champion was twenty yards to the right stationed
behind a large beech where he could observe everything
passing. Presently he motioned, look out! I looked to the
left, and saw a Yankee alone coming in our direction, and
his line of march threw him on the opposite of the log
that we were behind. He came slowly along with his gun
carelessly on his shoulder, not dreaming he was so near
to a Confederate prison. I watched him, until he passed,
and gave the nod to Chandler when he all at once rose up
within six feet of the Yankee with gun presented, in a low
tone, told him to cross over the log. The old Yank seemed
perfectly bewildered and could hardly realize "where he
was at." He could only see five of us and he made inquiry
as to our number, but got nothing from us, but told us
that sixteen were making preparations to cross and if
that was all the men we had we had better leave from
there, but we let his suggestion go unheeded, and waited
for the coming of the others. He was made to understand
that loud talking would not be tolerated, and what talk-
ing he did he did it in a subdued tone. He was greatly
excited as he imagined the most fearful of consequences.
We were not long in waiting before we heard the chain
rattling, as they were being pulled out of the canoes to
make them fast. "Listen," said the Yank, that's them
now. All was silent, and something soon was to happen.
Yonder they come, in single rank. I, on my knees watch-
ing under the log, but there is a high rail fence between
us, only twenty yards from us. Now what to do? The
Sergeant shook his head, and motioned silence, let them
pass; the fence is in our way. So we permitted them to
pass on without being discovered by them. They went up
to Mr. Williams' house and moved around in his yard, lit-
tle thinking that a few Johnnies had their eyes upon
them. We assembled in a thick place where we could not
be seen, but were in plain view of them watching every
man. There was one of them, and a woman took posi-

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 191

tions opposite each other in a door seemingly for a talk,
when Sergeant Champion laid his rifle up against a tree,
and sighted at him, then taking it down, looked around
and said, "Must I?" I can kill him as dead as h — 1. One
fellow said no, don't shoot, you will scare that woman to
death. We were about one hundred and fifty yards from
them, and the Sergeant said, lets fire on them in the yard,
and recross the river. They were pretty thick in the yard
and we took good aim with our Whitworths, and fired and
we witnessed only a few making a hasty retreat through
the corn field to the opposite prong of the river. We re-
treated in good order to where out boats were, and re-
crossed to our side in safety. We had our Yankee pris-
oner along, and that made it necessary for four to occupy
one of the boats. The Sergeant ordered that four of the
lightest should go in one boat, the heaviest three in the
other. I and the Yankee were two of the light ones, and
with two others we came over, but not without experienc-
ing some trouble. Our boat dipped water and it looked at
times as if we would sink, but the Yankee was familiar
with such, and he kept the water bailed out with his
cap. I was awful scared, the water was deep, swift and
cold, but I had unbuckled all my accounterments and was
ready to swim if it became necessary. I thanked God when
I landed in safety on our side, and promised that I would
never go on such an expedition again. In a day or two
there was another expedition organized to cross over in
the night, but this time I was not one to volunteer for I
had had enough of Williams' Island. After they had ma-
tured their plans and had gathered two other boats they
pushed off about dark for the other side. Everything went
well until they began to pull the bushes that lined the bank
on the other side in order to land, and all of a sudden
Bang! Bang! and the fire from the Yankee guns could be
seen plainly from our side. The Yanks had discovered our
crossing place, and had placed a picket there to visit it.
Fortunately, no one was hurt, and a right about was made
by the oarsmen, and they came back a wiser set than they
were when they first started. After they landed Col. Oates
directed a volley to be fired over the river, after which
all became "calm and serene" at that place. We had a
pleasant place to camp, and had no duty to perform, only
to picket along the river where the Yankees might be ex-
pected to cross. One of our post was a half mile below

192 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

our camp and below where the converging streams came
together. The Yankees had their picket post opposite ours
and by mutual agreement between the pickets, there was
no firing done at each other across the river. It became
my duty one morning to have to carry our pickets their
day's rations to them. I wended my way along an unob-
served narrow path at the foot of Raccoon Mountain, until
I reached the place where the boys were on post. It was
my first visit down there, and I could not help feeling a
little shy, not knowing but what I would be shot at from
across the river if I was seen. There were five on post,
four privates and a Sergeant, all from my company. After
delivering the rations and looking around awhile I started
back to camp. I had a splendid Enfield rifle with plenty
of ammunition, and I was anxious to try it. When I reach-
ed an abrupt declivity in the mountain I ascended by going
from rock to rock, until I reached a place where I could
overlook the whole of the Yankee camp on the other side.
I took position behind a large rock that completely hid me
from the Yankees only when I would peep around to see
what they were doing. There was their camp in full view,
their tents up, and squads of them in different places stand-
ing around a log fire. It was rather cold that morning and
it looked to me that they were enjoying the warm., barring
the smoke. All old soldiers who reads this well knows
what it was to be smoked. I sat there watching their move-
ments some time wanting to fire on them, but I was afraid,
fearful that it would be a violation of orders. They were
about five hundred yards distant, and my gun was amply
effective that distance, and I at last decided to try them. I
selected a squad that was standing around a fire as my
first target. I was considerably above them, and I had a
fair shot. At the crack of my gun there was old hustling
to get away, and go into their tents which hid them from
view. When I would shoot the smoke of my gun would
be so dense until I could not see whether I had made a hit
or not. After each round I would fall back in the crevice
of the rock, and reload. I enjoyed it so well until I became
so bold as to hollow, "Look out!" and then fire and fall
back behind the rock and reload. I repeated this half dozen
times, and it finally got so that I could not see a Yankee
nov/here. The Yankee pickets down opposite ours made
complaint to our pickets, and told them if they didn't have
that firing to cease, they would open on them. They didn't

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 193

know what it meant, and our Sergeant told them that it
was a fool that was shooting and was always doing some-
thing he had no business to do. There was a Yankee that
kept blowing a horn, and it sounded to me that it was a
signal station, his sounds were peculiar, and would be an-
swered by the same sort from the direction of Chatta-
nooga. I looked for him in the trees of the other side, and
if I had found him I was going to try to topple him out.
I discovered where the headquarters were, and I directed
a few at the tent. I had not fired many rounds before they
discovered my position, and occasionally they would throw
a shower of balls against the rocks near my position. As
a blind, our sergeant burst in a rage with oaths at me, and
told the Yankees to "Kill him if they could, he couldn't stop
him." That was all right for him to say so, as it kept the
fire off of him, we laughed about it afterwards one of the
balls that they shot at me struck the rock above me, and
fell down near where I picked it up. It was mashed flat,
and pretty warm. I became alarmed in my feelings when
the thought struck me as to how to get away from there;
I was in constant dread that they would bring their cannon
to bear upon my position, and batter down my shield and
expose me to view to their sharpshooters. I imagined that
for once I was in a precarious position. It was time I was
at my company; now what shall I do? I can't undertake to
go down right now, for my position is known, and they may
be watching for me to come out. All these things flitted
through my mind, and I finally decided to keep hid and be
quiet for an hour or two, and it may be that they v/ould
cease their vigilance and that I could descend unobserved.
After waiting two hours, I ventured out and began the
perilious task of making my escape. I succeeded beyond
my expectation, for not a single shot was fired at me, and
I returned to my company all OK. This was October and
the nights were cool, with frosty mornings, but we had
plenty covering to keep us comfortable. Each company of
the regiment had its particular place to camp and was well
supplied with small tent flies, gum cloths, and blankets that
was picked up on the battle-field of Chickamauga, where
they were thrown away by the fleeing Yankees. Each com-
pany was sent alternately on picket to guard the river
front, each remaining twenty-four hours. Sometime near
the twentieth of October our pickets discovered signs of an
unusual character among the Yankees, and every indication

—13

194 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

were that they were making preparations to cross in force,
and bag the whole regiment. This was communicated to
Colonel Oates, and he forthwith communicated this intelli-
gence to the higher authorities, but it seemed that his re-
ports were unnoticed, and in due course of time the expec-
ted happened. The Yankees did not cease their activities,
and each day brought nearer the conflict that ensued. Our
pickets increased their vigilance, so as not to be taken by
surprise, but we felt sure that we could defeat any attempt
to land that the Yankees would make, but preparations
among them still went on and at early dawn of the 27th
here they came. Co. "B" commanded by Capt. N. B. Fea-
gan was on picket at what was afterwards ascertained to
be Brown's Ferry, the place selected by the Yankees to
make their landing. It was at early dawn when we felt
secure in our warm beds, that the cracking of guns began
in rapid succession. A runner from Capt. Feagan was dis-
patched to Col, Oates with the intelligence that the Yankees
were crossing in large force, and that he could not main-
tain his position against such odds. Our company, com-
manded by Captain Waddell and Company "A," commanded
by Captain Schaaff was formed, and hurried to the sup-
port of Co, "B" in double quick time. We left all our camp
equipage, including our tents, oil cloths, blankets, cooking
utensils and clothing, except what we had on, as prey for
the Yankees. When we arrived at Co. "B," they were con-
tending against great odds, and our two companys deploy-
ed and went at them firing volley after volley into their
crowded ranks, but there was a whole brigade of them,
eighteen hundred strong, commanded by Brigadier General
Hazen, and they had landed and had gained a foot-hold so
strong that we could not drive them back. We fought at
close quarters for awhile. The left of my company were
in the woods and advanced to the bluff and fired on them
in their crowded condition on the sand-bar as they would
> get out of their boats. My position as first sargeant was
the right guide of the company, and joined to the left of
Co. "A." That part of our line was in an open field witn
no protection, the Yanks in the woods behind trees between
us and the river. Two or three of our men were killed and
several wounded, and among the wounded was our gallant
Colonel Wm. C. Oates, and had to be toated from the field
on a litter. Orders soon came for us to fall back as the
Yankees were in force below us and our capture for a time

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 195

seemed a certainty, but we made our way out without any
confusion, and recrossed Lookout Creek, and took position
at the foot of Lookout Mountain, exposed to the harrassing
fire of the Moccasin Bend battery stationed across the river
in the outer edge of Chattanooga. We moved from this
place in a more secure place, out of the range of this bat-
tery, and remained a few days waiting developments. It
was ascertained that Hooker, with two strong divisions had
crossed the Tennessee at Bridgeport, and was marching up
the valley to get in our rear, but Hazen's movement was a
day or two too soon, so we got out in that way. Hooker's
advance came in sight of Lookout Mountain with a large
wagon-train. As far as they could discover it was only
guarded by a brigade. It went into camp about three miles
and Longstreet was anxious for its capture, and to do so
he ordered General Jenkins with his six regiments of his
South Carolinians to proceed after dark and capture it if
he could, and at the same time he ordered our brigade
(Law's) to recross the creek and form his brigade in
Hazer's path in order to prevent him from sending rein-
forcements to Hooker, and gaining Jenkins' rear. Law
crossed over his brigade quietly and took position as direct-
ed and waited for further developments. We were not long
in waiting before we heard the advance of Jenkins' troops
began to fire. The moon shone bright, and Jenkins at-
tacked with great fury. He succeeded in getting in among
the wagons, but Hooker hurled the whole of Howard's Di-
vision against him and he had to abandon the project after
sustaining a heavy loss of some of his valuable officers and
men. Longstreet has been heavily criticised for its failure
in not sending reinforcements to Jenkins when he was hard
pressed. The position of our brigade that night was at-
tacked with such numbers that we had to yield our position
and fall back to where we started from, but not until we
had inflicted a heavy loss on the Yankees when they tried
to over-run us. We held them in check until it was ascer-
tained that Jenkins could not carry his point, and gave him
time to fall back to his original position on the slope of
Lookout Mountain. All of these operations were on the
left wing of Bragg's army, which as General Bragg said,
was entrusted to General Longstreet. I don't know by
what authority these moves were made, but one thing I
know now, they were "triumpant failures," for the want of
proper support and resulted in losses to us for no good.

196 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

We occupied the crest of Lookout until sometime in No-
vember, when our corps was withdrawn and sent against
Burnside in East Tennessee, who was then occupying Knox-
ville. We encountered many delays before we reached
Knoxville, the first at Cleveland, about twenty-five miles
from Chattanooga on the E. T. & Go. R. R. We remained
there a day or two waiting I suppose for a train to carry
us to Louden, a little town on the north bank of the Tenn-
essee, We traveled on the cars from Cleveland to a little
place called Sweet Water, and there we found a pontoon
train with horses hitched, ready to move. That meant that
we were going to cross the Tennessee. The bridge had
been burned at Louden, and we could proceed no further
by rail. In a short while after our arrival the teams that
were hitched to the pontoons were driven off, and we re-
mained two or three hours before we were ordered to move.
We were awful sleepy when orders came to fall in, but we
had to go. We were marched off in a Western direction,
and at last came to the pontoons where they had been
launched and laid across, so that we could cross without
any difficulty. The guard that had preceeded us said that
the Yankees offered no resistance when they commenced
laying the pontoons, but rather invited us to come over
that they would see us tomorrow. After crossing we
marched until one or two o'clock, halted and ordered to
rest, without making any fires. The nights were real cool.
White frosty mornings and the loss of our blankets over in
Raccoon valley were greatly missed, and we were anxious
for a scrap with the Yankees in order that we would sup-
ply ourselves again with such things as we had lost. We
lay down and slept as best we could, until about day-break
the guns in front began to pop. We were ordered into line
and with the balance of the brigade we were moved off
rapidly in the direction of the firing. We marched two or
three miles before we overtook the troops that was doing
the shooting, although we had passed several dead and
wounded Yankees in the road. It was our advance cavalry
that was driving the Yankees in on their reserve, under-
stood to be at Lenoir Station, on the railroad between Lou-
den and Knoxville. It was a running fight, until the Yan-
kees reached their entrenchments around Knoxville. I
don't remember how long it took us to reach Knoxville, but
we captured many things on the route that we were in need
of, which to some extent and in some particulars repaid

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 197

US for our losses. On arriving in front of Knoxville, Long-
street, with his two divisions, and some cavalry, proceeded
at once to lay siege to the place, but our forces were not
strong enough to completely surround the place hence its
capture was a failure. We had no regular engagement
with them, but was sharpshooting and skirmishing every
day. My company, as well as the other companies of the
regiment, would have some hard skirmishes with the Yan-
kees, in our efforts to establish our position to vantage, but
sometimes we would fail, and at other times we would be
successful. I well remember the hardest fight my company
had. It was on the 25th of November, when we were de-
tailed to drive the Yankees from their position, and to es-
tablish one for ourselves. We drove them nicely until we
reached a certain place when they received reinforcements,
and gave us such a reception that caused us to halt and seek
such protection from their fire as the situation afforded.
We kept them back until the Texas skirmishers came up on
our left, which drew the fire from our front on them. The
Yankees kept reinforceing until it looked awhile like we
were all going to be captured. There was no help for us
in supporting distance, and our gallant Captain Waddell,
seeing that nothing could be gained by remaining there,
ordered us to fall back, but not without the loss of one of
our best men, second Sergt. John T. McLeod, he was shot
through the head while standing up encouraging, and show-
ing some of the men where to direct their fire. He was
killed instantly and in our retreat we left him in the hands
of the enemy. In falling back we halted in the woods and
took shelter behind trees (as skirmishers had a right to
do) and began firing back at the Yanks who had advanced
to, and halted at the position that we had left. While en-
gaged in the woods, J. 0. Dell of my company received a
mortal wound from which he died that night. Night com-
ing on put a stop to the skirmishing, and each beligerent
fell back and occupied their former positions. All this oc-
curred to the South of Knoxville, and on the South side of
what was then called Holston river, as I understood it at
that time by that name. An improvised crossing was made
for us by pulling in wagons and laying a floor on the bol-
sters. The water was not more than three feet deep, but
was too cold to wade. As a last resort to caputure Knox-
ville Longstreet decided to storm Fort Sanders and we were
hurried back across the river in supporting distance, and

198 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

in sight of the devoted Georgians of Woffords and Bryans
Brigades of McLaw's Division, who had been ordered to
make the assault. It was a strong fort built upon a com-
manding position and the large and small timber had been
felled with their tops outwardly, making the route to the
fort almost impassible. The fort itself was well nigh im-
pregnable, and could not be occupied from the front unless
the assaulting column was well provided with ladders to
scale the wall after the large ditch in front was occupied.
We stood in position under arms, and watched the brave
Georgians as they moved out to the assault. I knew from
what I could see that it would be a desperate undertaking,
and many a brave Georgian would bite the dust. The
blood within me became chilled with fear of the result of
that charge as I imagined the carnage to be in the ranks
of them brave fellows, but I kept silent and made no com-
ment. The Georgians moves on, until they come in range
of the numerous cannons that could be brought to bear up-
on them when they began to send forth missies of des-
truction into their ranks. Without wavering they move
on, until they become entangled in the brush, when they
lost their organization, and each man picked his own way
to advance, but they move on, shot, shell, grape and can-
nister dealing death at every step, but they move on, until
they get near enough to receive the fire from the small
arms in the fort, they gave the "Rebel Yell," and firing as
they advanced they made a dash for the fort. They reached
the ditch and could go no farther, and all the commanding
officer could do was to order a retreat. There was no effort
as I saw, made to reinforce them, and they were repulsed
with heavy loss, but the charge upon "Fort Sanders" by
them Georgians will ever live in the memory of the living,
and will adorn a page in history testifying to the devotion
of them Georgians to the "Lost Cause." There was no
other effort made to capture Knoxville, and upon informa-
tion that reinforcements were coming to Burnside, Long-
street raised the seige, and moved off up towards Bristol.
General Bush, Rod, Johnson with two brigades from
Braggs' army had come to us just before we left Knoxville,
and was known as Johnson's Division. They moved with
us and shared all the hardships of the East Tennessee cam-
paign during the latter winter of '63 and the early winter
and spring of '64. General Hood, loosing his leg at Chica-
mauga, was unable to command and Brigadier General C.

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 199

W. Field was promoted to major general and by order of
President Davis was assigned to the command of Hood's
old division, and thus it was that we were called Fields'
Division, Lieutenant Renfroe being disabled, it became
necessary for us to have another lieutenant and while at
Knoxville Captain Waddell got an order to have an election
in our company, to elect a second lieutenant. I was solic-
ited and with two opponents entered the race, a ballot by
the men was had and upon an official count it was found
that I had received a majority of the votes cast; I was de-
clared elected, and on dress parade orders were read to
that effect. Officers of the regiment came and congratu-
lated me upon my success, and bid me God's speed, hoping
that I would be as faithful as an officer as I had been a
private and orderly sergeant. So I turned in my rifle, and
donned a sword with one stripe on my collar I entered im-
mediately on my duties as lieutenant, but I never did feel
right in battle with only a sword, and always provided
something to shoot with. Our march away from Knox-
ville was attended with nothing worthy of note more than
to say that the weather was cold, roads were muddy and
a great many were barefooted and bare for clothing. We
passed through several little villages on the railroad, in-
habited by people that was divided in sentiment as to the
North and South, but we treated all alike and soon made
friends, and could get a meal from the union girl as quick
as we could the Southern. We had two scraps with the
Yankees during the winter, one at Bean's Station, the
other at Dandridge, both resulting in the discomfiture of
the Yank, but in each engagement we sustained losses that
we could not restore.

200 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

CHAPTER IV

REMINISCENCES OF AN OLD VETERAN OF THE 15th
ALABAMA REGIMENT, LAW'S BRIGADE, FIELD'S
DIVISION, LONGSTREET'E CORPS, FROM FRED-
ERICKSBURG TO APPOMATTOX COURT
HOUSE, VIRGINIA.

Our new commander. General Fields, was from Virginia
and before his promotion commanded a brigade in A. P.
Hill's Division and was perfectly familiar with the tactics
of "Stonewall" Jackson. The division admired him very
much, and he soon had the confidence of his men. We Avent
into winter quarters above Morristown, and near to Green-
ville, the home of Andrew Jackson and the place where
the Yankees murdered John H. Morgan. This was the
hardest winter that we had ever experienced. It rained,
sleeted and snowed so much that the earth became so full
of water until a little stomping around our camp-fires
would cause the water to rise, and the earth around would
become to be a perfect loblolly, and there was but one reme-
dy, and that was to gather brush or any other kind of wood
and stand on it, but the worst of all was that it would rise
on us at night in our beds, and everywhere our hip-bones
rested water would come to the surface. Ditching around
our tents done no good. A good supply of wheat straw
gave some relief, but that would only be temporary. One
evening I took my blanket and started out to hunt straw,
and after walking several miles I came upon a stack, and
I approached the lady of the house and made my wants
known. She at first refused, and said it was an unusual
hard winter and that was all she had to feed her cow on.
I laid my condition before her and offered five dollars for
as much as I could carry in my blanket. She consented, I
give her a five dollar Confederate bill and went to packing
my turn. I would pile up and then pack and continued in
this way until I had a right respectable pile when it was
made loose. When I got as much as I thought I could
carry, I tied the corners of my blanket together, shouldered

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 201

it up, and started to camp. I don't remember now, how
far out I was, but I do remember that it worried me aw-
fully before I got to camp. Others from my company had
been out and brought in straw and continued as long as
there was any to be had in a reasonable distance from camp.
It was said that there were plenty of bushwhackers in that
country, and when they caught a Confederate soldier they
would hang him or put him out of the service in some cruel
manner. One of my company straggled on the march up
there and he never was heard of afterwards, and it was
thought that they caught him and executed him. The
Yankee cavalry kept making threats all along during the
winter and we would be called out occasionally to brush
them away. Their excursions did no good more than to
find out where we were, and what manner of men we were,
and they certainly found us out at Dandridge one day, for
we killed lots of them and they let us alone afterwards.
The soldiers of Longstreet's Corps, who were present in his
East Tennessee campaign will never forget its hardships.
There were many men with bare feet, others thinly clothed,
perfectly unfit to stand the rigors of such a winter only
by remaining around a fire, and wrapped in a blanket.
Carry us back to old Virginia was the constant cry of the
men, but at that time we had not the remotest idea where
we would go when the spring opened, (but I will tell you
later on.) After the wounding of our Colonel Oates in
October, the regiment was commanded for a while by Maj.
A. A. Lowther, and about the time we left Bragg's army
in November he took sick and went home much to the de-
light of many of us. Our Lieut. Col. I. B. Feagan, who
had lost his leg at Gettysburg was still a prisoner, and the
regiment was commanded by a captain all through the
East Tennessee campaign until early in March when Col.
Oates returned to us and found us in winter quarters. My
old company rejoiced at his coming, for he brought a large
box from our home, filled with good substantial home-made
clothing that our people had made up for him to bring to
us. We were perfectly delighted, for it went a long way
in relieving our want for clothing and shoes, besides that,
we were glad to be under his leadership once more. During
the month of February my captain had been furloughed
home for thirty days and I commanded the company during
his absence. He and the colonel returned about the same
time and many of the sick and wounded that had become

202 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

able for duty returned until it swelled the ranks of our
much depleted regiment to about four hundred effectives.
On the march we had the appearance of being a brigade.
The middle of March brought spring weather and we left
our winter quarters and took up the line of march toward
Bristol. As well as I remember we moved about ten miles
and went into camp on an elevated ridge which was more
pleasant than the low grounds that we had left. While
here our regiment was detailed to go as a guard to our
wagon-train over among the hills, across a stream called
Big Pigeon, for the purpose of gathering corn as it was
understood that there was corn in abundance over there,
subject to capture by the Yankees. Our march was pretty
brisk and led us through the little town of Dandridge. A
company from this town belonging to the 60th Alabama
regiment was camped in the place and as I had relatives
and friends in the company, I flanked to one side to see
them. I could not remain but a few minutes and bidding
good-bye I ran on and soon overtook my command, but
while there with my friends I learned that small-pox was
prevalent in their camp and one of my acquaintances had
died only a few days ago. This give me a scare and I had
no further use for Dandridge. It was getting late in the
evening when we come to the little river. We crossed over
in the wagons without much delay. I began to feel badly,.
I had a violent headache, and fever rose high. I marched
on, suffering in that way some four or five miles. We halt-
ed to rest, and I reported my condition to the captain and
he sent to the head of the regiment for the surgeon. After
examining me he gave me medicine and a pass to return to
camp the next day. I didn't like that at all, but it was
the best that could be done. The sun was about half -hour
high, and the country was reported to be full of deserters
and bushwhackers and it looked to me a doubtful chance.
The captain told me to choose any one that I wanted from
the company to stay with me, and I chose Will Phillipp.
We saw a single-story log house over on the side of a hill,
and after the regiment moved off we made for the house,
arriving we found it occupied by three females an elderly
woman and two robust likely girls. They met us very
coolly, and I suspicioned something immediately. I told
her that I was sick and wanted to stay in her house that
night, to this she peremptorily refused. I told her that I
would not disturbe her nor nothing she had, all I wanted

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 203

was shelter to keep from lying on the ground. She still
refused and said no Rebel should take shelter under her
roof. I told her that I would pay her anything reasonable
to let me stay. She replied that she did not want any of
my Rebel money and that she would not let me stay. Turn-
ing and looking her in the face, I said "Madam, I am going
to stay anyhow, you may say what you please; Will make
my bed down by the fire place, I want to lie down." Will
spread down our oil cloths and one blanket and down I lay.
About this time the least of the girls was taken with a
violent toothache and had as an excuse to run over to a
neighbors and have it pulled. I and Will was watching all
that. All at once, I became very sick and had to go out to
vomit; Will followed and while out there we agreed upon a
plan of defense in the event the bushwhackers was to come
for us, for we were sure that that was the girl's business
off, to inform on us. I had a good Remington 44 revolver
and Will had his gun and bayonet. There were two doors
to the house and I was to guard one and he the other. We
agreed to fight to a finish and not surrender for it meant
death, if we were captured and that we would sell out as
dear as possible. Will was true and trusty and I had im-
plicit confidence in him. We went back in the house and
about dark the girl returned without having her tooth
pulled, telling her mother that no one was at home that
could pull it. I and Will took all that in. They sat down
and ate their supper and then took seats and coversed in a
low tone until bed time. They had two bedsteads in the
house and they completely stripped one and piled all the
bedding on the other. Will was setting up watching every
move and I tell you, reader, I was not asleep. I looked at
them secretly, so that I would not be discovered, and I
thought there was the highest bed I ever saw, three or four
large feather beds with mattresses to match all piled up on
one another. Will ate his snack of cold beef and bread
and asked me if I wanted anything. I was too sick to eat,
had a violent headache with high fever. After awhile all
three without undressing piled up together on one bed.
Will fastened the doors as best he could and as the soldier
expresses it, turned in. Before dark Will had provided
enough fuel to last nearly all night and he kept it chunked up
pretty much all night. I would drop off in a doze occasionally
and lie awhile awake and listen. Will would do the same
thing. Thus we pased the night without being disturbed.

204 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

I was much better the next morning and relished a good
cup of coffee that Will made while I was taking a morning
nap. When I awoke the bedding had been removed back
upon the naked bedstead and they were stirring around
cooking breakfast. We offered them some of our coffee,
which was readily accepted for they had not had nor seen
any in months. After the sun rose to an hour's height we
started back to camp. I asked her what county that was,
and she said it was Tennessee county. Said I, "That is the
name of the State." She insisted that she was right, and
I didn't dispute her and computed it to her ignorance. I
thanked her for all the kindness shown and bid them good-
bye. Will and I retraced our steps and arrived at camp
about sundown. We stopped at a house about twelve o'-
clock to rest awhile and soon we were invited into dinner.
It was a fine dinner and was greatly appreciated. The man
of the house was too old for service and had two sons in
Pat Cleburn's Division, and treated us royally. We told
our experiences of the night before and he expressed won-
der that we lived through the night. After dinner we
chatted and rested awhile, thanked him for his kindness
and bade him good-bye. As I have already said we reached
camp about sundown, and found all "calm and serene."
The regiment remained off two days and came in with the
wagons loaded with corn. While at this camp, Lieutenant
Renfroe came to us fresh from home. He had a stiff arm,
and did not come for duty, he only come on a visit to see
the old boys that were living once more. Some time in the
early part of April, orders from corps headuarters were
issued, that a furlough for thirty days would be granted to
an officer where there was three officers and the company
did not exceed fifty men. It struck me at once that if I
could get Lieutenant Renfroe to report for duty, my chance
was good for a furlough. I approached him on the subject
and he readily consented to be reported for duty three
mornings all right. I went over to Colonel Oates' quarters
and laid the matter before him, and he readily consented to
approve my application under the order. I hurried to get
it off, with other officers, and in due time theirs came back
approved and they started for home leaving me to wonder
why my application was delayed. I waited a reasonable
length of time, and still it didn't come, and I summed up
courage enough to go to the several headquarters to make
inquiry. I went first to General Law's, then to Division

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 205

Headquarters ascertaining that it was not at either place
where I had been, I ventured to General Buckner's quarters
(for he was in command of the corps then) he being a strict
West Pointer, I felt a little shy in approaching him, I in-
quired for the Adjutant General, introduced myself and
told my business, explaining the circumstances. They
showed every courtesy, and the clerk began to search for
my application, and sure enough he found it "pigeon-holed"
in his desk. He approved it at once, and I carried it back
through the proper channel, and each one approved it. I
began at once to get ready, drawed and cooked three day's
rations, had the quartermaster to give me an order on the
quartermaster at Petersburg for two months pay, and the
next day Colonel Gates dated my furlough and I started for
home. I took the train and came via Bristol, Lynchburg
and Petersburg, Va., Weldon and Wilmington, N.C. Branch-
ville, S. C., Augusta, Macon and finally landing at Ft.
Gaines, Ga., seventeen miles from home. In company with
Cade Lee, a member from Co. H who was coming home on
sick furlough, decided to make the trip that night on foot.
It was sometime after dark that we were ferried across
the Chattahoochie river, when we struck boldly out for
Abbeville. I knew the road, and came on without being
bothered anywhere, arriving at Abbeville about two o'clock.
The place looked lonesome, and as Pollard remarked about
the city of Richmond the night after its surrender; I can
appropriately apply it to Abbeville at that hour. He said :
"That there was not a cheerful fire to dispel the gloom, and
darkness brooded over the great city." That truly applied
to Abbeville, my home town. We came out about three
miles and an old neighbor of mine would have us to stop
and take breakfast. We rested with him until about nine
o'clock, when we started for our homes. We did not go far
together before the roads forked and we had to separate,
he going to his home near Newton in Dale County, and I
to my home half-mile away. I took my people on surprise.
They were not expecting to see me that time.
Oh! how glad we were to meet again. Much fighting had
been done since I left home in the past fall, but one casualty
had happened to any of our relatives, and that was that one
of my cousins had lost one of his eyes at Knoxville and was
then a prisoner. His young wife at home came to see me to
get the particulars. She was greatly disturbed over it, but
she had hopes of his recovery, and that he would be ex-

206 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

changed and come home to her some time. He was kept in
prison until the close of the war, when he come home but
was never well afterwards. The older he got, the worse
he was, and at last he began to have epileptic fits, and only
a few years ago, while sitting on the bank of Choctaw-
hatchie river fishing he had one of them spells, fell in, and
drowned. Thus ended the life of J. N. Trawick, a good
soldier. I didn't enjoy the stay at home much for there
were no one to associate with but old men. The girls was
in full force and was as patriotic as ever. The old citizens
had almost despaired of the success of our cause, but I held
up the other side and told them General Lee's army was
still in the field, and in good spirits. "Yes, but Bragg's
army has lost its morale and can't be relied upon with
Bragg in command," but I held out to them that things
would change now Bragg had been removed, Johnston had
been put in command, confidence had been restored, and he
had as good soldiers as anybody, and that they would de-
feat Sherman yet. Such was the line of argument that I
would use to hold up our cause. I was glad when the time
cam.e for me to start back. A few days before the time
come I heard that my command had joined General Lee's
army in Virginia, and that heavy fighting was going on.
We received news every day which kept us posted as to
how the battles were going, and with each dispatch, the
news was favorable. The time come for me to return. I
kissed mama and sisters good-bye, turned my back upon
them and my face towards Ft. Gaines, Ga. to take the train
for Virginia. Two of my neighbors had packed two boxes
with clothing and provisions for me to carry to their sons.
One of them belonged to the 4th Alabama, the other to my
company, and what a burden they were before I reached
my final destination. I was informed before I left home
that W. A. McAllister, our A. Q. M. wanted me to carry
back to him one thousand dollars, and accordingly my
mother made a pocket to some of my underclothing, where
I could secrete it, and when I arrived at Ft. Gaines a man
was there with it securely packed. I took it, and that
caused an uneasiness all the way. When I landed at Rich-
mond, there I learned that my regiment had been engaged
and the losses were considerable. I lost no time in getting
my boxes on, and had them checked to Hanover Junction, as
I had been informed that my command was near there. It
was only fifteen or twenty miles by rail, and I was not long

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 207

in landing. I put the boxes in the depot, and ran out in
search of my command. I was not long in finding them
and at once informed the two boys what was at the depot
for them. We went back immediately and broke them open
and got out the contents and hastened back to the line.
One of the boys made me a present of a large, well smoked
ham that his father had sent him, saying as he handed it
to me, "Here take this for your trouble." The other boy
offered nothing, but I did not blame him for he saw that
I had as much as I could take care of. All the while the
skirmishers were popping away at each other, and a battle
was expected at any time. Everything was in a hustle,
and there was no time to parley. We hastened back to the
line as soon as possible, to be ready for the expected attack
on our lines. I reported to my captain and colonel, and they
were glad to see me. In a brief way they told me of the
hard fighting they had done since their arrival from Tenn-
essee the third of May. They had fought more or less
every day up to that time, the 15th, and many of the boys
that I left in Tennessee had been killed or wounded. There
was not more than twenty-five men in ranks, commanded
by Captain D. B. Waddell. The ham that had been given
me had a beargrass string to it, and I carried it hung
around m.y waist, and in passing some Georgians they saw
it, and began to yell "Here's a ham! ham! ham!" One said,
"Never mind old fellow, I will watch you today in battle
and if you get killed, its mine sure." The next thing to get
rid of was McAllister's money. I found him and handed
him the bundle just as it was given me, minus fifty dollars
that I took to pay expenses on them boxes. Since the war
I paid that man five dollars in good money as a charge that
he made against me. I thought it unjust, as I remained to
the end and he come home and had a "bomb-proof" position
until the close of the war. But that's all over with, and
I have lived until now without it and have never suffered
for the lack of it. Since our corps had been gone, a new
commander for the Yankee army had been appointed and he
had assumed a different mode from the rest, to get to Rich-
mond, and that was to increase his numbers and flank Lee
out of his position, but in this he failed as history shows.
Read it.

208 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

CHAPTER V

REMINISCENCES OF AN OLD VETERAN OF THE 15th

ALABAMA REGIMENT, LAW'S BRIGADE, FIELD'S

DIVISION, LONGSTREET'S CORPS, FROM FRED-

ERISKSBURG TO APPOMATTOX COURT HOUSE.

I said in my last chapter that when I arrived at my com-
mand that the skirmishers in front was popping away at
each other. Yes, my regiment was in line behind a small
breastwork, and some of the men were engaged in strength-
ening them, for it was not certain where Grant would at-
tack as that had been his tactics ever since he was defeated
at Spotsylvania Court House, but he has found Lee ready
to receive him wherever he come out. We remained in that
position till late in the evening when my company was de-
tailed to go on picket, and relieve some troops that was
already on. They were down on, and near the South Anna
Creek, and the Yanks were on the other side. We deployed
as skirmishers in squads of fours, and relieved those that
were there. Each squad occupying a small redoubt. We
passed the night quietly until just at daylight we were or-
dered up to a skirt of woods that was between us and our
line of battle. The officer in charge saw that our position
down near the creek was untenable in case of an attack,
and was easily flanked on our left. He reported these facts
to headquarters, and that, I guess was the cause of our re-
moval. We established our line in the woods and had a
fine view for several miles beyond the creek where the
Yankees were. We were relieved by another company, and
we went back to the line. The Yanks were threatening an
advance all the time. About the middle of the afternoon
here they come, and in such force as to force our skirmish-
ers in. The under-growth in our front had been cut down
for about fifty yards, and a charging column would have
been considerably tangled if they undertook to capture our
breastworks. Every one was ready the moment they
showed themselves at the edge of the fallen brush, but they
halted in the woods and began to annoy us with their sharp-
shooters. General Law couldn't stand that and he ordered

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 209

Colonel Oates to drive them away. My company, comman-
ded by Captain Waddell, was selected for that duty. The
captain deployed us as skirmishers behind the breasworks
and gave the command, forward, double quick march. The
boys dashed over the works and ran until they reached the
thick timber when we were ordered to halt and shelter our-
selves. We received their fire, but they aimed badly and
not a man was hurt. The men opened fire on them and
soon had them to hustle to the rear, but they halted and
kept up a desultory fire, resulting in no good more than to
hold us to our position in order that other movements could
be made. We took position behind trees and the men would
fire whenever one would show himself. The firing finally
ceased in our front, but continued heavy on our right and
left. I was on the left of the company observing things
on that flank near the Fredericksburg railroad. I and
Barney McArdle, an Irishman of my company, were behind
trees that stood near together; a Yankee had advanced un-
observed and had taken position behind a tree not over
twenty yards distant, all at once his gun cracked and his
bullet hissed by. I located him by the smoke of his gun.
I was to the right of Barney and could see the Yank better
than he could. Barney had located him, and fired on him
but missed. The Yank kept shooting, sometimes would hit
the trees we were behind. I told Barney that I would tell
him when the Yank would get ready to shoot. They ex-
changed several shots without effect, at last I told Barney
to get ready, he was fixing to shoot. He came around
slowly, exposing only a little of his side face and head. I
told Barney "now" and he fired, down dropped the Yankee.
Barney looked at m.e and winced his head, and in his Irish
brogue said "I got 'im." That put an end to that. We re-
mained silent for some time watching and waiting, pres-
ently we saw a Yankee coming slowly and to all appearance
using caution. We said nothing; he was unarmed and we
preferred to let him walk right up on us, and then capture
him. He came near enough and Barney presented his gun
on him, and he surrendered. He was utterly surprised.
He Vv^as a lieutenant, and only had a sword. Barney carried
him back to the line and turned him over to
Colonel Oates and I guess he went to Richmond
sooner than he bargained for. We were relieved by a com-
pany of different command and we went back to the breast-
work, took our place in line and moved by the right flank

-14

210 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

behind breastworks in the direction of the Chickahominy.
On this flank movement of Grant to Petersburg, he did not
fail to attack every place where there appeared to him a
reasonable hope of success in breaking our lines, and ride
into Richmond, as that was his objective point. It is said
of him that on this move that he and his stafi" stopped to
rest at a house and the lady asked him where he was going.
He replied that he was going to one of three places: to
Richmond, to Heaven or to Hell. She replied that ''You
can't go to Richmond for General Lee is in the way, you
couldn't stay in Heaven for "Stonewall" Jackson is there,
and I guess you will have to go to the latter place." He
plucked straws and made no reply. The month of May
was passing rapidly away and Grant said he "proposed to
fight it out on that line if it took all summer," and it really
looked that way, for he kept receiving reinforcements while
our ranks were constantly diminishing, and could not be
replaced, but the remnant of us that was there still showed
a bold front and repulsed every assault he made on our
lines. We kept pace with all his flank movements and was
in his path every time. History has accorded this campaign
to General Lee as being one of the most sublime that ever
happened in the United States. One day the latter part of
May (I don't remember the date) we were marching by the
flank nearing Cold Harbor, that the Yankee sharpshooters
were uncomfortably nigh to our line, and became a menace
to our movement. Colonel Oates detailed Co. "K," com-
manded by the Irish Lieutenant Pat O'Connor, to drive them
away. He deployed his company and sprung over the
breastworks and drove them away, but it was a dear vic-
tory. Lieutenant O'Connor was killed, which was a loss to
his company and the regiment that could not be replaced.
We arrived at Cold Harbor the second day of June, and
halted as an attack was threatened at that point. The
Yankees were near and were massing in strong force.
Now I vv^ill give in as concise a manner as I know how, a
description of our position, breastworks, etc. Our line of
works ran down a hill and across a sluggish little branch,
and up a hill on the other side from us. There was a large
pine sappling thicket just above where our line crossed the
branch, which afforded an elegant place to mass troops,
where we could not see them. All of Field's Division was
on one side of the branch and Breckenridge's Division was
on the other. What troops were not in the breastworks

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 211

were in the rear not far away as reinforcements in case
they were needed. General Law's Brigade were all in the
front line and he seeing the situation, as soon as dark came
the men went to work tearing down the works that lead
down to the branch, and building a work down the slope
crossing the branch lower down. Corresponding work
were done by the troops on the other side, thus you see if
you understand it, it placed the whole brigade in position
to fire on the Yankees when they reached the place where
our first line had been razed. It gave the troops on the
other side the same advantage. The men worked all night
and had completed them by the first streaks of day. From
reports, the Generals were certain that an attack would be
made in force the next morning. Captain N. B. Feagan,
with his Co. "B" was on picket and was ordered to come
in at the first appearance of an advance. Law was anxious
to get them in his trap and didn't intend to throw nothing
in their way to impede their progress. Colonel Gates had
asked Law for a piece of artillery to place at the angle of
our works, where they would have full view of the Yankees
when they come in sight. The piece was a brass twelve-
pounder and commanded by Lieutenant O'Flannigan (an
Irishman.) Sure enough about sunrise here they came,
charging through the pine thicket huzaing as they came,
expecting to run over and capture all that were in the
breast-works, but lo! and behold! when they arrived they
found them torn down and deserted and was receiving a
perfect storm of lead from both sides of the branch. The
twelve-pounder, with cannister, did wonderful execution.
It was Smith's Corps, closed in mass, and it was hardly
possible for a ball to pass through without hitting some
one. The men loaded and fired as fast as they could, and
in a half-hour's time it was said they lost five thousand
men. I never in all the bloody conflicts that I had been in,
saw such a destruction of human lives. They literally piled
on top of one another, often the dead would hold down the
wounded and vice versa. In an hour's time there was a
calm, except some sharpshooting. A flag of truce was
raised and the Yanks was allowed six hours to bury their
dead, after which General Grant began his flank move-
ment toward Petersburg, crossing the James on pontoons
below Berrcud hundred, where Gen. B. F. Butler was.
Beaureguard had him in check and Grant compared But-
ler's position as being in a jug and it tightly corked. Grant

212 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

in his flank movement on Petersburg had no trouble and
proceeded at once to attack the outer works which was
thinly occupied by some of Beauregard's troops. General
Lee had anticipated Grant, hurried our division over to
put a check on Grant's advance. We went in double quick
time through the streets of Petersburg, halting by small
detachments just long enough to drink a cup of coffee that
the ladies had in waiting for us. It was a miserable warm
day and we had been on the quick step for several miles.
The streets that we had to march on had been sprinkled,
which added much to our comfort. The Yanks was just
forming to attack Wise's Brigade in the trenches, but seeing
us coming in, withdrew. Grant began to concentrate his
army and entrench it at the most available points that
were in his possession. Lee concentrated his army oppo-
site and began to entrench also. In the meantime General
Lee had dispatched Early with three divisions to the valley
to head off Hunter, and threaten Washington. That which
was accomplished by this move is a matter of history and
not in the province of this narrative. Suffice it to say that
it ended disastrously to Early. Grant continued to stretch
his left around Petersburg, until he struck the Weldon R.
R. at Reams' Station. He succeeded in tearing up some of
the track, but Mahone's Division pounced down upon them
and give them a glorious thrashing, and capturing many
prisoners with their colors. The broken place was soon
restored and the regular schedule for the trains was re-
sumed. Fields' Division was shifted several times, first on
the North side of the James East of Richmond, then back
to Petersburg as the emergency of situation required. By
the middle of July Lee had good breastworks, both in front
of Richmond and Petersburg. I guess they were thirty
miles from right to left. Several attempts were made du-
ring the summer to break Lee's lines but all failed. The
most formidable attempt was made on the morning of the
29th of July. (I have reference to the Crater, and will
pass on and say no more.) Grant lay regular seige to
Petersburg and all through the summer, fall and winter
months of '64 made repeated efforts to control the railroads
that ran into Petersburg, as they were the lines that furn-
ished subsistence from the South to Lee's army, and in
some instances he succeeded, but never completely stopped
us up. By the middle of June the lines of both armies
were established and work to strengthen the breastworks

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 213

was the order of the night, for neither side was allowed to
work in the daytime, where they were the least exposed
My command would go to the front about once a week and
relieve troops that were in the trenches m order that they
might retire to the rear for a few day's rest, when we would
be relieved to rest. About the middle of July a demonstra-
tion in heavy force by the enemy was made upon our lines
on the North side of the James and within ten miles East
of Richmond. The attack was so sudden in such_ force as
to enable them to gain some foot-hold and our division was
sent hurriedly from the front of Petersburg to reinforce
our troops on the North side of the James. Just before \ve
arrived at the place needed the Yankees had seucceeded m
capturing Ft. Gilmer, and the works that led to the right
of it towards the James. There were no guns m the tort,
and our generals decided that the works that they had cap-
tured was of little value to us, and was not worth the at-
tempt to recapture them. The Yankees did not advance
any farther, and we established our line which remained
permanent until the war closed, although there were re-
peated efforts made several times during the summer and
fall to flank us out of them. We had another fort on this
line to the left of Ft. Gilmer, called Ft. Harrison which
commanded a view a mile to the front and had four twenty-
pounders mounted therein, ready for action. It was a large
earthwork made of earth thrown from the outside which
made a ditch on the outside so deep that the top of the fort
Tuld not be reached without ladders. The Texas Brigade
occupied this part of the line including the fort. My bri-
gade was on their left, with a branch between, but the
bushes had been cut down so that we had a fair view ot
what took place in front of and at the fort. About the
middle of the afternoon brisk firing was heard m front,
and presently our advanced skirmishers came m, followed
bv those of the Yankees. It meant that a heavy assault
was going to be made on Ft. Harrison and from our po-
sition we could be spectators, if nothing come m our front
to detract our attention. Presently the long Ime f ^^J^l
and Black" debouched from the woods m fine style to the
attack. Poor, ignorant negroes They did ^^^^^ k^^ what
was in waiting for them behind them works that flanked
the fort Our cannon in the fort threw twenty pound shrap-
nel at them from the time they made their appearance until
close enough for grape and cannister. All this did not

214 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

check them. Great gaps would be made in their ranks to
be closed immediately. When within one hundred yards,
the Texans opened upon them with their Enfield rifles and
such another thinning of ranks I had not witnessed in a
long time. There was nothing in our front and we would
yell as if we were on a charge. The attacking column was
Ledly's Division of negroes, and we were perfectly de-
lighted to see how the Texans was cutting them down. We
had heard of the negro troops in Grant' army, and we
wanted a chance at them. We had heard of their cruelty
to prisoners, and that had made us "mad" and we wanted
a chance to appease our wrath. We knew they were front-
ing a set that would do the right thing by them, and we
were satisfied to turn them over to Texans and the Geor-
gians, for they were there also. They came right on, until
they reached the outer ditch when into it they went and
began to climb up, but let me tell you, reader, our boys
threw hand grenades over on them and lit five second fuses
to them twenty pound shrapnel and tossed them over on
them, until there was heaped in that ditch such a pile of
dead niggers that no American had ever seen. What few
white officers that were left and some of the niggers took
advantage of the smoke and escaped. The night was hid-
eous from the pitiful cries of them cruel wounded negroes,
and many of their dead was thrown into an old well that
was on their side. The wounded was hauled off to the
hospital near the James and there received good treatment
from our surgeons and nurses as they were entitled to. It
was ascertained that them niggers were tanked up on liquor
and that was the cause of them being so headstrong and go-
ing to destruction with so much recklessness. That put a
quietus on that part of the line, and remained so for several
days. The Yankees that were on the North side of the
James at that time was commanded by General Butler.
Hancock, who commanded a corps in Grant's army, came
over and extended Butler's lines far to their right (our left)
until our division had to move to the left to keep in Han-
cock's front. In establishing our lines, sharp skirmishing
would occur between us, and it was kept up in this way
until the night of the 15th of August revealed the fact that
Hancock would attack in force somewhere on the line the
next day. We were all put on the qui vive. We in the
ranks didn't know where, nor when the attack would be
made. As well as I remember it was ten o'clock, that we

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 215

began to hear firing to our left and it grew to be sharp as
if regular lines of battle were engaged. At that time we
occupied New Market heights near a large spring where
it was said that at one time Washington watered his army.
All I can say about that is, that it affordtd an abundant
supply. Our brigade had out pickets in front, commanded
by my Captain, D. B. Waddell, which left me in the com-
mand of the company. The firing increased in volume and
our regiment was formed in line and followed by the 48th
we moved off in quick time left in front in the direction of
the firing. We crossed a little branch and moved rapidly
up the hill, and when we struck the level we double-quicked
until we became opposite to where the works had been lost.
The Georgians were scattered along the works so thin that
they had to yield to overwhelming numbers. When we ar-
rived at the place, we were needed, we halted, fronted,
and forming we were ordered forward, but while forming,
we were fired upon from the left, a place that we were not
expecting it, which caused a little confusion in the left wing
of our regiment. Order was soon restored, and looking to
the left I saw a regiment of Yankees down on their knees
loading and firing. Nine of my company were wounded
from this fire, and Co. "B" that was on my left sustained
similar loss. Two Lieutenants of the regiment were wound-
ed who left their companies without a commissioned officer
to command. Our regiment was commanded by Major
Lowther, and he was wounded also. Two or three of Ben-
nings' Georgia regim^ents passed to our rear, and when
their right passed our left they fronted, and we altogether
charged and drove the Yankeee to and past the breast-
works, and capturing many prisoners. Col. Gates by spe-
cial order from the war department had been assigned to
the command of the 48th Alabama and while we were en-
gaged he, with his regiment, was on our right contending
with overwhelming odds for the repossession of the lost
works. By their bravery and skill of their comm.ander they
retook the line, capturing, wounding and killing more Yan-
kees than they had in their ranks, but in this Col. Gates
lost his right arm, and the next ranking officer was des-
perately wounded. Our color bearer, W. I. Defnal, while
leading the charge, hat in his right hand and the colors
held aloof in his left, had the misfortune of having his left
arm cut off at the elbow by a solid shot from the enemy.
The colors dropped to the ground, but were still grasped

216 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

by his hand. Capt. Feagan loosened the staff from his hand
as it lay on the ground, and carried it in triumph to the
breastworks. When we reached the works, the Yankees
that were on the other side, fell over on our side as prison-
ers. The boys shot at them that run, until they were out
of sight. Things soon got quiet, except we were the re-
cipients of an av/ful shelling. While we were Dehind the
works, a shell hit the ground on the other side and bounced
over into our ditch. It was smoking and ready to burst
when John D. Shepherd of my company, picked it up and
quickly threw it back over the works, it exploding before
it hit the ground on the other side. I fell flat on my stom-
ach on the ground as that was the only remedy for my
escape. The ground in our rear was dotted with the killed
and wounded Yankees, and they were in direct range of the
shells from their friends, and the wounded begged piteously
to be removed, but we had no time for that, as we expected
that another attack would be made on the works. There
was one poor wounded Yankee that lay in our rear that v/as
literally torn to pieces by the explosion of a shell thrown
from his friends. It was here in this charge that I had the
only drop of blood drawn from me during the war by the
Yankees' bullets. While on the charge to the works a
minnie ball struck the ground in front of me, and bounc-
ing, struck me on the upper lip, causing my two upper
teeth to become loose. It hurt real bad and I thought at
first that my tongue, and mouth were shot all to pieces. It
was a spent ball, and fairly sung before it hit me. I soon
discovered that I was not seriously hurt, and went on, and
only suffered a few days with a swollen upper lip, and loose
teeth, which become tight, and I carry one of them today,
having lost the other by decay about one year ago. This
battle was fought on the 16th of August, 1864, and is
known in history as the battle of Fussel's Mill, on the Dar-
bytown road ten miles east of Richmond. According to the
number of troops we had, and the number engaged by the
Yankees, our victory was a grand success and had the ef-
fect of silencing Hancock for several days. All being quiet,
troops came in to relieve us, and the next day we resumed
our position on New Market Height. We remained on this
line all during the month of August and September and
only moved to the threatened points. We kept out pickets
all the time, fronting the Yankees, and our boys would fire
on them whenever one would show himself, and they did us

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 217

the same way, consequently picket firing went on all the
summer, and became so common that it was not noticed at
the main line. There was a circumstance that happened
to me over at Petersburg in June, which I should have re-
lated in my stories of the seige, but it had slipped my
memory and now while I think of it, I will tell you. We
had out videttes in front, occupying small redoubts, and
the Yankee pickets were so close by that we could hear them
cough. We could not go out, and remain in the day time,
neither could the Yankees. Our pickets were made up by
a promiscuous detail from our brigade, and a small branch
separated the pickets of our brigade from that of Bennings.
Each brigade picket was commanded by a commissioned
officer detailed for that purpose. It was my time to go,
and I went out very cautious, making no noise, placing four
men in each redoubt, and my duty was to keep one man
awake at each post. Firing on the line was prohibited.
The Yankees were busily working on a large fort in my
immediate front, and we could see them on top of the
fort between us and their lights that were on the other side.
They presented a good target, but we were not allowed to
shoot. Som_etime late in the night, one of the Georgians
from the other side and near the branch crossed over look-
for the commanding officer of our pickets. When I was
shown to him, he asked my permission to fire on the Yanks
at work. I told him to go back to his post, and shoot as
much as he wanted to, as far as I was concerned, I had no
control, over his part of the line. He went back, and in a
short time I heard the whizzing of his bullet and the crack
of his rifle, and at the breastworks I heard a fellow hollow,
"Oh, Lordy!" He hit one, thought I, and that started a
firing all along the line. It caused the men at the main
line to be aroused, and get ready for action. I was really
uneasy for I didn't know what would be done with me the
next morning. The officer from Bennings' picket came
over to consult as to the best thing to say, in the event we
were called on, and we agreed not to give the fellow away,
and that he fired without our consent. Just at dawn, we
withdrew, and went in to the main line. I dismissed the
men, telling them to report at their commands. Then I
went to sleep, and slept until ten o'clock. In the afternoon
Col. Perry, who at that time, was in command of the
brigade, sent his Orderly to the 15th Alabama with in-
structions for the officer that commanded the pickets the

218 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

night before to report to his headquarters. I went, uneasy
as I could be. When I reported he asked me all about the
firing, and at last said, "he hit one of them for I heard him
hollow; if he hadn't I would put you under arrest. I dis-
miss you. Lieutenant." I was glad to hear that. I will
return to my narrative of events as they come under my
observation during the fall and winter of 1864, On the 7th
of October our division was sent out on the Darbytown
road to make a reconnaissance. The advance was led by some
South Carolina cavalry, commanded by Gen. Gary. The
outpost of the Yankees consisted of cavalry and they were
easily pushed back on their main supports. My company
was deployed to cover the advance of the regiment, but in
maneuvering and being ordered by Gen. Gary. I was led
away from the front of my regiment, and went on a flank-
ing expedition commanded by Gen. Gary. At last we came
up on the left of a company of Yankee cavalry, and my
whole line of skirmishers fired on them, putting them to
rout until they reached an old house when they dismounted,
and took shelter, firing at us through the cracks from
which two of my company were wounded, and one killed.
Gen. Gary ordered us to lie down, and keep up a fire to hold
them there, until he could move around, and "bag the whole
concern." He only partially succeeded, a few escaped. A
little further on, they had a cannon which they turned on
us, and fired a few rounds of grape at us before we captur-
ed it. We advanced at a double quick, firing as we ad-
vanced, until the Yankees disappeared in the woods. But
where was the regiment? I did not know, but I knew I
was a long way in the advance, but kept right on. They
had abandoned their piece of cannon and I made straight
for that. Looking to my right I saw the brigade advanc-
ing in line of battle as if they were going to make an at-
tack, but there was nothing there to attack but a few dis-
mounted cavalry, and they were disorganized. As I was
passing down the road, I came across a member of Co. "A"
of my regiment, with two or three others. He was sitting
beside a tree struggling in great pain. One grape shot had
entered his face, just under one of his eyes, ranging down-
ward, had lodged near the root of his tongue, and he was
struggling to get it out but failed. It was the size of a large
size marble, an iron ball, and it made an awful hole beside
his nose, where it entered, and I was sure that it would
kill him. I didn't have time to stay there long, and hur-

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 219

ried on leaving him there with his comrades. I never ex-
pected to see him again, and never heard anything of him
during the war, but to my surpriss he was at the reunion
of the 15th Alabama in November, 1902, in Montgomery,
and had the grape shot with him. I told him of seeing
him by the tree in great pain, and never expected to see
him again. It was taken out of the neck below the chin.
It left a large scar at both places where it entered and
where it was cut out. The grape shot is in possession of
Gen. Wm. C. Gates or in the archives. I don't remember
his name, but he resided in Russell County in 1902. I was
awful proud to meet that fellow, and wish I knew his name.
My skirmishers passed by the piece of artillery and entered
the woods. We were somewhat scattered but kept up the
alignment. I was on the right, and nearing a small branch
with but little swamp. Jim Rhodes of Co. "K" had fell in
with me, and he was on my right and Alex Stone of my
company was next to my left. My attention was on John
Bray who was on the other side, among some scattering
pines. John was acting as scout that day, and had gotten in
our front. I noticed his slipping along half bent as if he was
trying to slip up on something, but all at once right in front
of me, a large Yankee stepped from behind a pine hardly ten
paces away, throwing his large revolver on me, ordered me
to surrender. I had nothing but my sword, and without
saying a word I turned my right side to him. I expected to
catch a shot from him every second, but fortunately for me,
Jim Rhodes saw him just as he spoke to me, and throwing
his gun on him stormed out, "Surrender yourself, G — d
d — n you." The Yankee seeing that Rhodes had the drop
on him, dropped his hand, at the same time dropping his
revolver. We went up to him and Rhodes asked for his
pocket book. The Yank pulled it out of his pocket and
handed it to Rhodes. I took his sword belt, and wore it
home when the war ended. He had on a pair of cavalry
boots, a good hat, and a fine ring on one of his fingers. The
boots, and hat were no good to either of us, so we didn't
swap with him, but Rhodes commanded him to take that
ring off his finger. It was hard to get off, and in the effort
to get it off he remarked in a subdued tone that his mother
put that on his finger when he left her to join the army.
That touched me, and I told him to keep it, and hide for he
might not find as honest Rebels as we were when he went
to prison. I turned him over to Alex Stone, who

220 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

guarded him to the rear, and turned him over to the Pro-
vost Guard. After we got through with him we hurried
on to where Bray was. He had slipped on to, and had cap-
tured a Yankee in a gully. I swapped hats with him. It
was a small white fur hat, and I wore it home at the close
of the war. We had no orders from any one, and we kept
ivj the forward movement until we came to some rifle pits
that had but a short time been occupied by the Yankees.
We took possession, and fell into them to shelter us from a
severe shelling from the main line of the Yankees. While
here, a battery of four pieces came into position in our rear,
and engaged the Yankee battery in a regular duel. Our po-
sition was anything else but a pleasant one, and we had
to lie down to protect ourselves. The Yankees had left a
good woolen overshirt that was soiled a little around the
collar, and I appropriated it to my use. Presently the bat-
teries ceased their firing, and a Colonel of one of the Geor-
gia regiments rode up and ordered me to advance to as
near the works as I could and develop what strength the
Yankees had behind them. I did so, but on nearing the
works we received a volley from a solid line from behind
the works, fortunately no one of my company was hit as we
fell flat on the ground at the first intimation we had, that
we were going to be fired upon. There we were under full
control of the Yankees, we had gone as near as we could,
and nothing remained for us to do but to fall back. I ex-
pected the Georgians to advance over us, and charge the
works but they did not come, and after waiting a reason-
able time, I ordered the company to fall back, and this we
did in double quick time. The Yankees had a fair shot at
our backs for a short distance, and fortunately for us only
one man of my company was hit. That was Jackson Ward
who fell just in front of me, and I stepped over him, pass-
ing two or three steps, I looked back, and he had his hands
raised, asking me to help him away. Before the war, he
was my playmate, schoolmate, and in the war my friend.
After getting out from under the fire from the Yankees, I
assembled the company and started in search of the regi-
ment. I found them about a mile in the rear fixing to go
into camp. I ascertained that they had had several brushes
during the day, and had lost some men killed and wounded.
Our company had lost four, two died from wounds, the
others were only slightly wounded. When dark came I took
with me Dave Merritt, and went and brought poor Jack

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES , 221

Ward out, and got him off that night for the hospital at
Richmond. He died on the 9th and Col. Gates being there,
wounded himself, procured a burial case, and in accordance
of a promise made to Jack's father, shipped his remains
home. They lie in the cemetery at this place, and I never
fail at each memorial day to lay a bunch of flowers on his
grave. He was a noble young man, with a noble pride, and
a lofty ambition. Before retiring I put on the woolen
shirt, and lay down with Dave Merritt, my bed fellow. The
night was pretty cool, and it was real comfortable, but not
long something began to sting me, and I became restless,
so much so that Dave complained, and after telling him the
cause of my restlessness he rose, and made a fire, and told
me to get up and let's see what's on that shirt. He had mis-
trusted something. I did as he requested, and we found
thousands and thousands of "Body Creepers" (every old
soldier knows what they were.) I pulled it off and laid it
in the fire and done about to get rid of the others so that I
and Dave could sleep.

CHAPTER VI

REMINISCENCES OF AN OLD VETERAN OF THE 15th
ALABAMA REGIMENT, PERRY'S BRIGADE,
FIELD'S DIVISION, LONGSTREET'S CORPS,
FROM FREDERICKSBURG, VA., TO AP-
POMATTOX COURT HOUSE.

Brigadier General Law, after receiving his wound at
Cold Harbor the 3rd of June, never commanded us any
more. He was promoted to Major General, and assigned
to command somewhere else. Col. W. F. Perry of the 44th
being the senior Colonel, was promoted to the command of
our brigade, therefore, I now call it Perry's brigade. After
our spat with the Yankees in October we fell back, and es-
tablished a line on more favorable ground, and began to
fortify. The Yankees to find out our position on the 13th
attacked our position with Birney's division. They drove
in our pickets, and came buzzing through the woods. Our
works was nothing like half complete, but we repulsed

222 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

their attack implicating a havy loss on them. Co. "K" was
on picket when the Yankees advanced, and was driven in
by a heavy line. They had no commissioned officer to com-
mand them and Lieutenant Glover of Co. "B" was detailed
to command them, and in this skirmish he received a wound
that in a few days ended his life. Another noble officer was
lost. There was a calm for a while, and one of our cav-
alry advanced down the road toward the Yankees, and it
was but a short time before we heard the sound of horses
coming up the road. We thought it was a cavalry charge,
and the left company of our regiment that was nearest the
road made ready to receive them. The right companies of
the regiment on our left made ready also. The sound came
nearer, and all at once our cavalryman that had advanced
half an hour before came running at full speed, with his
legs clinched tight to the sides of his horse, sticking his
spurs. Here come a Yankee sitting half bent in his saddle,
with a drawn sabre in his hand, in close proximity to our
fellow. In another half minute's run the Yankee would have
overtaken him, but when the Yankee reached the gap in
our works there must have been fifty guns fired at him,
and down come the rider and horse, both lifeless. Our fel-
low did not slack his speed, and one of our men remarked
that he had gone to Richmond to tell Jeff Davis how near
he had been run down by a Yankee. It was real funny to
see the fellow running so fast with no one in pursuit. All
the time we were idle, we were busy strengthening- our
works. The under brush had been cut down in front for a
short distance. We could hear the Yankee officers giving
commands in their formations, and presently we heard the
command. Forward! given, and then we knew they were
coming. It was a momentous time with us, for we did not
know how strong they were, but we were sensible of our
weakness, and the inadequacy of our works. The m.en re-
solved to stand to the last, and give them the bayonet in the
event they came near enough. There was no thought of
surrendering or retreating. Our men held their fire until
they reached the point where the bushes had been cut down,
and as soon as they reached that point our men poured
such a deadly volley into their ranks as to cause them to
waver, and become confused. They lost their organiza-
tion, notwithstanding the living officers were among them
urging them forward. All the while our m.en kept pour-
ing a furious fire into their crowded ranks, and the com-

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 223

mands of their officers to advance were in vain. There
was an old Major on his horse for a short time among his
men with a drawn sword in hand, ordering his men to ad-
vance, but his orders were unheeded. I had a Remington
44 revolver that I emptied at them at close range. I fired
four shots into their crowded ranks, and two at the Major
on his horse. The Major didn't last a minute after he made
himself so conspicuous. He and his horse went down about
the same time, riddled by many bullets. What was left,
broke and run until they reached their main line of works.
Our skirmishers pursued until they reached a place of
safety from us, and each party went to work in establish-
ing their outer lines, which were used by each party all
during the winter. After the battle was over I went out
among the dead and wounded that lay in my front, and ex-
amined as well as I could to see if any of the 44 calibre
balls had taken effect. I think I found two. Adjutant
Camp of the Yankee regiment, lay dead with a small bullet
hole in the corner of one of his eyes next to his nose; the
other was shot through the breast from left to right, the
ball going clear through. Julius Wicker of Co. ''K" always
said that I killed them two Yankees. I examined the Major,
only found two small holes through his cape, but several
large ones in his body. The next day the wounded were
removed and the dead buried, and we resum.ed our posi-
tion on the left, and went to building breastworks. We
finished them in November, and the weather became cold
and rainy so that the roads become so bad that active opera-
tions ceased, and both armies, where we were, contented
themselves in watching each other, but it was not so over
and around Petersburg for they fought more or less every
day over there, but it didn't bother us. In December or-
ders came for us to build huts preparatory to spending the
winter there. We were glad to hear that, and the boys
went to work in earnest, and soon had comfortable huts
to protect them from the sleet and snow. We were just in
the rear of our breastworks and in plain view of the Yan-
kee works of their outpost. It was an admirable position
and I always wanted the Yankees to attack us there in
heavy force, but they never came. We spent Christmas in
quietude but our head commanders had not forgotten the
old custom of having a dram on Christmas morning, con-
sequently unexpected to us a small quantity (but enough)
was issued to each man. There was some that refused,

224 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

and his share was prorated, in order that all would share
alike. Rations were scarce, and some days we would get
real hungry. They had been reduced, and it caused hun-
ger. We had not been paid off in eight months except for
two months, and the amount being so small and had to pay
such high price for anything we bought, until it was soon
gone. One day a wagon come in with some sweet potatoes
to sell. General Perry rode up on his horse. Several of the
boys were standing around the wagon and among them
Bryant Skipper, Bryant looked up at the General and said,
"My God, General, ain't they never going to pay us any
more money?" The General replied that he didn't know,
and pulling out a five dollar bill, handed it to Bryant, and
he gave it for two potatoes. The scarcity of money and
rations caused some good men to become despondent and
lost all hopes of our success. Consequently, all through
the months of January, February and March desertions
became to be frequent. While in winter quarters I was
cited to appear before an examining board of military offi-
cers to be examined for prom.otion to a First Lieutenancy
of my company, as Lieut. Renfroe had been retired, which
caused a vacancy. I passed all right, but for some cause
never did receive my commission from the war depart-
ment and was only declared so by order of the Colonel com-
manding. The Yankee picket post where our men would
desert to at night, was half a mile away, and was guarded
by Yankee cavalrymen as we could plainly see. I conceived
a plan to capture him at night, and quietly went to our
Colonel, Lowther, to obtain permission to make the at-
tempt that night, and to lay my plans before him. He
consented and dealt out a great long string of advice in the
way of caution. His lecture almost caused m.e to decline
as he depicted to me some horrible circumstances that
would follow a failure. I went back to my company, and
thought over the whole matter, but I never could agree with
his suggestions, and finally concluded that I would make
the attempt. I crossed over the breastworks before dark
and proceeded to a piece of woods where we had a picket
post. It was in command of a Georgia Lieutenant and I
selected this as the place from which I would approach the
Yankee picket. I put him in possession of my plan, and
obtained his consent to pass through his line but I bound
him. to secrecy in order that nothing would be let out. I
went back to quarters and called Cicero Kirkland of my

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 225

company. Fate Harper of Co. "B" and Watts (an

Italian) of Co. "K" together and put them on to what I
wanted to do, and that I had selected them to go with me.
Yes, they were right in for it. I begun to give instruc-
tions as to each man's part to be played, and it was this:
At twelve o'clock we were to start, pass through the Georgia
line of pickets and form in single file, I in front followed by
Kirkland, Harper and Watts in the order named. When we
came near enough to be challenged, I would answer "Don't
shoot, we are deserters." Each one was to carry an Enfield
rifle, and conceal them as much as possible. When near
enough, I was to seize his bridle reins and they were to
spring at the same time and present their guns, and I de-
manding him in a low tone to surrender. All this was my
instructions and thoroughly understood, and at the ap-
pointed time we started. Passing the Georgia pickets we
formed in single file toward the Yankee. The large growth
for fifty yards in his front had been cut down and a small
growth of bushes had sprung up to about waist high. The
moon shone brightly, and we advanced slowly. His position
was on a little rise in the ground, and our line of advance
was up a small incline. I could see him sitting on his horsa
between me and the sky beyond. We approached within
ten steps of him_ before he commanded us to halt. He said
"Halt there and surrender." I replied "Don't shoot" and
just at that moment Watts from the rear stormed out "Sur-
render yourself," when whiz! went by a bullet from the
Yankees carbine. He lay down on his horse, turned and
fled across the old field to where his reserves was. Each
one of us fired at him as he ran off but missed. We fired
several shots into where the reserve was and must have
caused some com.motion in their cam.p from the noise and
the sounding of trumpets that we heard. They must have
thought the whole of Longstreet's Corps was right on to
them, judging from the loud orders that were being given.
After staying there as long as we wanted to, we returned
to camp from whence we came, and retired for the night.
I was utterly whipped out by the performance of Watts,
as what he did destroyed all chance of success. The effort
that we made to capture that Yankee had a good effect. It
stopped so much desertion, as it made them afraid of being
fired on. The m.onth of March came in, and it being the
"blowing" month the roads soon become so that active op-
erations would soon commence. We could begin to hear of

—15

226 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

conflicts between Lee's and Grant's forces over at Peters-
burg, but seldom anything encouraging to us as Grant, with
his great strength could keep extending his line to Lee's
right, causing him to scatter his forces in the trenches in
order to get troops to send to the right. There was nothing
encouraging to us and the chance of our success was slim.
As the firm weather of the middle of March came on history
tells us that Grant had completed his preparations for a
move all along the line, with such numbers as would com-
pel us to abandon our position, and evacuate Richmond. It
was a gloomy time with us, the end of the struggle would
soon end, but who would live to see it? The last days of
March the Yankees became very acitve in our front by
sharpshooting all the time, which was indicative that some-
thing would soon happen that would startle the world. On
the first of April Grant succeeded in turning Lee's right,
and the next day breaking his line at Petersburg. We could
hear the cannonading that was going on in front of Peters-
burg all day the first, and we were not surprised when we
were called on to get up, take with us what we could carry
on our backs and be ready to march at a moment's notice.
About three o'clock we were ordered into line and moved
oflf towards Richmond without making any noise. We moved
out about a mile and halted, and there waited until the
other three brigades of our division could be brought up,
and put in the marching coulmn. This being done, the or-
der to march was given, when we bid farewell to our last
winter quarters on the Darbytown road, ten miles East of
Richmond. Our march was brisk at times, especially when
we began to draw near to Richmond. We arrived about
sunrise and the part of the city that we went through was
perfectly quiet, and those we saw were not alarmed in the
least. Our line of march was in the extreme Southern part
of the city, near the James, and the people down there did
not know that at that time, arrangements were being made
for its abandonment. Neither did we know it. We march-
ed to the depot where there was a long train of flat cars
waiting to carry us over to Petersburg. We hurried aboard
without observing any form, seated ourselves and was
ready to ride. Toot! toot! was sounded by the engineer,
and the train began to move slowly across the James. I
have no doubt that the move we were then making sug-
gested to the mind of our drummer boy, Pat Brannon, this
line of his renowned poem when he said, "Farewell dear

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 227

Richmond on the James, etc.," and sure enough it has
proved to be a lasting farewell to many. The train was
heavily loaded, and naturally run slow. About half way
we met a train from Petersburg switched to one side, load-
ed with Yankee prisoners. Our train slowed up and stop-
ped opposite them when a free for all discussion commenced
between them and our boys. They said, "Boys, we are
sorry for you, you don't know what you are running into.
We have taken Petersburg and have your army nearly sur-
rounded; the war will be over in two weeks," and they
were glad that they were out of it. They could not make
some of the boys believe this, and they told them that the
first corps was still alive and that it never had been whip-
ped, and the tide would turn as soon as our division could
reach Petersburg, to this they laughed and said, "They had
men lying back in the rear drilling that hardly knew the
war was going on." I have been reliably informed since
the war that this was true. I only acted as a silent listener,
but took what they said seriously. I saw a fellow with
a good pair of shoes on that I wanted. I called his atten-
tion and proposed to swap. He bluffed me at the start by
telling me that he wanted to wear a good pair home, and
that mine was too sorry for that. I then told him that I
would give him five dollars in addition; to this he replied
that my money was no good. The Yankee had more sense
that I thought he had and I let him alone. We moved off,
and left the train still standing on the track and I don't
know until this day what went with them Yankee prisoners.
We moved on, and nearing Petersburg we heard the can-
nons booming and the rattle of small arms. It was in the
middle of the P. M. that we arrived and getting off the
cars in the edge of the city we were sent hurriedly to the
Western part of the city, where the Yankees had never
bothered before. Line of battle was formed. Captain Wad-
dell, with his battallion of sharpshooters and my company
on his right deployed as skirmishers to cover the brigade.
The Yankee skirmishers about three hundred yards distant
opened fire on us at once. We ran down a hill, crossing a
branch toward them, and was soon under cover, when we
began to ascend the hill on the other side, creeping up cau-
tiously so that we could see them, being near, the firing
become spirited until the Yanks retired a short distance,
when they reinforced and come again, extending farther
to their left and overlaping my right. This day was Sun-

228 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

day the 2nd day of April, and will ever be remembered by
all my old company that was there in that skirmish so long
as life lasts, as being the last engagement, and losing H. F.
Satcher, one of our best young men, so near the close of the
war. He was shot through the head and died instantly.
Captain Waddell, with his battallion of brigade sharpshoot-
ers, had flanked to the left, and I moving to the right we
become separated, and fought independently of each other.
My right rested on one of the main roads that went into
the city from the West. The Yankees kept extending to
their left and I had to keep in their front to keep from
being captured. I kept on this way until my right come
to the canal along side of the Appomattox river. I could
go no farther, neither could the Yankees. My company
kept up a regular fire on them all the while, keeping them
back. Fortunately no one of my company was hit but
Satcher, but they came near getting me, shooting a hole
through my hat, and through my pants near my knee. The
brigade had lay down in line where we left them, and had
not moved. We had no supports, and was occupying an iso-
lated position without orders and dark coming on. I knew
to remain there till morning, it meant for me and my whole
company to be captured. So soon as dark hid us from the
view of the Yankees, I quietly, without making any noise,
assembled my company and went back to my regiment.
They were moving off, and I hurried to take my place in
line. The fact was, we would have been left and sacrificed
if I had not withdrew. We moved without making any
noise back to the edge of the city and crossed Appomattox
on a pontoon bridge. Then it was that we bid farewell to
Petersburg and struck out on a road leading Northwest.
None of us knew where we were going. We marched all
night without sleeping a wink. A whole lot of sugar was
issued to us while standing in the road, and as well as I re-
member now, it was the last ration of any kind issued to
us by our government. During the night we could see
flashes and hear the sound of something like unto large can-
non in the direction of Richmond. The next day we were
informed that Richmond had been evacuated and the flashes
and sounds we heard the night before was caused by the
blowing up of the powder magazines. We moved on all
day, tired and sleepy, with but little to eat. As well as I
remember it was on the 5th that we arrived at Amelia
Court House, where it was understood that a long train of

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 229

wagons from Richmond with an abundant supply of rations
were in waiting for the army, but to our surprise they were
not there. It is a matter of truthful history that there
General Lee intended to ration his troops, but his order
had been disobeyed. I had not seen General Lee in four or
five months before that morning. On reaching the little
village we were halted and allowed an hour's rest, and
nearly all of us fell asleep. It was there I saw General
Lee on an old traveler, surrounded by a few of his staff.
He looked very serious, as if he were brooding over the
disappointment that we had met in getting no rations. I
heard him call ''William, come here," and another General
approached him, and after a few moment's conversation,
and pointing with his finger to the left of our line of march,
''William" rode off and I was told that that was General
Lee's son, W. H. F. Lee, who commanded a brigade of cav-
alry in Fitzhue Lee's Division. Some of the boys went
foraging around among the women of the place and got a
little something to eat, and divided around with others, but
it was mighty scant, for that country had been stripped.
We moved on and in the evening we heard firing in our
rear. The Yankees advanced cavalry had overtook our
rear, and a small fight occurred, but we moved on undis-
turbed until late in the night when we halted and marched
a few steps out of the road and was ordered to rest on our
arms. We were nearly exhausted and rest at that time was
a blessing to us; beside being exhausted and worn out our
stomachs began to pinch for something to eat. The boys
were just hungry enough to have whipped two or three
lines of battle had there been any prospect of capturing a
well filled haversack which was usually the case. It was
said that an empty stomach made a soldier doubly fierce,
any way, our boys was willing to run the risk if an oppor-
tunity had been offered. We rested until morning, and
moved on. We still were in the dark as to our destination,
but camp rumors were always afloat, and rumor had it that
we were on our way to form a combination with Johnston's
army, when we would combine and whip Sherman, and
then about face and whip Grant. Such were the rumors
on the march. Late in the evening we heard the sound of
cannon and small arms on our right, to our left, and in
our rear, which indicated that the Yankees were in hot
pursuit, and was attacking the troops that were marching
along different roads parallel with us, but they let us alone.

230 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

On the march that day we were under strict orders to
march in line, no straggling allowed as it was expected
that we would be attacked. We pased by a large tobacco
barn, and men from other commands, mostly stragglers,
were in there helping themselves. I told the boys to stay
in ranks and I would go in and try to get some for them.
I went in and there it was in abundance in the hank, pack-
ed in hogsheads ready for shipment. I run my sword under
a tier of it about two inches thick and prized it up, running
my sword through the center, I threw it across my shoulder
and moved in quick time until I overtook the company,
when it was distributed among all that wanted it. It was
fine natural leaf and good to smoke around the camp fires.
I don't remember how far we would go in a day, but some
days not very far as we would have to wait on our wagon
train that was preceeding us, as we could not afford to let
them get in the rear for fear of capture. Late in the even-
ing of the 7th we arrived at a little village called Farm-
ville, situated on the Appomattox river. Before we arrived
we heard firing on our right, caused by the Yankees trying
to capture what was known to us as the high railroad
bridge across the Appomattox on the railroad from Lynch-
burg to Richmond, but they failed. As we marched through
the town a distribution of meat was going on, by throwing
it promiscuously into the crowd. I ran out to where it
was going on and entered the scramble for a piece. They
were small home made bacon sides, and would sail like a
piece of pine bark. As they would come over I would try
and stick my sword through them, and after several at-
tempts I finally succeeded, and had to hug it in my arms
to keep some fellow from taking it away from me. It was
small, but I divided with the men. We were hurried across
the wagon bridge that spanned the river, and ascended a
long hill. The sun was about one hour high. We were
halted on the hill and our regiment was ordered back
across the river and through the town, halting on the outer
skirts on the same road that we had just come in on. We
were not formed in line, and no one knew for what pur-
pose we were sent back. We only remained a few minutes
when we were ordered to retrace our steps and recross the
river. Just before we reached the bridge we were ordered
to double-quick, and when we arrived at the bridge they
were making ready to set it on fire. We marched up the
hill and rejoined our brigade, but by this time the sun was

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 231

setting and a terrible fire of small arms had broke loose up
the river from where we were, accompanied by a terrible
huzahing. All eyes were turned in that direction, and to
our astonishment our cavalry was in full retreat and the
Yankee cavalry in pursuit. Our fellows run right into the
river and made their escape. The river was shallow, with
low banks, and a crossing was easy. Two or three pieces of
our cannon was brought to bear and with a few well direct-
ed shots of shell put a stop to further pursuit for the night,
but they took possession of the town. On this hill I saw
several of our brigade wagons cut down and papers of the
brigade scattered on the ground, there were some of our
regimental papers lying around loose. I looked upon them
with suspicion but said nothing. When dark came, we were
marched off in the direction of the high bridge to our right,
and coming to some troops in line we quietly took their
place, when they were marched off to the rear. It proved
to be the 6th Alabama and Co. "B" (the Henry Greys) of
that regiment was from my town in which I had school-
mates and kin-folks, but I could not get the chance to speak
to them. Both the bridges had been burned, which put a
check on the Yankee's advance until morning. We re-
mained in line until two or three o'clock the next morning,
when we were roused up and quietly fell into line and moved
back up to the road, and pursued our journey. We had
not marched over a mile when we turned off to the left and
went marching through fields and woods. It was very dark
and I noticed that occasionally we would pass a man stand-
ing still, and I learned the next day they were guides placed
there for us to march out of a snare that we were in, how-
ever, we marched on without being molested. As the day
was breaking we came to a large white house surrounded
by numerous outhouses, and a beautiful oak grove. We
passed right through and came across some artilleryment
burying two twelve pound brass Napolean guns. Their
horses had give out and rather than for them to fall into the
hands of the Yankees they preferred to bury them. We
passed on through fields, crossing numerous fences, ditches
and gullies, and through thickets for several miles when
about nine o'clock we came to a road. Marching down a
long slant, we crossed a large branch with no bushes on its
sides at all. There was a belt of woods in front, and the
creek was about half way the clearing, some four hundred
yards wide. We marched in this piece of woods and the

232 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

whole brigade halted and stacked arms. It was reported
that crackers would be issued to us there. I noticed a hill
to our right that had four guns in position, pointing to the
rear, as if they were expecting an attack. While waiting
here I took four canteens from some of the boys and went
back to the branch to fill them, and to bathe my face and
hands. Several others came for the same purpose, and
was scattered all along above and below rne. I filled the
canteens the first thing I did, and laid them on the bank
with the straps all together. While down enjoying the
bath, I heard a cavalry horn sound in the woods from our
rear; I looked up and here came a scattering line of blue
coats on horses. My God ! this wont do for me, and I leaped
up on the bank, snatched at the canteen straps, and with
hat in the other hand I made a hasty retreat toward my
command in the woods. Zip ! zip ! zip ! came their bullets,
Halt! halt! they yelled, but I had no notion to halt. The
bullets would pass over, some would strike the ground at
my sides, but I stooped low and kept moving. Others to my
right and left were doing the same thing, while some clung
to the side of the branch and would not run, preferred to be
captured. Boom! boom! went our cannon on the hill and
the Yanks fell back to the woods from whence they came.
We fell in and moved off, without the crackers. Another
false report. About eleven or twelve o'clock we heard firing
in every direction except the front. Some cavalryman
would pass occasionally and would give bad reports of
what was going on. In the afternoon Sheridan's Cavalry
had become extremely saucy and had assumed the boldness
to charge right into a line of infantry and had been so suc-
cessful until they had captured thousands of our men. It
was understood by our commanding officers that at a cer-
tain place they would charge Fields' Division. We were or-
ganized. We had not become panic stricken, and were
ready to give them a warm reception. Each regiment
formed and marched in a square for several miles. The
men loaded their guns and put on their bayonets and didn't
care a whit if they did come. We passed over the threat-
ened point without being disturbed, resumed our position in
line, and move don. Late in the evening we heard the boom-
ing of cannon in our front. What could it mean? Was it
possible that the Yankees had got in our front? Yes, they
had established a strong line squarely in our front, and was
disputing the further progress of our advance, led by Gen.

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 233

John B. Gordon's Corps. The firing seemed to be four or
five miles in our front, and was very rapid at times, but
we heard no small arms. We marched on slowly, the sun
was nearly setting, and we all began to think that some-
thing was going to happen, and that tomorrow we would
fight a battle. About sun-down we were marched out of
the road to the left, ordered to stack arms and rest. We
had some coffee, and the men began to make fires to boil
as it was the first chance they had had since leaving winter
quarters on the second. Captain Waddell, who had been
marching in the rear in command of the brigade sharp-
shooters came in late in the night and reported that a large
force were forming in his front and that he expected to be
attacked early the next morning and said if they did we
would hear something. We slept soundly and was up early
making coffee, for that was about all we had to stay the
stomach. We fell into line and marched back about two
hundred yards, and formed line of battle to await an at-
tack. I expected to hear Waddell 's skirmishers every mo-
ment, as they were half mile to the front. Pulasky Kirk-
land, of my company, had a little meal that he had brought
all the way from winter quarters, and he had it "made-up"
and in a frying pan, trying to cook it on fires that had
been made by some other troops who had just left there.
We kept moving, sometimes to the right and then to the
left, but only a short distance at the time. Pugh, as we
always called him, remained with his frying pan and bread,
all the time watching us in order that he would not be left
too far. He stuck to his job, until he got it so it would
stick together and picked up his pan and ran to where we
were. There were more fires, and he would put his pan on
and cook a little more, and in this way he got it done, broke
it up, handed me a piece and put the balance in his haver-
sack. It was amusing to see him running from fire to fire
putting his pan on to cook. There was no such thing as
throwing it away or leaving it for some one else to get.
It was too precious to waste. I really did enjoy it. Nine
o'clock came. No firing to be heard anywhere, what could
it mean? Presently we saw General Lee pass through our
lines going towards the Yankees, followed by two of his
staff. A report came that Lee had surrendered. What! I
didn't believe a word of it. After he passed we were
marched back to our camping ground of the night before.
Stacked arms and ordered to rest. The road was not far

234 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

off, and hot riders were frequently passing to and fro, in-
quiries being made as to the report. By twelve o'clock the
news was confirmed that General Lee had surrendered the
Army of Northern Virginia to Gen. U. S. Grant, command-
er of the Army of the Potomac. Now what. What next.
Here we are surrounded by one hundred and fifty thousand
Yankees. What will they do with us, that was the topic
of the conversation. Captain Waddell came in with his
sharpshooters unarmed, he dismissed them to go to their
several commands, (as they were made up by detail from
each regiment.) Before leaving his position, a Yankee
captain advanced under a flag of truce and told him Lee had
surrendered, but as he had had no official notice he held
his position and would have fired on the Yankees had they
advanced, but it was not long before he was ordered in,
but before leaving he assembled his men and had each man
to break his gun against a tree. He was mad. That was
Sunday evening, April 9th, 1865, and in the latter part of
the evening the Yankees began to form a solid line around
us, making escape impossible. The bands came up to the
line and played for us to our heart's content. We talked
freely to each other, as nothing had never happened. They
divided their crackers with us as much as they could, for
they were short themselves. They were proud that the
war was over with us, and never cast a slur or reflection
on our downfall nor gloried in their victory, but rather
commended us for our bravery and courage under such ad-
verse circumstances from the beginning. They treated us
gentlemanly. We passed the night quietly, but I could not
realize that it was a fact, that the war was ended, and I
had been spared to live through. The next morning we
were informed that we were going to be paroled and al-
lowed to return to our homes. Glorious thought, but would
I ever live to get there and how ? that was the question. A
thousand miles from home on foot, without money or any-
thing to eat, and the prospect looked gloomy to me, but all
these things I kept to myself. That evening General Lee
pased down the road near our camp on old "Traveler" on
his way to Richmond, his home. A score of us ran up to the
road and bid him farewell. He acknowledged by pulling
off his hat, and with tears trickling down his cheeks bowed
his head. There my eyes beheld for the last time my be-
loved commander, the grandest man in every particular
that America had ever produced. Not even his enemies

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES " 235

North has ever used any harsh criticisms, but rather ex-
tolled his virtue as being one of the greatest of Americans.
On the morning of the 11th the Yankees issued to us a
small ration of beef, the best they could do. I went up to
where General Perry's horses were fed, and picked up a
good quantity of scattered corn that they had dropped. I
carried it to camp and washed it, put it into a pan and
parched it brown. I broiled my beef on a stick until I got
it brown and with that and my parched corn and coffee, I
appeased my hunger. That evening Capt. James W. Stokes,
who was captured on the 9th had been released and he hap-
pened to come to my camp in search of his command. He
was a friend of mine, and commanded a company from
Abbeville, Henry County, Alabama and belonged to the 60th
Alabama. He looked very much depressed. I divided my
rations with him, which he greatly appreciated. We have
talked of the circumstance many times since the war ended,
and he never did lose his gratitude toward me for that one
act. It was a source of pleasure to me to hear him tell how
he appreciated the parched corn and coffee, and I always
felt glad that I divided my last morsel with him, but he has
crossed over. On the morning of the 12th, our brigade
formed and marched two miles to Appomattox Court
House and stacked arms in front of a Yankee brigade stand-
ing at "parade rest" twenty steps away. They were as
orderly as could be, not a jeer escaped their lips. No guy-
ing, in fact, nothing was said or done as I heard or saw
while we were in prison to make us feel hacked. After we
stacked arms we went back to camp, and received our pa-
roles and that evening we set out on our long journey for
home "sweet home." Our route lay across the states of N.
C, S. C. and Georgia. The next day we got plenty to eat,
and I felt happy that after so many hard fought battle I
had escaped and was on my way home to mother. I
marched at leisure and fared well on the way, except I was
a little sick two or three days and did not go far neither
day, but I made the trip without accident and arrived at
home on the 7th of May. O! how happy I was, found all
well, and mother looking for me. She had been told that
I was spared and was on my way home. She was looking
by day and listening at night for the sound of footsteps
from her only soldier boy. I was not twenty-one till Au-
gust. I have lived to see the sunny South reinstated and
now in her granduer, occupy an envious place in the eyes

236 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

of the world for chivalry and patriotism as American citi-
zens. The "Tomahawk" has been buried, angry huzas and
Rebel yells have ceased to be heard, and peace reigns in
our Southland today. And now, kind reader, I bid you
adieu. In the first part of this book I told you how I got
in and now I will tell you how I got out. Here it is :

Appomattox Court House, Va.

April 10th, 1865.

The bearer, 1st Lieutenant W. A. McClendon of Company
"G," 15th Regiment of Alabama Infantry, a paroled pris-
oner of the Army of Northern Virginia, has permission to
go to his home, and there remain undisturbed.

A. A. LOWTHER,
Colonel Commanding 15th Alabama
Regiment.

RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES 237

SONG "LONG AGO."

By J. M. Carmichael, Ozark, Ala.
Air : When You and I Were Young, "Maggie."

Long ago we were boys in the ranks comrades,

Our hearts light and happy as the day,
Cheeks were ruddy, eyes bright, locks dark, comrades,

As we marched from our homes far away.

CHORUS.

But now we are aged and gray comrades,

The trials of life are nearly done.
But to us life's as dear as it was comrades,

When you and I were young.

Then we were young as the day dawning,

And hopeful and sanguine and brave,
No fear and no cringing, no nor fawning.

Brave men not afraid of the grave.

CHORUS.

Long ago we were marching away comrades.

Our flags to the breeze gaily flung.
Our bosoms were bare to the foe comrades.

When you and I were young.
CHORUS.

Long ago we were camping in storms comrades,

Our courage and muscle tautly strung.
But no army could drive us away comrades.

When you and I were young.

CHORUS.

Long ago we were falling fast comrades.

Our ranks daily much thinner grew,
Our courage the cause could not win comrades.

When the men in the ranks were so few.

CHORUS.

238 RECOLLECTIONS OF WAR TIMES

Staggering and bleeding alone comrades,
Outnumbered three to one everywhere,

The world coldly watching our fate comrades.
Not even a sigh or a tear.

CHORUS.

As fall heroes struggling for homes comrades,

So fell the soldiers in grey.
Their honor unsullied lives comrades.

As the time when they marched far away.

CHORUS.

We fell 'neath the numbers of the foe, comrades,

We fell but are risen now again.
In falling we lost not our love comrades,

For that which ennobles brave men.

CHORUS.

Though we are aged and gray comrades,
And the trials of life are nearly done.

To us life's as dear as it was comrades,
When you and I were young.

CHORUS.

'^...

43