Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1892-10-21
Lcn to Vote orthc Privatcs.

Lcf; to Il Vote Of the PrivatCs.
The private soldiers had so few privi-
lcgcs during the war that it does me
good to mention for the first time in
print an incident Of the siege of Peters
burg. There are plenty yet living OF
the old soldiers who can tell you that
the question of 'storming' or mot
storming" the Yankee works before Pc
tersburg by night was left to vote Of
the privates.
forget dates, il has been so long,
but it was just short while before the
Confederatcs left their trenches and
started on the nine days retreat which
ended at Appomattox.
1t had been we'll known for some
time that Lee could not hold out against
Grant much longer unless, by taking
some desperate chance, advantage
might be gained to the Confederates. A
council Of officers was held and while
of course / do not know what happened
in that meeting, do know that it be-
came understood among the privates of
the army that there had been disa-
greement among the officers, and, fail
lug to agree, they compromised by
leaving the question of storming the
Yankee works at night to the decision
of the privates-a thing so unusual that
it cast n shadow over their hopes.
On the day before the vote was to be
taken at night the bushes, rubbish, and
brush were ordered cleared or levelled
in the ravine between the two armies.
1t was Il perilous undertaking, but the
Confederates gathered their axes, and
without flinching marched to their
work. Strange 10 say, the yankees
quietly watched this proceeding with
out firing a gun, it being work they
wished performed or else they antici-
pated that the Confederates were fix
ing to storm their wolks-a thing they
much desired. Anyhow, the Confede-
rates got through with their work and
went back to their camps without any
trouble, but fully confident that it was
preparation to charge, al ignorant of
what turn matters were TO take.
When night approached and the otii-
GERS quietly bid the men to fall in, YOU
may wonder at the surprise of all pri-
Yates when they were told that all COM
missioned officers would retire from
their presence and that privates should
decide among themselves as to whether
the Yankee works should be attempted
b. storm upon that very night.
A little incident happened just as
the commissioned officers retired, and
none Of US can say to what extent it bore
upon the action of the privates. The
mail had arrived-letters from
home to the brave soldier boys. an
uneXpeced thing just at that time, for
it was so early to get the mails then.
The arrival Of these letters from home
stopped all other thought, and the men
gathered in groups around their order
ly sergeants anXiously listening TO the
names upon the envelopes to be called
out. As each man received his letter
he hastencd from the group to some lit
tie fire light, and down upon his knees
he broke the seal and read the con-
tents. Soon there were many men
knecling around the fires through the
camps. and as now and then one would
reach up and punch up the chunks you
could see the tears glistening in his
eyes.
This busy world may laugh at this
We men who read as you run-but it
was no laughing matter there that
night. There were letters from home;
news from the dear wives and the little
children, from the old fathers and
mothers, and from the swccthearts who
were never to be seen again. Dear
hearts and dear thoughts of the old
home and of the childhood playground
but never mind, no one one can feel
how this was but the old soldiers them
selves. and they have most all passed
away or are getting too old to read.
But vote must be taken, ballot of
no if the fight was not TO be made,
or a ballot of ''yes" if it was Each
soldier knew that time was precious,
and it was a picture to watch the sol
diers fold their letters, and placing
them deep down into the inside pocket
OF their gray jackets, and the ones who
had received none sadly waiting as
they thought of their own dear ones far
away at home.
1t was under just such circumstances
that balloting began, and as they were
gathered all in a hat the time had come
for counting. Then came short mo-
ments of expectancy, The first ballot
was:
"Yesin
And blood thrilled through every
soldiers heart. The counting went on