The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1886-05-28
"REMINISCENCES.
THE
MACBETH LIGHT ARTILLERY.
BS ONE OF THEM.
No. I.

fore sunrise, no dinner, and were now in
camp late at night with no encouraging pros
pcct of super. Fut our commissary, 5. VI.
Dawkns, put in his appearance, with some
hard tack and pickle pork, in time to prevent
US from going to bed hungry. | remember
eating my hard tack and pckle-pork that night
with more relish and satisfaction than do any
party, dinner or marriage supper it has ever
been my privilege to enjoy. We were very
tired as well rs very hungry that night; and as
soon as one Of natures demands was satisfied,
We laid down and dropped off TO sleep, to
satisfy the other. We rose from our beds of
mother earth next morning aud viewed our
beautiful surroundings. Spread out within the
sweep of the eyes, in endless variety, were
hills and daes, forests and fields, corn and
meadow, land and water; apd in oil this pict-
ure of beauty aud rcpose "only man was vile
Scattered here and there he could be seen in
squads, companies, regiments, brigades, divi-
sions and corps, watching each other and wait
ing for the coming storm of battle.
And deep down in the valley below, where
the Rappahannock rushes seaward through the
great gorge that nature cleft between the up
lifted hills, could be seen Of the anomalies
of the war of secession. Facing each other,
from the SUBMITS of these hills and in the
valleys below, were the pickcts of the two
great opposing arm les disputing with lcadcn
arguments for the possession of the Waterloo
bridge. The invaders fighting to destroy the
bridge, so as TO keep the army they came South
to destroy on the opposite side Of tho river
The invaders were afraid of being invaded
Pope and Lee were equally vigant, anxious
and apprchcnsiye but from different motives,
Lee was vigilant, trying TO get over to the
Northern side Of the Rappahannock Pope was
vigilant to keep him from crossing. Lee was
anxious to bring or the fight without delay;
Pope was anxious to stave it off. Lee was ap-
prehensivc less lie could not drive Pope from
his strong position in time to beat him in detail
before Mcclellan reinforced him from the pen
insula Pope was apprehcnsive less Lee should
succeed in his daring plans before the penn-
SUN troops arrived. Lee saw the dimCulty OF
crossing the river in the face of a strong enemy
and strongly posted lie decided that the
easiest and quickest way to dislodge Pope was
by a flank and rear movement To jackson
was assigned the duty Of turning Pope right
flank. And when he got into Popes he
could not resist the temptation Of calling a,
Manassas Junction and issuing ratons to his
almost iamishcd soldiers. out Of the supplies
that the Federals had collected there in great
abundance. 10 lougstrect was assigned the
duty of holding Pope to the Rappah annock till
Jackson had time to carry out the details Of
his part Of the campaign. The success Of the
hold and daring campaign hinged on unison of
action, rapid marching and strategic maneuvcr-
ing. There was no friction between Jackson
and Longstrect. Each acted his part nobly and
well aud both were equally successful. Long
street kept Pope busy preparing to meet attacks,
that were never designed to be made Pope
soon learned that he could not keep up with
Lee without two sets Of eyes one to watch his
commissary stores in his rear and the other
LonSstrect in his front. When Jackson turned
up at Manassas Junction. Pope no longer re-
manci in his stronghold on the Rappahannock
TO dispute its crossing with Longstrcet, but
abandoned it at once and hurried off after
jackson, with the hope Of crushing him before
l.ongStrcct could .uccor him. Thus far the
success Of the campaign was all that the most
sanguine rebel could wish and in order that
the future development Of the campaign might
not be attended with any disaster, it was noe.
cSsary that the two great corps commanders
should srill work in perfect accord and travel
day and night. The Rappahannock River AMI
Pope. with army more than double Jacksons,
were between him and I.ongstrcet. Pope had
The advantage, too, over Longstrcet in start
md i'll that his line was shorter, more direct
aud unobs,ructed, while Iongstrect was driven
10 the necessity of thanking the deep water Of
the Rappahannock and marching around Car
ter Mountain out of the way, thus making
his distance three times far from Jackson AS
Pope.
such was the status Of the campaign on tho
morning Of the 2Gth of August 1862 and Long
streets men were in possession of the facts and
impressed with tie Importance Of every man
doing his duty. And they proved equal to the
demands made on them, for the very moment
that Jackson needed Long>urcct he Was there
bristiing for right.
ON that morning the 2Gth VIC cut loose from
our dependence on commiseaty stores. and put
ting the great hills that skirt the southern val
ley Of the Rappnhann"ck between us and the
enemy, 10 conceal our move, We swept onward
and stiil onward, Nnrthwarl and Eastward
following in the wake of Jackson march Of
the few previous dnTs. We looked to corniclls
and apple tree. for our ratioms and lo.t but little
time in cooking eating and sleeping. Lees
army moved like well adiu and well oiled
machinery under the touch Of master
mechanic We continued our MARCHES late into
nights and started before day the next morn
;ncy Whom thc hour fnr Irrok fnSt c,mc the