The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1861-10-01
OF THE FIRST GEORGIA
REGIMENT.

Clellan's forces at Carrick's Ford. The conclud-
ing portion relates to the hazardous retreat of
portion of the First Georgia Regiment across the
country to Monterey, in Highland county, Va.
The writer says:
The foe was bafied of his prey! But seven
companies of the First Georgia Regiment, out
1anked by them, had been cut off by the rapid
advance Of the Indiana line, and were driven from
the road and up the mountain into Wilderness
where human foot had never trod before.
Without food, with scarcely blanket to cover
them, and no shelter from rain or wind or cold,
but the dark foliage overhead and around, on an
untrodden mountain range, without maps or
guide these brave Georgia took up the line of
march in such direction as their slight knowledge
OF the country and the aid Of pocket compass
advised. Over the rugged rocks and through the
dense underwood, often so thick that they had to
hew passage with their bowie knives, the strag
Cling line toiled up the mountain until darkness
closed around them and they lay down and slept
The sun rose on the Sabbath morning and flooded
their happy homes with light, and gilded the
spires OF the village churches, whittier their
mothers and wives, and sisters were going up to
pray tor the dear ones at war, and to beg Heaven
to spare their lives; but he could not pierce the
thcket to get glimpse Of that wan and famished
band, who, with failing limbs but stout hearts,
were painting upwards for the day. On and
through the weary hours, and the laugh had
hushed, and their voices seldom broke the deadly
stiffness, and the face of youth grew sad and the
face of age anxious, but still not murmur, not
thought of yielding; and the second night came
down and the cherries halt was made.
Again the sun went up, and the steaminc mists
curled away over the mountain tops and these
lost and now famished men, with chilled limbs and
swollen feet, and railing hearts, went forward once
more. But the pangs of hunger gnawed at their
vitals, and the line grew more and more strag
Cling, and the hats were frequent and prolonged,
and the anxious " Close up! close up, boys" OF
the cheerful-toned officers was no longer responded
to by quickened steps. They tore off the inner
bark of the birch and spruce pine, and found
some comfort and support in swallowing the juice.
Five dollars was offered the fortunate possessor Of
bit Of biscuit two inches square, discovered in
old corner of his knapsack, and refused. One
of the Captains-Jones of the Washington Rifles
had son in his ranks-a lad of Is years, and
tenderly reared He came up to his father and
begged for food. "Take this, my dear boy" he
REPLIED shaking out few crumbs of biscuit from
his haversack, "cat it slowly; and may God save
your live" Strong men sat down and cried, the
weak dragged on unrepining. Some of the
feeblest pale stri plings, whom the lightest blow
might fell, showed hearts of oak in that awful ex-
tremity. Still the "Close up" urged on the
ened into years, and the day sped on, and the
mountains closed before them, and the third sun
set and they not saved.
Tuesday came and their strength and courage
was gone, and despair had seized them. Now the
men became mutinous. The officers urged, and
entreated, and commanded them to make one more
effort to save their lives but the latter had lost all
value, and famine and fatigue was fast exhausting
its remaining store
and we'll tested confidence prevailed, and again
they went forward though with little hope of sue
cess, in their desperate effort to reach human
habitation. And they would have failed in all
reasonable probability and their bones would have
whitened on that mountain ridge. and the acct
dents of their fate would have been as fearfully
unknown those who have gone down al sea and
left no trace or sign of shipwreck. Suddenly, at
mid day, a stranger appeared among them. "Who
are you and where did you come from :" are the
eager questions. "1 am Virg2nian-a friend;
have followed your track, and Rave come to save
you!" was the welcome reply. But, though the
face was as of an angel, these men misunderstood
it. They were on the very verge Of destruction.
An awful death awaited them if they did not fol-
low his guidance and yet they preferred famine,
DEATH anything before captivity; and how could
they tell whether lie was to be trusted They
were in hostile country, and the man was utterly
unknown to them. AGO on" said the leader,
" take US OUT of this wilderness, and we will re-
ward you deceive betray us, and | will blow
your brains out with my own hand at the first
sight of the enemy"
He carried them by a change of direction down
the mountain; striking a shallow stream at its
bese; they followed lis bed, leapng from rock to
rock and sometimes wadng through the water for
miles; then over field and out into road, and
wild cheer rung out their JOY at the unexpected
leliverance. Attended by guard the guide went
to neiehhoring farmhouse, and returned by
nightfall With wagon load of provisions. Ills
name is Parsons, and the Confederate States Gov
ernment should bestow on him their first gold
medal
" How much did you eat that night?" asked /
nv narrator. son of the late General Irwin Of
South Carolina " "Why. nothing at ALL scarcely; |
he fellows nibbled little, all through the night |
out the next morning, after such breakfast as
would have killed wolf. stopped twice and |
cooked our haver-sacks full of provision END by |
lichtfall there was not crumb in them" One of
he Lieutenants who shared the horrors of that
etreat was on the cars going home to recruit his
shattered health. Typhoid fever had followed the
exposure and exhaustion-he looked like the
genius of famine.
PAY OF OFFICERs.-Tke Richmond Enquirer
states that the pay Of the officers of the Northern
army averages less than half that of the
,ffcers of the Southern volunteer army. A Lin |
,oln Colonel receives less pay than Confederate
ST T,eutenant