The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1892-09-28
SARGE PLUNKETT.
Gladly Goes Back to Telling Stories OF tho
War.
atlanta Cnstit,lti0n.

Gladly Goes Back to Telling Stories OF tho
War.
atlanta C0nslitMion.
The private soldiers had 30 few privi'
leges during the war that it does me good
to mention for the first time in print an
incident of the siege Of Petersburg.
There are plenty yet living of the
old soldiers who can tell you that the
question of "storming" or "not storming"
the yankee works at Petersburg by night
WAS left entirely to a vote of the privates.
I forget dates, it has been 80 long, but
it Was just short while before the Con-
federates left their trenches and started
on the nine days. retreat which ended at
Appauatto1.
1t had been we'll known for some time
that Lee could not hold out against Grant
much longer unless, by taking some des'
perate chance, advantage might be
gained to the Jonfederatey. A counsel
of officers Was held and, while of course
do not know what happened in that
meeting, do know that it became un-
derstood among the privates Of the army
that there had been disagreement
among the officers and failing to agree
they compromised by leaving the ques.
tion of "storming" the yankee works at
night to the decision of the privates-a
thing so unusual that it cast shadow
over their hopes.
On the day before the vote was to be
taken at night the bushes, rubbish and
brush was ordered cleared or leveled in q
ravine between the two armies. 1t was
a perilous undertaking but the Confed-
crates gathered their axes and without
finching marched to their work. Strange
to say, the yankees quietly watched this
proceeding without firing gun, either
being work they wished performed or
else they anticipated that the Coufeder.
ates were fixing to storm their works-a
thing they much desired. Anyhow the
Confederates got through with their
work and went back to their camps with.
out any trouble, but fully confident that
it was preparation to "charge"-all ig-
norant of what turn matters were to take.
When night approached and the officer
quietly bid the men "fall in" you may
wonder at the surprise of all privates
when they we're told that all commission.
ed officers would retire from their pres
ence and that privates should decide by
ballot among themselves as to whether
the yankee works should be attempted
by ''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 unexpected thing just at
that time, for it was 30 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 orderly
sergeants anxiously listening to the
names upon the envelopes 10 be called
out. As each man received his letter he
FASTENED from the group to some little
fire light and down upon bis knees he
broke the seal and read the contents.
Soon there we're many kneeling men
round the fires through the camps, and
as now and chen one would reach up and
punch up the chunks you could see the
tears glistening in their eyes.
This busy world may laugh at this-ye
men who read as you ruu-but it was no
laughing matter there that night. 1t was
q letter from hnmr; news from the dear
wives and the li,:,e children, from the
old fathers and mothers and from the
weet-hesrts who we're never to be seen
again. Dear hearts and dear thoughts
of the old home and of childhood play
grounds-but never mind, no one car
feel how this was but the old soldiers
themselves, and they have most o.!
passed away or are getting too old te
read, 80 why mention such {?
But q vote must be taken, ballot o.
"no" if the fight was not to be made, Of
ballot of "yes" if it vas. Each soldier
knew that time was precious and it wa
picture to watch the soldiers fold theil
letters and placing them deep down into
the inside pocket of their grey jackets
and the ones who had received none
sadly waiting as they thought of their
own dear oneA far away from home.
It WAS under just such circumstances
that ballotiug began, and as they were
gathered all in hat the time had come
fer the counting. Then came short
moments of expectancy. The first ballot
was:
"Yesp
And the blood thrilled through every