The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1889-12-27

matter each way.
Elizabeth is pretty little coast town
or was when we were there. Il sit
uated on Chesapeake Bay, 80 miles
from Roanoke Island, and had popu-
lation in '62 aud 60, of about 2O00. Her
people were apparently very true to
the Southern cause, and were exceed
ingly kind to US southern soldiers.
They were glad to see lis come, as they
appeared to be very fearful Of the YAM
KEGS and their invasion, but when we
were with them,-three hundred of Us,
they felt perfectly safe and happy
So much SO that they would not let us
eat our own hard tack, but took us iu-
to their own households aud fed Us
from their own tables,
They also made public dinner for
us while we were there. We ate with
them aud assured and treasured then
that they should be protected from the
Lincoln hirelings, and this we did
while the enemy remained away-but
the protection that we gave them wa
Indeed of short duration for In few
days Roanoke Island capitulated. This
Island was beseiged at this time b,
Burnside's fleet and the Island was de-
Tended by old General Henry of Wise's
brigade or legion-and the very next
morning after the surrender of the II.
laud the Lincoln gun boats came up
and bombed US out Of Elizabeth City.
So we told the good people of that
town farewell and have never Leen
back to see them since. We fell back
some three miles, went into camp and
remained there for two weeks or more.
The enemy did not pursue US, but
nearly shelled US out of the town; put
a garrison in the town, kept a gunboar
living in the sound and stood us off.
But this could not last always and one
bright morning a courier came dash
ing into our camp with cap in hand
and horse dripping with perspiration
and informed us that the Yankees
were making landing at Camden G.
H. and were aiming to cut Us off at
Southmills, which place is a small
tow n situated on the line of the Vir-
ginia & North Caroliua railroad. This
place is back toward Norfolk some
twelve miles. The distance from
Camdea to that point was only ten
miles and the enemy must now have
had at least one hour the start of Us.
So now for the race. 1t was an i'm
portant case. If we beat them We
could still keep our line of supplies and
communication open and we would
also have an opportunity to pick an ell
evated position out of the water on
which to fight them when they came
up. On the other hand if they beat u
they would cut the locks in the canal
and thereby cut off our supplies from
Norfolk. get between US and our base
of supplies, pick the dry ground Oh
which to fight US, drive US into the
water and swamps and likely capture
the whole command, which did No!
number over six hundred men all told,
consisting of McComas Battery and
the Third Georgia Regiment. The
weather was exceedingly hot and dry
and the water was the poorest kind Of
tadpole water but was plenty every
where as this whole country is a
swamp and frog pond. But we gou
ont of that as fast as possible and for
tune favored us. We beat the Union
troops just one hour. However, they
had bad luck, as we learned from pris
oners that We captured from them
that one of their transports got aground
at Camden and part Of their COM
mand had to come ashore half mile
in skiffs, and but for this accident
guess they would have scooped Us.
And when we arrived at SOuthmills
they were yet some three miles away
We advanced on their road nearly a
mile, got on a small elevation and
were well protected on either side b.
deep swamp. We now formed our
Infantry on each side of the road, hid
two pieces of artillery in the breach
charged with double charges of canis-
ter, laid down and awaited the ap-
proach of the enemy, who by this time
were in plain view crossing another
elevation nearly mile awey. There
were six thousand of them and their
advance was led by six hundred New
York Zouaves marching eight abreast.
Tney were dressed in blood red uni
forms and made grand showing az
they moved forward They were not
expecting to encounter an enemy as
they did not even have videt in front
of them. We were all completely I'M
der cover of the brush. The enemy
were now within three hundred yards
Of US still marching eight abreast, fill
ing the lane in which they were now
moving from fence to fence. We
could now hear the jabbering of their
voices and the tramp of their feet as
they moved forward like clock work.
The writer lay fiat on the ground with
friction primer inserted and lanyard in
hand ready to pull and fire the fatal
shot when the word of command was
given. This word or signal was to l,e
the crack IF nistnl in the hand of