The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-09-17

g left; crossed the breastworks, and to
position in an old field in advance
Ie. the regular picket line. We were to
that surprise of the picket line of t
of enemy would take place; and we we
,rn to sweep quietly up the line until o
VS. posite our division; if we captured Il
nd line by surprise, we were to run in wi
.ps the Federal pickets, seize their work
nd and hold them until the brigade Won
nd come up. Noiselessly we pushed to Il
ue front. The rain fell in streams. III
to blackness of night could almost be fel
sr, Slowly towards the lines of the enenl
e. we moved; not a shot had so far di
eh turbed the march. One shot from til
he enemy, random one, was fired and on
" of the regiment fell with shattere
es leg. Suppressing his cries we hurrie
es forward. Orders were then given t
Sc lay down and crawl on all-fours till tn
n outlines of the sentinels were to
lie seen, and then rush forward and not fir
r a shot. Just as we commenced crawlin
d forward, another shot came and dit
n fatal work. Still we were not discovered
it and before the pickets knew it we wer,
Y amongst them, grabbing this one anC
t that; and several times one another. L
e was so dark that we could see nothing
1 and We lost valuable time in conse
e quence. Myself and companion sprang
T over the posts, he clearing them, and /
g fell into the pit which had been used as
D sink. The rain had filed it full, and
5 was up to my waist in the filth. Some
one else pumped in beside me, and with
a ''phewl phew! what is this?' 1 ex-
claimed in language plain but inelegant
We both crawled out, disgusted at our
fortune. We were given a wide birth,
and finally sent to the rear, where we
became the laughing-stock of the regi-
ment fer some time. Suffice it to say
that the surprise was incomplete. We
lost more than We gained; one of my
company noticed 'fat knapsack" ly-
ing on the ground; picking it up he was
aeeosted in rough voice to ''luff dat
sack alone" peeping cautiously into the
| speakers face he saw he was negro.
Directly | heard some one say "stop
that! don't kill him." but dull rasp-
ing noise, blood-curdling in its sound,
told that the man was using his bayonet
on the negro soldier or servant or what
ever he was. The knapsack was brought
| OH, but was of such rank smell, pecu-
llar to Africans, that its contents were
given to negro servant of ours.
| One evening a detail were unloading
wood at Headquarters. A piece Of
artillery in our front opened on us; they
fired at us three shots, and not single
one came near us; they all dropped shot
and came bounding along on the ground
We never could understand why the ball
failed to reach US, and have but one idea, |
some joking Federals might have tried |
to hit us with mortar gun laying fiat |
to the ground instead of its natural posi- |
ton. Any piece of artillery could haye
torn us to pieces. 1t was very singular |
to US, and the experiment may have
satisfied the Federals. We were con-
tent.
On the 9th of October we fought at
Burgess Mill at the bridge by the mill;
and sustained heavy loss. We retired
the next day, and went into camp at our
position. Later on we were withdrawn
from the lines, and sent out on the Boyd |
town Plank road near Fort Gregg, where
we wintered. Our ranks needed rest;
and it could best be afforded in the
woods and away from the incesant crack
OF the rifle, and the crash of bombs.
We made ourselves comfortable in a
short while
Christmas with its joys to some, and
sorrows to many, rolled around. This
was the fourth Christmas from loved
ones. When we set out for the war with
light hearts, we never dreamed that a
Christmas would be spent away from
home. 1t was to be pleasure trip we
thought; we will see something of the
world; aye, we did too, but not the way
our youthful dreams had pictured it.
This Christmas of the dark, dreary
days of 1864, is fraught with the
memory of probably the most gi-
gantic undertaking of the kind
ever thought of. The good citizens of
Richmond and Petersburg would give
Lees army Christmas dinner. Contri-
buttons were freely given, though the
people were as poor as we Of the army,
almost; provisions were extraordinarily
high, even in coin. Fabulous prices
were paid; but the project was carried {
through. Army wagons were utilized
to bring the goodies" to camp; and we
patiently awaited The third day rolled
and we were drawn up in line
to receive our share of turkeys, geese,
ducks, mutton, etc, naturally expected
from what had been seen and heard. !
When our turn came, one goose, some
mutton, and about forty loaves of bread,
fell to our lot. The problem to solve
was how to dispose of the goose and lit
tie bit of mutton. The goose was voted
to the officers of the Field and staff. !
The mutton to the line officers-by the !
way very few of them left-and the !
IL III / ;
the rank and file. The bread was eaten /
and relished with jokes. A hearty {
there's to you" attested the humor of t
the matter. A too lavish hand at the
outset had fed abundantly the begin.
ing of the issuance, and thus it did not
hold out.
This demonstration of gratitude from I
these good citizens, cost over seven I
dollars The intention was
good; this was appreciated by all; and '
to our whilom ffiends across the way, we t
could only wish "Peace on earth, good {
will to all"
The winter was not unusually severe,
and we got along well enough at the be-
ginning. Later on, rations "got thin"
and then hard times set in. The daily
allowance was pound of meat, pork or
bacon, or one pound beef, one pint flour S
Or meal; sugar or coffee we did not 9
draw. The meat most frequently issued '
vas what was known Nassau bacon. I
It seemed to have been bacon once, and /
then cured in salt brine like pork. If 9
held up by the endit would nearly double t
its length; poor half-starved rebs like q
Us could hardly stomach it, it was so
foul, and was utterly destitute of grease. | t
All the boiliugs or frys failed to extract t
1ne atom of grease from it. 1t had no
and would not flavor the in c
svitable dish of cstsh the soldiers friend
and standby. Its one redeeming fea- !
sure was its elasticity. You could chew :
t long time before you made up your !
mind to swallow it. Another ration oc- 1
issued afforded merriment; this e
was condensed beef, put up inten pound G
sans; it came through the blockade. A
leaping tablespoonful was day ration. I
It was palatable and strengthening, and :
would make a good meal by adding !
water and -four. Corn meal rations got : :
away with us especially when three days :
rations of it we're drawn; when cooked +
t made such tremendous pone
that it was difficult to put it away
u knapsaeks and hayersacks The q
greatest difficulty was in keeping it t
sound, as it soon mildewed and soured. |
The knowing ones baked their bread )
hin, and without salt; and thus it
Kept very web, and was easily handled i
u It packed well. Frequently only a t
portion of the corn meal would be 6
'ooked at once, the balance would be '
Itowed away and either used or mixed a
With water and salt as Cruel and 9
frank. This afforded a cooling and G
Dalatable drink, being both food and :
water. After camp was pitched, then
lllssh would be made you could often
hear some Of the atallest eussing, when I