Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page. It is also available as plain text as well as XML.

WAR S' Interesting iLe'tter "YV field in 1862 Frc His 1 Atlanta NIAU KHEJ>KIUCK.SHL*1?U, VA., Dec. 18, 1802. Dear Father: I have scated myself to-night Ctlie first hours of rest and leiusrc I have had) to write you ade tailed account of my adventure:', and of events here for the past ten days; but the task is a pretty heavy one, and though I write with but little la bor and habitually sit up late, you may conclude when you have read to the end that flu- tt-nth part hay not been told. On Wednesday (yesterday a week ago), having Leen detailed by General Lee judge advocate of a courtmartial for our division, 1 was ordered by General Hood to move my quarters to and take possession of the house pro vided for the .fittings of thc court near his headquarters, and four miles from our camp. Captain Malone of tho Kighth Georgia (from Meriwether County) was also a member of the court, and I invited him to move up and mess with me. Accordingly we packed our blankets anda few cooking utensils, and taking him aud his man one ol' my men and a clerk with us in ono of our jcgiment wagons, 1 moved Up the afternoon of that day and by night we had established ourselves in a way to live like gentlemen, bidding defiance to wind and snow, and the di vision commissary department near by giving promise of a well filled larder, and as General Hood had informed mc that my duties would probably last for month or six wcekB, I considered my fortune made for that leugth of time. But, alas! one good supper, and one good ?night's smoking and talking in comfort and a few hours' quiet sleep, was all that was in store for us. We were awakened at li o'clock next morn ing by thc ominous booming of cannon at Frcdcricksburg, and at intervals the spluttering of muskets at several dis tant points on thc river. We at. onco knew that the enemy was building their bridges and that though our sharpshooters would, settle tho account of many a ono of them in tho mean time, yet under cover of their heavy artillery on thc Stafford Heights they would succeed and that a general bat tle must ensue. Wo hurried the pre paration of breakfast and rations to last us during tho probable duration of tbe struggle, for wc know our camps would be broken up when we returned to them, but before day, and from that time until after sunrise, men, women and children, some of them scarcely half olothed, ace1 with nob a mouthful to eat, fleeing from that s ceno of de struction and djath, thc bombardment of their native city, came pouring up to thc farm house where wo wore. Thank God it was in my power to take many of them in, and wo gave them one substantial meal, if they never got another. We gave away all wo had and hurried to our commands and en tered thc ranks with '.mpty haver sacks. Fortunately, however, our mess-mates in camp had provided for us and we did not suffer. Tho general battle did not occur that day, though wc lay in line of bat tle until night, and thc enemy brought over several brigades of infantr> and planted heavy batteries on thc further bank of the river. I was at nightfall again sent out with a picket, consist ing of my own company and ten men from Company li, to hold "Fort Hood," a fortification on thc banks of thc river four miles below tho city. About 10 o'clock Major Jones visitc-d thc post and informed mo that tho gen erals desired me to know that tho one my was at that moment crossing hea vy columns of infantry at thc mouth of Deep Run, two miles above mc, and were filing down tho river. I had my pickets postod so as to watch both . banks of thc river for half a mile - above the fort, and carefully arrang ing the ordor of my retreat, and keep ing my pickets well in hand, I-waited the result, taking my station at tho uppermost point, where my men were posted. About ll o'clock I went down to the right for the purpose of giving some instructions to Lieutenant Dyer, in command at the fort, near whioh there ?B an old ferry, where General Hood thought it likely tho enemy would endeavor to throw over anothor bridge during the night. Just as I arrived at thc fort I heard "firing (it thc post I had left. Sending -Jack Giles, who was with me, into thc -fort with an order to Lieutenant Dyer. ? I hurried back up the river to the posl TORIES. "ritten Prom the J3a,ttle >m Geo. Hillyer to Father. Journal. ? ordered them to cease firing. After this j all was tjuiet for the remainder of thc i night. Xcxt morning about LTo'elock I was t astonished to hear from a scout, who , had come out in search of mc, that two men of the ten before mentioned had run hack to camp at thc time of thc firing the night before and report ed that we were all taken prisoners I and that thc brigade had bees under arillo all night: in fact, a large portion I of thc troops of thc right wing of thc ' army had partly changed front in con sequence of it. I wrote General Anderson a note, setting the matter right, and about midday, being relieved by a eompauy from General A. I'. Hill's division, I marched back to the line of battle and rejoined the regiment. In thc mean time Jackson's corps had come up on thc line and formed our right wing, and General Hood had drawn in his brigadcj and posted them along the foot and crests of the hills overlooking that part of thc wide plain of Frcder icksburg where Deep Hun widens thc valley and takes its perpendicular eourse to the river. Strauge to say, I found our regiment resting when I joined them at il o'clock in thc after noon at "stacked arms" within fifty yards of thc identical house which I had left in such haste thc morning be fore. As there was no other movo I slept in thc identical room where my court was to have been held, and on tho identical straw I had brought from camp. I had for supper a fried chicken, which I had bought from a negro close by, but being unable to bring it away, had left it there, und which still remained safe. Next morning tho fight opened in good earnest. About 9 o'clock em brigade went down at a double quick under cover of a fog, and took position ut the most advanced point of our line, a mile out in the plain, and about half way between Frodericks burg and thc point on our right, whero tho ouomy attacked Hill. You can better understand tho po sition by referring to tho map en closed. It is from one and a half to three miles across the plain from thc foot of tho hills to the river; five miles along to tho railroad from tho city to Hamilton's crossing, and tho Stafford Heights arc perhaps within a half a mile of tho river bank. There we lay all day and witnessed tho fight. We wero protty severely cannonaded at times aad had to hug the ground with great tuiu?u&s to ici tho minio balls pass over us, and although our skirmishers wore almost constantly engaged, yet the 'enemy did not attack us in force. Well for him that he did not. Wo were advantageously posted bo hind a hedgo and ditch; the men were in splendid condition and eager for the fight, and it is not ofton that veterans arc so, but it was our lot to Ho inac tive. It was a sight, soul-stirring and exciting beyond conception--those crowded hours into whioh years of life arc compressed into a moment. I saw that day artillery duels in all their horrible perfection; I saw exhibitions of valor and heroism such as make na tions famous; I saw a fow; avery few, dastards fly from thc field, but I saw thc enemy drivon back and defeated and heard the loud hurrahs of tho sons of our own sunny south as thoy drove him from tho plain. . I saw tho col umns of thc infantry charge, and this, when seen in the open field, is by all odds, thc most terrible and sub lime exhibition of man's power and passion tho panorama of war oan dis play. When 1 said that we wore midway between Frcdcricksburg and whero Hill fought them, I refer to tho point where his batteries were posted, the key to his position. The fighting ex tended along his and Ewell's lines to within a few hundred yards of us. Colonels Beck and Munder aro both still at home wounded. Major Jones was sick and went to thc hospital that morning, leaving mc in command nf tho regiment. I was never in my lifo in higher spirits, and through thc en -ire day expected every moment to mix in tho fray, watched the battle eagerly, but with no misgivings os tc I tho result. After it was all over and ; darkness put an end to the scene, wc > all lay down on our arms and slcpl j until morning. ODOQ during thc i night I heard pretty sharp picket fir . _ _ _s J_tL'Lw . -I. m-i ? . J sion, that the battle would be renew ! cd next morning. All thought so, from Geuoral Lue down. It was while under this impression that I wrote you tho short note dated "field of battle," . but which I doubt if you ever received. The next day wore away, however, wit! nothing more than heavy cannon ading, and almost constant picket fighting, but nothing decisive. We had seen heavy columns of thc enemy on this side aod on thc Stafford Heights, which had not been engaged at all, and wc could not sec why Burnside did not renew thc attack. Thc day, Sunday, wore away, but, however, in thc manner I havo stated, and night came. Soon ufter dark Willie I lei nillo and a Mr. Burnam and other f; icnds, all members of a soldiers' church we had orgauized, went out, as was thc custom in our camp, a few yards to one side and held a secret ??rajcr meeting, i wi? write you more about this "church"' when 1 have time. A few minutes after wc returned thc brigade was withdrawn from that position, I suppose for thc purpose of enticing thc enemy to come nearer our heavy columns in the rear. Wc marched back, leaving only a a small picket, and slept ou thc hills that night, and next morning took a new position supporting some of our batteries, threw up a breastwork all along our brigade linc and awaited the enemy all day (Monday); still he did not come. Next morning General Hood rode along our lines and told us they had recrossed the river. Our batteries went out to thc banks and shelled them a while, eliciting an occasion al sullen reply, and so ended thc chap ter. I have in this accouutlcft out many an incident that would amuse und in terest you, but which it is of course impracticable to write. Now, to sum up and give you thc benefit of my my speculations io which you attach, you say, "much importance" more, no doubt than they are really worth. I think thc enemy had M0,00(J men actually engaged; wc had 10,000, not more-I mean actually uVing and fight ing, But our men had incomparably the advantage in position. That 30, 000 were more dreadfully repulsed than any attacking column ever was on this continent. They were "Burn side's best troops and their defeat made thc others worse and he dared not attack us. Ile could not stay where he was ou the river bank, for there was no wood for miles around and his men would freeze without fires. For these reasons he concluded he had enough of it and wisely with drew. If he had attacked us along our whole lino on Sunday or Monday 1 think we would have ended tho war by destroying his whole army. ' 1 think when you see the northern ac count of affairs you will find my con-' jeotures correct. As it is, I think this battle has saved Richmond for the winter. They say McClellan was pi osent and looking on, and if the truth was known it would, I venture, appear that through his prudence and by bis advieo Burnside withdrew. I rode over the field nnd examined it carefully yesterday. I put down the enemy's loss at J'J,000 (the minimum) killed and wounded; ours at 2,000. In front of where Cobb's brigade fought them UK slaughter was awful. Head ly's wildest flights applied to that spot would be no exaggeration. The dead lay there as thick as I ever saw them anywhere, and tho ground was in places miry and reeking with gore. Crampton's Gap is avenged. But the heroic leader of those bravo n^cn fell. Poor Mrs. Cobb. H:>w my heart, bleeds for her. But though I know our grief is not like hers, yet this> is not her loss alone. The whole army and thc country mourns with her. He was ono of "Freedom'a own and farno's ' one of tho few, the immortal names that were not born to die." The chil dren of generations yet unborn shall oast flowers on his grave and thc story of his deeds and of his beauti ful lifo shall live among mankind for ever. My health is greatly improved, and I am far moro buoyant and hopeful oi the futuro than ever before in thc course of the war. This army cannot bo whipped by all tho power of Yank dom combined, and I now predict tba the treaty of peace when made, be il soon or lato, will find il still victo? i ous and in.act. I have, I believe, tin largest comp- jy ic Hood's division as well armed as any, and (pardon th vanity) I helievo the best. I am mud , attached to 'them and they to me Lieutenant Arnold has returned. W aro all plentifully supplied with blau . kc ts, shoes, cloth i ug, etc, that ie L none aro suffering with what we hav i hero and our stoves of supplies (Imea for tho company) in Richmond ai abundant. T nm ?lill pnmmnnrtinp th A Persimmon Hunt on the James River. Editor Journal: Intermixed with thc distress and suffering of our heroic soldiers and people during the civil war were roany amusing and curious incidents, One day, late in the year 1864, tbe opposing picket lines being near each other, north o? thc James river, but concealed at one point by intervening woods, one of thc Union soldiers ask ed permission from his officer to go out to a persimmon tree, a short distance in front of their linc, to gather some per simmons. Taking a tin cup in his hand to put them in, he sauntered in tho direction of thc tree, arrived at it and turned and made a dash for our lino as fastas his legs could carry him. Ile fell in a swoon as ho reached our linc, still holding on to his tin cup. It so happened that General Lee was riding slowly and alone along thc pick et linc, arriving at that poiut the mo ment the deserter did, so that when he swooned aud fell forward his head al most touched the forefoot of General Lee's horse. General Lee stopped until the sol dier was revived and raised to Iiis feet, which was quickly done. Ile then asked the deserter one or two questions in a low tone of voice and rode slowly on. Of course thc soldier knew nothing about General Leo being out on tho picket linc, but to those of us who had seen General Lee coming, it appeared that he was making such haste to wards us in order to reach us before General Lee would pass that point. This incident, occurring, as it did, on the picket line a considerable dis tance from the main line and was wit nessed by very few. I wonder if any one who witnessed it and recalls the circumstances will read this article. ~Ze Var Ou/?ht to be Stoptl" Ethics JoUmaf: On the march pre ceding the battle of Gettysburg, and about thc time our army crossed tho Potomac river, considerable rain had fallen and in some places thc road was heavy. After wo got into Pennsylvania, and while on thc march, our column eame to a creek, and a road had been cut through a small hill, so that thc creek could bo reached and crossed by wag ons. In this cut the mud was very bad and a cannon was fast in the mud We i could hot get through the mud very well, apd-the column was ordered to go through the wheat field on tho right of . the cut. We marched up the little hill and com menced to upset the fenee which en closed the wheat. The wheat was headed out and was ?ne. Oa tbe left of tho out> fro? us wa? the residence of the owner of the wheat, QB it turned eut pretty soon. While te??isg dowu live renee I no ticed a man coming towards us in .a hurry from, the direetioE, of Ihe bouse aforesaid. Excitement was plainly marked oa his features. He was in his shirt sleeves and had*his hat ?one hand and a handkerchief in the other. Stopping on the other side of the out and limning with the bat m one hand and wiping the perspiration from bis brow with the other, be violently ex claimed: "Vot you's doing dese?" Some one answered that it was none of hie business. In the meantime thc fence was being rapidly demolished. Ile exclaimed again loudly: "Vatyon's doing doro, I shay?" He got the same answer as before, except that it I was fringed all around with jest and laughter. By this time tho men had entered the field and were marching through the wheat and treading it down. Throwing up both hands, he exclaimed: "Mine go tte, minegottc, if dal's dc vay do va r's (o be carried on, me vants itstopt." By tho tims the army got through the wheat field and across the creek he was undoubtedly sick of "de var.'' W. A. JOHNSON, Co. D, 2odS. C. V. Atlanta, Ga. Socialism and Anarchism. The.popular confusion of anarchists and socialists is a serious mistake. The anarchist-who, when he gives his theories militant form, is so de structive a foe to the social order-is au individualist. The anarchistic, theory is individualisai carried io its last extreme. It is founded on a be lief which becomes a conviction, ac companied often by a mad determina tion to make the view prevail, that government is restrictive. It is be lieved that government hampers a free development of man and causes his various social ills. If he knew nono of these restraints which adhere to or ganised aooiety, the anarchist fancies thai life would bc a kind of economic paradise, free from the pinch of hun ger or the pang of toil. The socialist is a different man alto gether. Ble wants to corrcot social conditions that ho conceives to be evil, lik< the anarchist, but there are many sects which have this end in view. While the anarchist is an in dividualist, the socialist is a collcc tiveist. One wanta each each man to govern himself, the other wants all men to be governed by an all-powerful State. Thc government in one case to do nothing; in the other case it is to do everything, owning and operat ing ali the various agencies of produc tion. One would bring about human eise by thc absence of law; the other would attain the object through the number and variety of its laws. Philadelphia Times. --mmm- O - \-: - A singular deed has been filed in Northumberland County, Per>r>. It is dated October 9, 1793. In a series of whereases it traces tho ownership of the land conveyed from the Creator of the earth, who "by parole and liv ery of seizin did enteotf tike- parents of mankind, to.wit, Adam and Eve, of all that certain tract of land called and known in the planetary system as the earth." Thc doctor sometimes passes ?i rrarder sentence than the judge. But the sen tence of the doctor is more often. set aside or overruled than is that of the judge. In the case of Mrs. Reycraft given below, the doctor sentenced her to about eighteen years of physical punish ment and misery. But she rebelled against the sentence,' and commenced the use of Doctor Pierce's Favorite Prescription. In a few weeks she was a well woman. It's a peculiarity ' of the cures ef fected by the use of Doctor Pierce's Favorite Prescrip tion, that they are generally cures of chronic diseases.' A woman suffers with diseases peculiar to her sex,, she- ta':es medictd treatment, gets no better,, and has no hope held out to her of improvement. Then in her discouragement she turns ta Dr. Pierce's Favorite Prescription, and finds a prompt and lasting cure. ""Fa vorite Prescription." establishes regu larity, dries unhealthy- dcaim, beata? m fanimation and ulceration and rare? female weakness. "Four years ago my. health began ta. fail," writes Mrs. Nellie M: Reycraft, of dellwood, Washington Co., Oregon. .'"-I had a very heavy dragging and weightln the region of the ti te rus, pain In back and loins, couM not lift anything heavy, rest at night very- poor; atoraach de ranged. One physician said I waa overworked, another said I had congestion and foiling of uterus. He treated.me nine months nnd-nald I would not be well until-1 had passed tie change of life. I. was only twenty-seven year? old then. I became discouraged, and began usine Doctor Pierce's Favorite Prescription. Took o tea spoon ful three times a day ; began feeling better right away. Am using my third bottle now, and feel 1 am in good health. I believe Dir. Pierce's Favorite Prescription has restored me to health. If suffering women word tl give it a fair trial .they would give it praise. ? Dr. Pierce's- Common Sense Medical Adviser,, paper covers, is sent free on receipt ot. ax one-cent stamps to pay expense of mailing only. Address Div RTV.. Piaree* Buffalo, H. Y Trade at the BUSY STORE! ANYBODY that watches the crowd koowa where the most Gooda are sold. Watch tho bees ana you will find wnere the honey grow?. The tremen* dous stacks of Goods daily piled at DEAN & RATLIFFE'S store doors go to prove that the people know where to get the most of their money. They buy E3AGG1NC* and T8E8 there because everybody else does, and for tho same reason ?hey buy those pure SEED OATS. RYE and BARLEY, that havn'?. got a particle of Johnson Grass io them. They just know that DEAN ?fc ll ATLIPJ?E'S pnces aro as low aa tho lowest, and (he quality of their Goods are above suspicion They belier that, oo matter bow busy DEAN & RATLIFFE raay get, they will handle their orders just as though U was tho only one they ever had. That'e what makes DEAN & RATLIFFE the Czar of all the Russiaa in trade circles, and the high-cock-a-lorena of the bargain ranch. Thoy'vo staked their reputation oo their SHOES this season, and declaro they've got the neatest, newest, cleanest line of Shoes they over car ried in stock. Their Ladlee' Shoes protect the feet as well a* the puree? and www ?fcgetaMa Preparation for As similating merootadllegit?a lingliicStoaiaeiisawlEoweisor l.N I AN IS / ( Hi 1.1) it'K N. Promotes Digeslion.Checrfu l riess and Rest .Con tains neilter Ouiuin.Korpliine nor Mineral. JtetpccfOUJ*SAMUH.PlTCfWl Ptonpti* Soul RoAttUSattt' ??mae-tm?* Ap?rfecl Remedy forConslipa^ Hon, Sour Stomach,Diarrhoea Worms .Convulsions .Feverish ness and Loss OF SUEEP. Facsimile Signature of NEW YORK. })1),lsrs^i.)t 1 V1 s EXACT COP*0*MpAii?R??. ffor Infants and Children. IWW ITOI IIH iFfTiiiiTtTwnfjarrnffiftiTM^ mua The Kind You H>* Always Bought Bears the Signature U 1 Use For Over Thirty Years Tar cc MT? tm core PA nv, Mtw TM? emf. " When the Leaves Begin to Turn P IS the time to sow OATS, RY E and BARLEY. Now, in order that you may not come up lacking in harvest time', we have bought' GOOD SEED for you. JUST RECEIVED 3000 bushels Texas Bed Bust Proof Oats, 2000 bushels Ninety Six Bed Bust Proof Oats? 1000 bushels Winter erasing Oats. Car Load Eye and Barley. Goold have sold the above without moving; sam* fo-. a handsome profit, but preferred to give them to you at a Joss, as we want to supply those that bave always patronized us. Recollect the above is only about one-quarter our usual supply, and is all we can-get ; so come and secure your Seed at once. Ca? buy plenty of Kan sas Red Oats for lees money, but they mil not do in this climate. LIGOK & LEDBETTE&, WHOLESA LE DEALERS. ?. a VANDIVER. J. J. MAJOR. E. P. VANDIVER. Vandiver Bros. & Major. I? you want a fine, Medium or ?heap Ruggy We can sell it to you and eave you. money. We have the nobbiest line of Faocy Young Men's Buggies to ba found, and want to enow them to you. We have a large stock of "BIRDSELL'S and "WHITE HICKORY* Q&??* Vesdil the FLAK?. MOWER and BINDER, aod- wan* you to see them. Your trade appreciated. VA?MVER BROTHERS & MAJOR. CELEBRATED Acme Paint andCemeut Cure* Specially used on Tin Roofs and Iron Work of any kin<i For sal? by ACME PAINT & CEMENT CO. Reference: F. B. GR AYTON & CQ., Druggist s, Anderoon, S. A;G STBlOEtiND, DENTIST. 0FF?UK-Front Rooms over Farm er? an? Merchants Bank, KM ii Tho opposite ont Uiuatrntoi Con tinuous Gum Teeth. The Ideal Plnte-moro cleanly than the uatn tal teeth. No bad tanto or breath igm Pla*-a ot rbi? hind. ? LONS LOOK AHEAD Aman thinks it ie when the matte* of life insurance auggsots itself-but cironmsian. ..,?>?. *C ?J.A.. I_??:^?_?:?.^ '_?!?-, %_?..i- .