National Republican., 1885-11-14

were nursed by negro "mammes,n who
played, flshed, hunted, and associated with
negro children as the whites did in ante
bellum days on the plantations Of the
south, should now reproach me for writing
good word for the negro in the last two
articles have furnished TO the REPUBLI-
CAN. am not so hde-bound in relation to
race supremacy and prejudice as to seek to
suppress or to conceal facts which are well
known to every southerner. Forfour years
served in the army Of the confederacy,
and l think l may confidently assert that
never shirked my duty, and | know may
appeal to my officers In attestation OF this
fact. have nothing to win or lose in say
ing what ] have said about the colored
race, and l am sure there
is nothing "sketchy" in the articles. l
have simply told what l recollect of the
colored race during the war; And l defy
any man to say to me that have not stated
facts. AS q matter Of sheer obstinacy |
ought to continue to write on the same
subject, but perhaps have said enough to
indicate my feelings and recollectons rela-
tive thereto. Suffice 1t to say that was
'inspired" by no human being to write
what have written.
THE PRACTICE or PICKET SHOOTING.
II Is much moro pleasant for me to recur
cussion and recriminatlon. The old vete-
rams doubtless bear in mind that In the carly
days OF the war In Virginia, before the vol
unteers on either side had settled down TO
their work, so to speak, and gained some
experience In the realities Of warfare, the
practice Of firing on pickets commonly OBJ
tained, and many man lost his life under
this unsoldlerly and murderous system.
After the first battle of Bull Bun, the con-
federate army under Gen. Joe Johnston was
ricketing along the lines in front Of Wash
ington. The vicious system above referred
to was then In full blast, and not only did
the pckets, when the opposing lines were
established within rifle range of each other,
keep up fuslllade whenever head was
shown to shoot at, but there were scouts on
either side who were accustomed to creep
up on the unsuspecting pickets and shoot
them down in the most barbarous fashion.
The generals got tired finally OF this sort
of guerrilla warfare, and issued orders to
stop it, but the troops themselves, as II by
tacit agreement, recognized the absurlity
and barbarity Of this mode Of fighting which
did not advance the interests or cause Of
either side. And thus it came to pass that
after the first year Of the war the outer line
of videttes, unless advancing for battle,
were accustomed to lounge in full view OF
each other without thinking OF firing a hos
tile shot.
CHANGE FoR THE BETTER.
In fact, long conversations were held, the
opposing troops chatting each other In q
good-natured manner. 1t will be readily
understood that such pleasant interchange
OF talk was not observed when the lines
were closely drawn up In what might be
termed continuous hattle-for instance
at Yorktown, Spotsylvania Court House,
Petersburg, &c. At those places II was al
most certain death for soldier to expose
himself for an instant above the intrench
ments, and much Of the firing on both sides
was done by thrusting the rifle over the
breastworks and quickly withdrawing IL.
The troops of both armies, think, had,
before the close Of the second year Of the
war, inspired each other with mutual re-
spect, and on the occasions for burial OF the
dead as at Antietani, fredericksburg,
Second Manassas, &C., they were glad to
meet each other and discuss amicably the
features OF the battles. It was particularly
observable on such occasions that the most
scrupulous courtesy was exhibited, and IL
battles or campaigns were referred to 1t
was with the kndliest expressions of recip-
rocal respect. The braggart or the bully
had no place In such scene By the way,
of all the experience Of a soldiers hard lot,
to be detailed to bury the dead is the most
disagreeable except to those ghoulish ma
tures-and they are found in every army
who anticipate q harvest Of valuables from
rihing the dead bodies. Even to this day.
sometimes In dreams, / imagine myself
upon the field Of slain, and can smell the
sickening odor of blood and hear the groans
and cries OF the wounded and dying.
SAD MISSION.
After the first battle of fredericksburg
II was no uncommon sight to see an am
bulance driven along with the white flag
flying and accompanied by a detachment of
blue-coated soldiers with shovels and picks
to disinter the body of some officer or soldier
who had fallen In that bloody fight. Free
guently the widow Of the dead man sat In
the ambulance in her sable weeds, and, as
the funeral cortege passed, the confederate
soldiers on the roadside, to a man, would
life their hats in token of respect. You see
We all recognized the valor with which the
federals had charged on our frowning works,
in front Of which every inch Of ground was
swept by the fire Of our batteries.
Here Is what Iwrotesome years ago about
the subject Of this article, and II Is a true
exposition of the department OF the men
on the opposing lines when the exigencies
of the war enabled them to come together
In friendly conference
But there Is bright side to every prospect
five only look for 1t long enough. Oftentimes,
when no truce was existing, the soldiers on
the picket lines made one for themselves with
out saying ''by your leave" to their officers.
Picket dutyis monotonous work at the best.
and q little conversation and interchange of
news not contraband with their opponents was
welcome relief to both the blue aud the gray;
but better than all this was thelinterchange OF
commodities which the one possessed and tho
other had not. Now, the Yanks were we'll
supplied with the best of coffee and sugar,
while the Johnnies were famine-struek for the
same but the latter were well furnished with
the best Of tobacco and the former were famine
struck for the same. Here was good chance
company % on the picket line @ Would % lay % down n bis
rifle, gather up. his own and his comrades
commodities in an oil.cloth blanket, and
shhGSiderng IT. ADVANCE sso midway ND to meet hs
rapidly--a pint cup of coffee. and ono of sugar
for plug of tobaeco-and as soon as the
blankets had changed contents the messengers
would cordially shake hands and march back
10 their expectant comrades, who had watched
the proceedings with mouths watering. But II
was not only on land the pickets met; rivers
could not Keep them apart. Next in import
ance 10 the coffee, sugar, and tobacco trade
came the desire TO read the opposing news
papers. and almost any risk was run TO make
trade therein, although II must be said to the
credit OF the men that they always cut from
the columns any paragraph that might give IN.
formation as TO the movements or probable
movements OF troops Either side would hayo
felt contempt for man who gave information
hurtiul to his army, and deserter was heartily
deapised.
COLLEGE REUNIONS ON THE LINES.
When our command was In front Of
Washington, and the vicious system Of
picket firing had been put an end to, as
have above stated, frequently met on the
outposts many Of my college mates from
Georgetown University who were in the
Union ranks. They used to twit me for
deserting my "unlonism,n for used to
wear the red, white, and blue cockade
while at college, but got even with them
one evening when a section Of my company
gobbled up whole line offederal plckets.
That was on the occasion when Gen.
Mcclellan held grand review of his troops
beyond Arlington Heights, and | presume
the forward movement we made was in-
tended by Gen. Johnston 10 ascertain
whether Gen. Mcclellan was preparing an
immediate onset on our lines, At any rate
1 can say II now, although 1t was absolute
neglect Of duty, as sergeant OF the guard
10, hnd nhnrlrn ~ ilin 1nriaorinrn iln N