The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1880-07-10

/ Trash OIL tne SOutl, not HeGthg mucn
which way the war went, provided they
could get rations. Their general talk,
however, was of the real rebel character
and it was an unsafe place for me to stop
in. In an hour the banquet before the
front door was prepared, and all hands
went out to partake. Soon they were
joined by rebel soldier, who seemed to
be on a hall-hour Through to visit the
yonng lady of the party. whom took to
be his sweetheart Sherman's army
was sorry to learn from this soldier, was
being simply ''mowed out Of existence -
"All the woods above Atlanta was 4
reching corps".'' SHERMAN himself was
in flight northwards."
BY looking more closely through a
chink in the Notwithstanding of my villa
l discovered that he was reading all this
dreadful information from copperhead
newspaper, and then felt easier. Again
there was the talk about money purses
made of Yankees scalps, and finger rings
from Yankee bones; and, during the
dinner, | was no little astonished to see
this valiant Southerner exhibit to his
eager listeners veritable ring, rough
and yellow, made, rs he said, from the
bones of one of Sherman's calvarymen.
This was not the only time, however,
that | heard such talk from Southern
soldiers. My ears became accustomed to
it during the wanderings in disguise
about the army there. | recall having
heard one day, the most diabolcal and
dastardly statement ever made by a civil
lied man. | was standing at the road
side, watching some Federal prisoners
march by who had just been captured.
"Where will they take them to-" |
innocently inquired of well dressed man
standing near me, who like myself, was
watching the unfortunate men pass.
81 suppose to Andersonville, was the
answer.
After some little conversation on the
subject of prisoners in general. added.
1T is all stuff of course, what the
Northerners say about the Yankees dy-
ing off so at Antlersonville.
"Stulf. No." he interrupted: "they
do die like rats, and it's good thing
If the North won't exchange them, why
not kill them ~ Seem. that | was in
terested, he went on: s. tell you how it
is. was down there the other day
ana was visiting him. The whole thing
is easily done. The trenches, etc, of the
guards are usually above the stockade.
and the filth and corruption that flows
down the dirty brook, from which the
Yankees drink, would kill all the aboli-
tioniSts in the world. And then there
are other ways. If the Yankees don't
want their Stun, we certainly can t af-
ford, and it is the intention not to afford.
to feed them. If they starve. let them
starve.-the more the better. Anderson
vile is the best general we've got, and
does more gooG than any army at the
'front.' This was the deliberate utter
ancc of wcll-dresscd. intelligent At
lanta merchant TO the everlasting
credit of the rebels i'll arms, lie wore no
uniform: but it was to what he supposed
to be a Confederate soldier that these
daStardly sentiments We're uttered. OF
course, when Sherman $ army entered
he probably drew rations as 4 good
UniouiSt.
But am getting away from my story.
The banquet of cucumbers, chicory, and
iniun bread was about Terminating. My
soldier with the ring had used up his
furlough, and was gone. The house was
still empty, and it was now or never if l
proposed getting down from my perch
without an alarm. My plan was to 81
lently climb down the meat hooks which
| had assembled, and to slip out at the
pceping over the edge of the ceiling,
however. what was my amazement to
see 4 bull dog Of immense proportions
tied to one of my hooks.
Here was 4 "situation,' lie was
sound asleep, but had an amiable coun-
tenance. | dropped a bit Of plaster on
his nose. He looked up amazed, and
smiled. Then I smiled, and then he
smiled again; and then carefully crept
down, patted him on the head, said good
by in Il whisper, and in Il twinllling was
out ut the back door. My gratitude to
this dog is boundless.
| had found it unsafe now to be about
houses. and again took my lodging in
the field. Again | was busy, just going
to my division, but never getting there.
My pocket was full of passes, prepared
before leaving prison. taking NE any
where almost, on all kinds of business
connected with supplying Loring's divi-
sion with ordnance. Once near the Sd
cred quarters of Il brgadi"r the guard
arrested me. | protested, and our loud
talk brought the brigadier to the rescue.
| explained how | was just going to my
regiment. and how my pass had been
lost, and the necessity of my going on at
once The brigadier took in the situa-
ton at glance and with 4 pencil wrote
me pass. good for that day. Fighting
was going on about Atlanta constantly,
but with so many apparent reverses to
our arms that l feared l should never get
away.
The memorable 22d of July came, and
with it the most terrific fighting on
Hood right. and in fact all around the
semi-circle about the city. Loring's di-
vision with my Alabama regiment. en-
tered the battle on IIood's right wing,
ordnance sergeant. Everybody was too
busy and excited to ask me questions,
and in the hope that Hood would be de-
feated, and an opportunity for getting
through be at last presented, was feel
| ing well. Hundreds. thousands posi-
| blv, of wounded men fell back by me.
| hut all shouting, lie ldhhecS dic
beaten. and Mcpherson is killed.
1t was too true! Mcpherson had fallen,
and. if reports We're correct Sherman 5
| army had met with an awful disaster
| For me. there WAS nothing left but to
| get back to the rear. and try another di-
| rection. | knew that Sherman advance
was at the ford, at Sandtown. on the