The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1883-03-29
.Ggt|ySDnTg 10 Chattanooga.
rrpsHAw,s RAGGED TROOPS.

The disastrous battle of Getty sburg
,.r;ng been decided against the Confed.
na p,s,es on the 4th Of July, 1868, by the
san"lse of Pickett's Division, and the
n,spp;ulstion of Vicksburg the same day
sndsr The command of Pemberton, had
aad,pressing and demoralizing effect on
he morale of Lees army. Most of us
bsleyed that the cause We loved so well,
and for which we had endured innumer-
sb. hardships and so often risked our
: Ices Gs was almost hopeless, and that the
Confederacy would soon collapse. The
whole world seemed arrayed against us
on account of our peculiar institutions.
We crossed the Potomac at Williamsport
and Falling Waters. AS soon as we
.,spped on the soil Of Old Virginia we
iti like getting home after long and
dangerous journey, and many of us vowed
re would never recrOss the river with
hostile intent. Our march up the lower
Valley over fine turnpike road, through
The cities of Martinsburg and Winches.
ter thence across the Blue Ridge to Cul-
npuer, Gas lesure'y made, and marked
s,,b 70 incident worthy Of note save r
slight demonstration Of the Federals
while we were crossing Ashby's Gap.
They we're soon driven off by our cavalry,
when We continued our march without
molestation or detention. We went into
camp on wooded eminence near Ste
reu.burg, where we remained for several
dsys recruiting our wasted strength and
nursing our
SORE AND BLISTERED FEET.
Our next move was in the direction of
Hanover Junction. We encamped du.
riDg the month of August on the banks
Of small creek abou! midway between
fredericksburg and Hanover Junction,
passing the time in trying to shake off
The Generalization and despondency
which had followed US from Gettysburg.
About the 1st of September orders
we're issued to send our heavy baggage to
Richmond. The idea Of a private soldier
having heavy baggage, or light either as
TO that matter except what little he
might have upon his back it would
have made the sourest Quaker that ever
lived laugh, could he have heard the
order aud then had peep ct the ward.
robe Of some of our boys at this time.
We we're convinced from this order
though it provoked q smile at the
thought OF our heavy baggage and caused
good deal Of merriment among our
ngged soldiers) that We would soon be
engaged in stirring scenes, and when
LOngstreets Corps embarked in cattle
and box cars at Hanover Junction we
felt that our destination was Georgia,
sld that we were going to the assistance
Of the Western army, which was hard
htt 1k
uooga. At Petersburg we met up with
Jenkins Brigade, which had been de-
hched from Longstreers command early
in the spring, thereby missing the battles
Of Charlottesville aud Gettysburg.
They had been on service in the neigh
borhOod of Suffolk, and, from the looks
Of their new uniforms, bright buttons,
tihd shirts and clean faces, had the ap-
psarance of holiday soldiers-quite
contrast to
THE RAGGED AND DIRTY TROOPS
Of Kefshaw's Brigade, many of whom
.Ported dim and hard looking flag of
truce from the rear. Our route lay
through Weldon, Wilmington, Florence,
Charleston, Macon and other cities. We
did not ride in Pullman palace cars or in
II
h9ddled like 80 many sheep in box cars,
Eishont seats, which had been used TO
transport cattle to the army. Some of
Is, becoming disgusted at the accommo-
das!on, climbed on top, where we re-
NAMED night and day, catching what
sleep we could. Some members of my
regiment, who had not seen their families
j 10 nearly three years, passed within q
eones throw of their homes without stop
4 ping. BE it said to the credit of the
i second South Carolina Regiment that
h0t single desertion took place while
N route. Our soldiers had reputation
Oslstain, and though they believed we
would never obtain our independence by
loice OF arms, and that it was merely a
question of time as to when we would
nave 10 succumb to superior resources
aao numbers, yet they were still patriot
Sand coula die, if need be, for their
country aud her cause.
va arriving at Charleston we were i'm.
i Iealately marched over the bridge across
4 ashley River and halted for the night
IVA m beautiful grove of live oaks. A de.
t'chment of Home Guards or State
,s usops was stationed on the east end Of
Me ofidSe, with instructions to arrest
.sIy soldier from the Second Regiment
nao should attempt to visit the city
alnous pasa. Orders were issued by
Sai S,,,c commanding officer (Lieut.. Col.
stlafd was then, ] believe, in com.
.aal permitting eight privates from
stes.ment, or eight from each compa
4 III forget which) in company with an
Il sssset 70 visit the dear old city. We
a ma up 70 this time implicitly obeyed all
SSc'I iMu = enanating from headquarters, but
,a aong service, great hardships aud
ma namaul'lPliclty of harsh, arbitrary-yes,
49,, hsS"eames unnecessary-orders, had
81 "A; s?ue somewhat rebellious. We went
s,h. h . oody, leaving few officers and
, Su. OF ten privates. In camp The
sa au on the bridge, being men Of pru-
soos 10y ana sound discretion, showed their
slaagment by making no opposition
oi JtSt W. crossing. We visited the quarters
NJ m,u me State troops, among whom we had
ssay relatives and ucuuain.ances. and
isso is.aa them located in comfortable build
m oo,s;eIplng upon straw beds covered
Al hfsJuuts from home fand indulging III
h, mes u. % which we had been strangers
,nn.;ny y months. Poor fellows it was
a h'.ng 70 old soldiers to see their long
Iin, uu . near them tell of their hard
& tbsm aaa mnshe me dangers which surrounded
81 81 ".n Hhile listening to
"A pe.a;s as Roar OF THE FEDERAL GUNS
WeSa WeSaSa away at Fort Sumter. Not one
d. h; vh; perchance, had ever listened to
b.ino oS.llng of a minnie bullet. After
81 .. S;,I entertained with lavish hospitality,
,sa a'.a m reluctance left our kind friends,
Il aaD sS!aed 5Wasd about midnight to the
81 Gs}..,a ,aext day we bade farewell TO
uound od1'oa y, and Continued our circuit