Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1883-04-12
Stnrp uf the War.
GETTYSBURG TO" CHATTANOOGA.
Kershaw's Ragged Brigade.

Priuate W. I: ,&unaate, Second Regiment
s. c. T., In Charleston Weekly Neacs.
The disastrous battle of Gettysburg hav
ing been decided against the Confederate
on the 18th Of July, 1868, by the repulse O
Pickett's Division, and the capitulation o
Vicksburg the same day under the com
mand of Pemberton. had depressing ant
demoralizing effect on the morale of Lee
army. Most of us believed that the cause
we loved so we'll, and for which we had en-
dured innumerable hardships and so offer
risked our lives, was almost hopeless, ant
that the Confederacy would soon collapse
The whole world seemed arrayed agalnS
us on account of our peculiar institutions
We crossed the Potomac at Williamspor
and Falling Waters. AS soon as we stepped
on the soil of Old Virginia we felt like
getting home after long and dangerou:
Journey, and many of us vowed we Woult
never recross the river with hostile intent
Our march up the lower Valley over fine
turnpike road, through the cities of Mar
tinsburg and Winchester, thence across the
Blue Ridge to Culpeper, was leisurely
made, and marked no Incident worthy O.
note save a slight demonstration of the
Federals while we were crossing Ashby's
Gap. They were soon driven off by oul
cavalry, when we continued our march
without molestatiOn or detention. We went
into camp on a wooded eminence near Ste.
Vensburg, where we remained for several
days recruiting our wasted strength and
nursing our
| SORE AND BLISTERED FEET.
Our next move was in the direction OF
Hanover Junction. We encamped during
the month of August on the banks of small
creek about midway between Frederlcks-
burg and Hanover Junction, passing the
time in trying to shake off the demoraliza:
tion and dependency which had followed
us from Gettysburg.
About the 1st Of September orders We're
| issued to send our heavy baggage to Rich
mond The idea Of a private soldier hav-
| ing 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 and then had
a peep at the wardrobe of some of our boys
at this time. We were convinced from this
order Though it provoked a smile at the
thought of our heavy baggage and caused
| good deal of.merriment among our ragged
soldiers) that we would soon be engaged in
stirring scenes, and when Longstreet's Corps
embarked in Cattle and box cars at Hanover
Junction we felt that our destination was
Georgia, and that we were going to the as
sistance of the Western army, which was
hard pressed by Gen. Rosecrans at Chatta-
nooga At Petersburg we met up with Jen-
kins' Brigade, which had been detached
from Longstreet's command early in spring,
thereby missing the battles Of Chancellors-
Vile and Gettysburg. They had been on
service in the neighborhood of Suffolk, and,
from the looks of their new uniforms, bright
buttons, billed shirts and clean faces, Lad
the appearance Of holiday soldiers-quite a
contrast to
THE RAGGED AND DIRTY TROOPS
of Kershaw's Brigade, many of whom sport
ed dim and hard looking flag of truce
from the rear. Our route lay through Wei
con and other cities. We did not ride in
Pullman palace cars Or III luAuI iouo Pnccon
ger coaches, but were huddled like SO many
Sheep in box cars, without seats, which had
been used to transport cattle to the army.
Some of us becoming disgusted at the ac-
commodation, climbed on top, where We
remained night and day, catching what
sleep we could. Some members of my reg
iment, who had not seen their families in
nearly three years, passed within a stones
throw of their homes without stopping.
Be it said to the credit of the Second South
Carolina Regiment that not a single deser-
ton took place while en- route. Our soldiers
had reputation to sustain, and though
they believed we never would obtain our
independence by force of arms, and thai it
was merely question of time as to when
we would have to succumb to superior re-
sources and numbers, yet they were still
patriotic, and could die, if need be, for their
country and her cause.
On arriving at Charleston we were i'm
mediately marched over the bridge across
Ashley River and halted for the night in a
beautiful grove of live oaks. A detacl-
ment of Home Guards or State troops was
stationed on the east end Of the bridge, with
instructions to arrest every soldier from the
Second Regiment who should attempt to
visit the city without pass. Orders were
issued by our commanding officer Qieut.-
Col. Gaillard was then, l believe, in COM
MANDY permitting eight privates from the
regiment, or eight from each company, u
forget which) in company with an officer,
to visit the dear old city. We had up to
this time implicitly obeyed all orders ema-
mating from headquarters, but from long
service, great hardships and the multiplici-
ty of harsh, arbitrary-yes, and sometimes
what rebeIlous. We went off in body,
leaving a few officers and eight or ten pri-
Yates in camp. The guard on the bridge,
being men Of prudence and sound discre-
ton, showed their good judgment by max
no opposition to our crossing. We visited
the quarters of the State troops, among
whom we had many realtiVes and acquain-
tances, and found them located in comfort
able buildings, sleeping upon straw beds
covered with quilts from home, and i'll
dulging in luXuries to which we had been
strangers for many months. Poor fellows
it was amusing to old soldiers to see their
long faces and hear them tell Of their hard:
ships and the dangers which surrounded
them while listening to
THE ROAR OF THE FEDERAL GUNS
pegging away at Fort Sumter. Not one OF
them, perchance, had ever listened to the
whistIing of a minnie bullet. After being
entertained with lavish hospitality, we
with reluctance left our kind friends, and
returned about midnight to the camp. Next
day we babe farewell to Charleston and
continued our circuit around the Confeder.
acy in search Of Bragg, whom we expected
| to meet byand-by somewhere in the noun
tains of Georgia. We crossed the Savan.
nah River near the "Forest City," and
took the road for Macon. AS we reached
that city Il bell in a hotel near the car-shed
was ringing for breakfast. We were order
ed to remain on the train, but being hungry
and still rebelliouS, nineteen of the Butler
Guards disregarded orders and made for the
breaktast-table. While eating, the train
moved off and left us. For two or three
hours we stroled over the city and waited
as patiently as we could for the next train
Which we boarded under protest from tho
conductor, ovcrtaking our command before
reaching Atlanta. We expected a repri
mand from our officers, as they looked
cross, but fortunately for us, they said moth
inc. No more rebellion followed.
When we reached RinggOld on the lGtl