Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1893-01-04
him till the Lord parts US 0 meet a gin
on the other side of the great diyide."
LEFT TO A VOTE OF THE SOLDIERS.
Why the Confederates Did Not Assault
the Union Works at Petersburg.

The private soldiers had so few
privileges 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 "stUrming' or mot Storm
ing the Yankee works at Petersburg
by night was left entirely to vote of
the priyates.
1t had been well known for some
time that Lee could not hold out
against Grant much longer unless, by
taking some desperate chance, adj
vantage might be gained to the Con-
federates. A council of officers was
held and, while of course | do not
know what happened at that meeting,
| do know that it became understood
among the privates of the army that
there had been Il disagreement among
the officers and failing to agree they
compromised by leaving the question
of "storming" the Yankee works at
night to the decision of the priyates-
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 the ravine between the two armies.
1t was perilous undertaking but the
Confederates gathered their axes and
without flinching marched to their
work. Strange to say, the Yankees
quietly watched this proceeding with
out firing a gun, either being a work
they wished performed or else they
anticipated that the Confederates were
fixing to storm their works-a thing
they much desired. Anyhow the Con-
federates got through with their work
and went back to their camps without
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 Off
GERS quietly bid the men to fall in,"
you may wonder at the surprise of all
privates when they were told that all
commissioned officers would retire
from their presence and that privates
should decide by ballot among them
selves as to whether the Yankee works
should be attempted by storm" 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 un-
expected 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 orderly sergeants, anxiously lis
tening to the names upon the enyel-
opes to be called out. AS each man
received his letter he fastened from
the group to some little fire light and
down upon his knees he broke the seal
and read the contents. Soon there
were many kneeling men round 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 not 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 sweethearts
that were never to be seen again.
Dear hearts and dear thoughts of the
old home and of the childhood play
ground-but never mind, no one can
feel how this was but the old soldiers
themselves and they have most all
passed away or are getting too old to
read, so why mention such?
But vote must be taken, ballot
of mo" if fight was not to be made,
or ballot of "yes" if it was. Each
soldier knew that time was precions
and it was 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 ballotting began, and as they
were gathered all in hat the time
had come for the counting. Then
came short moments of expectancy.
The first ballot was:
"Yesi"
And the blood thrilled through every
soldier heart. The counting went on,
and
"Yes."
"Yes."
"Yes."
For three times the fatal "yes" came,
with not single no" But mo"
came at last, and then long column
of noes" with only here and there
yes" was the result. The fight was
off. The Yankee breastworks would
not be stormed that night, and they
never WERE but many of these brave
hearts ceased to beat before the end at
And pity it was. -Sergt PluakeH, in
the atlanta Constitution.