The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1894-11-09
"REMINISCENCES or TIE c0SFEDEKACY
AS NARRATED by ONE OF
ITS LEADERS.

life" said Gen. Gordon, ethan when |
heard that order. knew il was a per
fectly unnecessary thing to 10, and ex-
planned to Gen, Early that VIC could ac-
complish our plan of campaign without
slaughtering my command by this at
tempt to storm strong position, posi-
ton that would fall Of itself when VIC
should make our proper movement.
Early took no other notice of my OK
plauation than TO send me word that
II L did not care to execute the order he
would delegate its execution to some on o
else. You may guess this reply made
me boil with fresh indignation. felt it
to be an insult, but inasmuch as il was
ms Urugfy, regardless
of consequences, issued the necessary
instruction for movement at daylight
next morning.
Il began on my own account making
every preparation for death for had
presentiment that would this time meet
my end. So | wrote farewell letter to
nay wife, told her what to do about my
affairs, handed over my watch and other
personal effects to friend, and then
walked up and down quarters waiting
for day to break and my command to
move. That was 4 solemn night to me,
Tor | bad this firm prcsentment that it
was my last night on earth. | felt al
most as certain of this as q man con-
demned to death, and can now pretty
we'll understand how man feels when
he is to be executed in q few hours. /
always had, in every battle of my life, a
sen so of the danger to which | was ex-
posed. never knew what it was to
forget it; but this time l felt as l never
had before, that my time had come, and
no mistake
$50 at daylight 1 took up my line of
march to my death, as 1 fully expected
Do we went, closer and closer to the
fort, until at last We were within close
range of its guas 1 wondered that
they did not vYen on US, and every
second | expected to see them belch
forth shot and shell and play havoc in
our ranks. On we went my eyes were
liked on the guns and my mind excited
to Its highest tension with wonderment
why they did not open fire. On we went
until our advance struck the fort and
rushed upon its defences, when, to our
ptter amazement, We discovered that it
- been evacuated and not Federal
anywhere in sight, inside or out.
lIu can imagine my sense of relief as l
saw my boys in possession of the fort
without SO much as scratch. So you
see what a presentiment is worth.
have never much believed IN them since
that night"
Col. Robert McEldowney, who was
present, referred to the attack on Fort
ntedmnn, at Petersburg, just before the
close of the war (where, by tho way, he
was wounded, } which attack was made
by Gen. Gordon's command. "Tell us
about that, General, )" said genial Col.
Bob, and SO the General proceeded. to
answer another demand on him for n--
pen enccs. Gan the dining party agreed
>that they COULD listen to. him for a
week; That attack" said the Gener>
ait.'wrs made IN February, 1865, when
we were in our last gasp aud very des-
>ferate. Gen: Lee had sent for me 10
the night-after midnight-to come to
his quarters. 1t was bitter cold night,
and set out on n gallop to get out of
the intense cold as soon as possible. Lee
occupied little brick house in the en-
vIrons of Petersbcrg, aud as [ opened
the door OF his room, after he had an
swered my knock, found him standing
by al open fireplace, resting his head on
his arm on fiigh-up mantle, and appar-
emily in deep and sad study over the
situation.
"I have sent for you," said he, Ito
look over these reports from our various
commands. | have spent the night on
them and on these maps pointing to a
long table covered with papers, on which
light was burning. You will see, he
ksaid.r shat sdey arc very discourag ing
= The men have scarcely anything to eat.
single ration is made to supply six
II and the camps arc full of sick and
~! sed soldiers. Our horses are also
dyinI; 70. food, and when we lose horse
we practically lose his rider, for we can
make no further disposition of him. OF
course [ was more or less familiar with
theAsuation in my own command, but
did not know it was SO bad in all the
rest. So [ said to Gen. Lee that OF
cou,se the situation was very desperate,
and that | supposed we would have to
do something very soon. well, said he,
liking his eyes very intently on me,
what do you think we ought to do p |
replied, :One Of three things, General
right away. Either to make the bcs,
terms we can get from Grant, or to re-
seat and try TO unite with Gen. John
ston, or to fight And which would
you advise p said he. Il would first try
fight, replied He meditativcly re-
marked, as if to try my earnestness in
, the matter (Which was habit he had J
80 you would advise fghtipg?' Yes,
l said, as choice Of three evils lie
had been to Richmond and had laid the
situ,tion hnforo NJ, no.: i, ,