The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1894-04-10
SARGE PLUNKETT.
THE OLD SOLDIER GATHERING SOON
TO BE HELD At BIRMINGHAM
May Make the History of the War-An Incl
dent of the Seige at Petersburg, az Iela-
ted by an Old Confederate Soldier.
For The Constitution.

War stories, like snake stories, are always
in order.
l guess that everybody is willing that
the truth should prevail in what is sent
out to posterity as the history of our times.
a great convention is soon to meet at Biz
mlngham, Ala. and a part of it's work Will
DE to discuss and decide happenings of the
war about which there are "disagreements
among the DOCTORS" mis- convention will
be composed of the leaders of the confeder-
acy who are yet with u.s. and will be of the
greatest Importance because of the proba-
bility of it's being the last meeting where
any of the old leaders will be present. Ma
terial for history will be gathered, discuss
ed and culled, and we common people may
gain somewhat of an idea as to how his
tory is made and handed down. This, per-
maps, will be the last, as it may be the
greatest revision of all the proofs" before
they are turned over to the "makers-up' of
history.
OF course doctors disagree and these
conventions are good in their place to COM
promise these disagreements. Me and
Brown have had many stormy arguments
to what event in the war was the crisis.
Brown sWearS that the passage of the con-
script act was the STRAW that broke the
camers back" Another says that it was
the fall of Vicksburg. Some say one thing
and some another but an old confederate
neighbor of ours tells of the following in.
breath-the great struggle against death IN
the lask days of the confederacy:
ITO. Storm or not to Storm the yankee
works at Petersburg, is what this old neigh
Dor says was left for the private soldiers TO
decide. Plenty Of old soldiers are yet NV
ing, he says, to verify the statement that
the question of "storming or not Stormlng .
the yankee works at night was left entirely
to the private soldiers. 1t was night just
before the confederates left their trenches
at Petersburg and started on the nine days
retreat which ended at AppomattoX. 1t had
been well 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 counsel of officers was held
and it became known among the prlvates IN
some way that the officers had disagreed as
to 'advisabilities" and that they compro-
missed their differences by leaving the ques-
ton of storming the yankee WORKS 10 a
vote of the privates-a thing so unusual
that it cast a shadow over every hope and
then and there the confederacy drew her
last breath.
On the day before the vote to be
taken at night the RUBBISH and bushes were
ordered cleared and leveled III a ravine be-
tween the two armies. 1t was a perilous
undertaking, but the old copfederates gath
cred their axes and went at the work. 10
the surprise of every one the yankees quiet
ly watched this proceeding without firing
gum it either being work they wished
performed, else they anticipated that
the confederateS were fixing to storm
their works and were anxious that 1t should
be so. Anyhow, the confederates cleared
everything from the raVne and returned to
their places without anything serious nav
ing happened. Every old soidier knew that
it was in preparation for a charge. but none
of them dreamed as to what turn matters
We're to take. They lay all the afternoon
under that suspense which was
worse to any soldier thah pelhg
actually engaged
When night at last approached ana the
1ilcers quietly bid the men fail IN, you
may wonder the surprise of all priVateS
when they we're told that all commissioned
officers would retire from their presence
leave them Northumberland that the phi
Yates should decide by ballot among them
selves as to whether the yankee works
should be stormed that night or no.
AS the commissioned officers retired to
the rear an incident happened and none of
us can say to what extent it bore upon the
minds of the priVates in making up their
ballots. The mail had arrlVed-letterS from
home to the brave soldier boys made their
appearance in the camps at TINS most Su-
preme moment and all thoughts OF balloting
was left off at once. The men gathered in
groups about their orderly SergeanIS ANXIOUS
ly waiting as the, names on the en-, en-
his letter he FASTENED from his group to
some DIM fire and down upon ms Knees ne
broke the seal and read the contents. IN
a little bit there were many men kneellhg
with their SIDES to dim fires stralnlns
their ewes to read from home, ana as now
and then one would turn to punch up
cnunk rne tears would 8iisten IN the lire-
light. This busy world may laugh at this
1t is not much to get a letter now, but IN
the days OF war II was not so easy, a letter
from home was a great thlng .. IN fr the last
dear wife and the little children, from the
old father and mother and sister and sweet
heart Dear hearts and sweet thoughts
of the old home. But never mind no one
himself and they have most all passed
away are getting too Old ana bind to
Ant the ballot? vote must be taken.
no If the tight was not to be made; yes
II 1t was Eacn soldier knew that time was
precious. Ii was a picture to see them
in the inside pocket of their gray jackets,
while those VINO had received none patient-
letter while others did. 1t was under just
such circumstances that the balloting be-
ed Cd in the hat every merry was
strung as to the nz,,od result: A ano few
counting of the ballots began. The first
Oa 4Yesw
And the blood thrilled through every sol
dier's heart. The counting went on and
Yes.
Yes,
"Yes."
For three times the terrible "yes' came
with not a single no" But no came at
last, and then long column of NOS
with only here and there yes, the
result The fight was off. The yankee breast
works would not be stormed that night,
nor were they ever stormed, but many
these same brave hearts ceased to beat
before the end at AppomattoX, and pity
This gathering of the confederates at
Birmingham should verify such incidents
as this of my old neighbors or they s1oula
not put the stamp of fiction upon all such
things 1t would fill many books to give
the different versions of different incidents,
but Just the same there is true Versl IN
of every incident and of this, histories
should be built There will be d great time
at Birmingham from all judge, and
many things personal between the leaders
will' be settled forever History will take
care of and pclPetuate these compromises
but under the excitement of the hours, the
Sc und of the music-the enVironments-rlay
cause small things of importance TO need a
champion. SARGE PLUNAETT.
FIREWORKS BLOW UP.