The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-06-09
LARIoN.
THE CAMPAIGN
OF Bristow Station, Va, and Death
of Brigadier General Carnot
Posey.

1863. The mere mention of that unfor.
tunate field recalls 10 view the death Of
our beloved commander, General Carnot
Posey, from a wound received there in
action, and all the scenes and incidents
OF the period of time passed from the
repulse at Gettysburg to this event are
yiYidly brought to mind and the past
rolls As panorama before you. Sitting
here by lamp light, while the gentle rain
Is falling, refreshing the earth. encour.
aging and strengthening vegetation, does
the lone mind bring former scenes 10
view. Every detail of camp life, gener-
any 50 monotonous, stands out in bold
relief. The gentle activities of the
distant mountain slopes; the deep shade
OF the forests; the luxuriant grasses of
the meadows, on which fatten and gather
strength our animals; the meandering
Rapidan river flowing slowly past.
These, all these pass in rapid review,
and we wonder to ourself how mighty is
the making of man in whose memory
there abides so much. With my mind
on that plateau near Liberty Mills 30
recall some pleasant episodes Of camp
life, and will in bricf outline sketch the
life as lived by Posev's Mississippians
after the failure of the Pennsylvania
campaign. In pleasant environments we
passed the time as best we could, prin-
cipally iudulging in cleanliness, a hither-
10 luxury, and with fire and scalding
suds we fought those pests so infinitely
connected with a soldiers comfort, until
the last creeping, disgusting things had
ceased 10 worry the peace and dignity of
Lees men. 3lackberries were still plen-
tiful and we had regular fills of them,
which enabled US to a great extent to
catch up with the retail business, Pies
made 10 the camp skillet, sweetened
with sorghum, were often seen and
heartily enjoyed Hunger is well
known sauce to the most primitive style
Of cooking; any how we realized it and
enjoyed it. After the berries came the
fields of ripening corn and they received
due and careful attention, and many
sayory mess was smuggled into camp
against orders. The favorite way to get
it into camp was to slice it from the cob
aud fill the canteen's with it. We had
the privilege to 90 after water any time,
no matter where, and we abused the
privilege but got the corn all the same.
This device caught up with, they next
resorted to appearing in camp with
their shoes slung across their shoulders
as If their feet were sore. These shoes
were filled with sliced corn and thus
again were the guards fooled, or as
called in soldier parlance thanked"
Chestnuts were plentiful, and many a
fine tree has been ruined for the sake of
a few nuts. Whilst out gathering some
one day several of us came across Il
scene that reminded US of the bully In
Georgia scenes. Two hardy sons of old
Erin off by themselves were having a
regular set-to, Irish fashion. They had
too much of the creature" aboard
hence were powerless to hurt each other.
They would fight awhile, rest awhile,
swear all the time, then take a drink
and engage in another bout. As they
seemed inclined to enjoy it we let them
have their social out. August and Sep
| temuer flew rapidly by. October with
its brilliant Indian summer days which
had set the filds and woods aglow with
natures choicest tints, came and slowly
passed in the beyond. Oh, those happy
| halcyon days when the danger aud
vicissitudes of hardy soldiers life
were thrown away and as men we be-
came boys again. The nearness of win
ter reminded us OF the necessity of re-
| pairing our clothing, much of it done
uniquely. From army blankets we inn
provised trousers, and it was laughable to
see stalwart men stalking camp grounds
with these rude articles on and you
could often see in sharp relief the letters
| y. >. which had been interviewer in the
| blankets on the buttocks of the men
| No rude alarms peryaded the camp, and
we dreamed our existence most pleas
antly away until about the tenth of
| October, when orders came to prepare
! three days rations and be ready tomarch
at moments notice. The accumula-
| tions of two months inactivity were
overhauled and in light order we awaited
| the summons to the fray. Winter was
near and clothing being scarce at the
| home government we necessarily had to
I look for it to our whilom neighhors of
| whom we had but little to do since
Gettysburg. In the fatness of his camps
! he luxuriated, and we in castle visions
| did the same, covetiug his earthly
| possessions with a determination to win
| the next battle for a double purpose,
| to-wit: to avenge the mishaps of Gettys-
burg, and procure supplies from our
! hitherto regular channels, the army of
| the Potomac. The first days march of
Lees army was characteristic of all and
can be briefly outlined When the route
| lay in midst of woods and underground
we moved rapidly; in openings we made
cautious detours to escape surveillance
of Federal scouts posted on mountain
tops or concealed in the foliage of the
trees. On the morning of the l4th of
October we passed through hastily aban-
doned camps which betokened a near
ness to the human quarry. A few shots
at the front signaled that their outposts
were in sight and we marched rapidly
forward. With steady swinging steps
and no struggling we passed over field
where some fighting had been done, and
we caught glimpse of soldier in blue
having been hastily buried. One hand
was uncovered and the CHASTITY specta-
Gle was presented as if beckoning US on
to similar fate End hospitable graves
"Ciose up, men, keep closed up" rang
out sgain and again, and then it dawned
on rs that we wers ling for an objec
tive point. That point fatal Bristow,
Orders came that caused us TO leave the
pike and strike across open fields te
an intersection OF roads; then we were
caused to halt whilst Heth's Division
passed by. This was serious bluHdel
and probably the main one that caused
so much disaster few minutes later
We remained in this place some
time and then followed leisurely
after Heth. Posey was leading Ander
sons division on this eyentful march
and il it had been allowed or ordered Il
Bristow without halting, that awfu
slaughter that followed would have beer
avoided. "Afan proposes but God dis
poses,n but some generals seemed K
think that battle can be fought anc
rrnr, rrithont any scientific effnrts Ih.