The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1888-10-18
A LETTER TO GEN. LONGSTREET,
FROM AN OLD VETERAN.
Showing the Stuff our Boys Were Made OF.
Gainesville (Ga.) Eagle, Feb. 10

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We are indebted to the General fol
the privilege of publishing the follow.
ing letter, which is only one of many
that he daily receives from the poor
"boys in grey" who followed his gallant
lead through scenes of carnage on many
a bloody 6eld, and who endured suffer.
ings as great, while tramping barefoot
over stony mountain roads without food
or shelter, in obedience to the orders OF
their gallant commander, as when being
cut almost literally 10 pieces by minnie
balls on the field of battle. To Jasper's
memory will be erected statue of brass,
al Savannah soon. for deeds no more
glorious-for sacrifices not half so great
as we're made by thousands of Confeder.
ate soldiers, who, like this poor man,
will die unwept, unhonored and unsung.
While not intended for publication
merely an expression of kindly feeling
and remembrance ola gallant soldier to
his old chief-we publish it, hoping that
the young men of the South may read it
and gather patriotic inspiration from its
simple and unaffected recital of what
true patriot will do and suffer for cause
which he believed to be right:
PIEDMONT, S. O.,
January 26, 1883.
Gen. James Longstreet:;
My DEAR GENERAL-Thinking you
would like to hear from one of the P. 8.
S., who followed you for four years and
suffered with you in the lost cause, I
embrace the present to let you know that
you are still loved and respected by
South Carolinian. will name several
places where we were together, 30 you
may call me to your mind. | was the
private whose gun was shot in two at
Gaines's Mill and kept on till comrade
fell and could get another. | was the
private you sent to the front at Seven
Pines to see what the Federals were up
to, when J. E. Johnston was wounded.
lam the private that clubbed his gun
and rescued the colors of the Palmetto
Sharp Shooters at Frazer's Farm, and
brought them back and took command of
his company and carried them on--every
commissioned and non commissioned
officer being killed or wounded. There my
right arm was broken by q minnie ball,
but stayed with my boys until the enemy
retreated. I am the private that went
over Lookout Mountain barefooted, in
the night fight, 28tb of October, before
you started through Tennessee. For that
act of mine you had ME detailed aud sent
With your baggage as guard to Atlanta,
and I reioined you at Strawberry Plains,
in Tennessee. I am the private that
lifted you up in the Wilderness the
time you and Gen. jenkins were both
wounded. ] received a wound the same
day in the mouth. Twas wounded FIVE
times, had my thigh broken at Fort
Harrison, and my leg is now four inches
short. -.
Ibays managed to keep soul and body
together by the help Of our Great Crea
tor, but have never saved up any
money. I have q little piece of land
which is home for me and my wife.
Our only boy is married and has two
BOYS. / have plenty of provisions
for myself and family. / killed three
hogs this winter, weighing respectively
974, 1z1 and 1876 pounds-the two last
six months old. So dear General, if
you'll come over to Anderson County md,
stay with me awhile, / will board you
and Mrs. Longstreet, too.
My dear General, our Heavenly Father
has spared us for some wise purpose.
We cannot see in the future, but we can
try to live the balance of our days so
that we may beready to cross over the
Great River and rest on the other shore
in perpetual bliss and happiness. May
our God direct our ways, so that it we
never see each other again we will meet
in Heaven around the throne OF our.
blessed Savior.
Your obedient servant,
RICHARD L. WILLIAMS,
Private Co. L., Palmetto Sharp Shoot.
ers, jenkins Brigade, Longstreets Corps,
"A NJ NJ