The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1895-04-03
SOLDIERS BUDGET.
War "reminiscences of General Gordon.

eral Early, to storm that federal fort
in the Shenandoah valley. l knew it
was a perfectly unnecessary thing TO
do, and explained to General Early that
we could accomplish our plan of cam
paign without Strengthening my COM
mand by this attempt to storm a strong
position-a position that would fall of
itself when we should make our proper
movement. Ear'y took no Other notice
of my explanation than TO send me
word that If did not care to execute
the order he would delegate its execu-
ton to some one else. You may guess
this reply made me boil with fresh in
dignation. | felt it TO be an insult, but
inasmuch as it was my place to obey
his orders regardless of consequences,
issued the necessary instruction for a
movement at daylight next morning.
| began on my own account making
every preparation for death, for / had a
presentiment that 1 would this time
meet my end. So wrote a farewell
letter 10 my wife and told her what to
do about my affairs, handed over my
watch and other personal effe cts to
friend, and then walked up and down
my quarters waiting for day to break
a solemn night TO me, for ! had firm
presentiment that it was my last night
on earth. felt almost as certain of
this as a man condemned to death, and
can now pretty well understand how a
man feels when he is to be executed in
a few hours. | always had in every
battle of my life sense of the danger
to which 1 was exposed. never knew
hot 10 b,,t &,
l felt as | never had before that my
time had come and no n istake. So at
daylight l took up my line of march to
my death, as fully expected. On we
went, closer and closer to the fort, until
at last we were in close range of its
guns. 1 wondered that they did not
open on us, and every second I ex.
pected TO see them belch forth shot and
shell and play havoc in our ranks. On
we went. My Eyes were fixed on the
gune, and my mind excited TO its high
est tension with wonderment why they
did not open fire. On we went until
our advance struck the fort and rushed
upon its defenses, when, to our utter
anna cement, we discovered that it had
been evacuated, and not federal Was
in sight inside or ou'. You can i'm
agine my sense of relief as | saw my
b VS. in possession of the fort without
so much as scratch. So you see what
a presentiment is worth. have never
believed in them since that night"
Coonel Robert McEldo y nty, who
was present, referred to the alack On
Fort Stedman at Petersburg just befo'e
the close of the war-where, by the
way, he was wounded-which attsck
was made by General Gordon's CON-
maid. "Tell US about that, general"
said genial Colonel Bob, and so The
general proceeded to answer another
demand on him for experiences.
"That attack" said the general, "w
made in February, 1865, when we we
in our last gasp and very desperat
General Lee had sent for me in III
night-after midnight--to come to hi
quarters. 1t was bitter cold night
and set out on gallop to get out
the intense cold as soon as possible.
Lee occupied little brick house in the
environs of Petersburg, and as / opened
the door of his room alter he had an
swered my knock found him standing
by an open fireplace resting his head on,
his arm on high.up mantel and ap-
parently in deep and sad study over
the situation. | have sent for you,'
said he, to look over these reports
from our various commando. | have
spent the night on them and on these
maps pointing to long table covered
with papers, on which light was burn
ing. You will see,' he sail, that they
are very discouraging. The men have
scarcely anything to eat. A single ra-
ton is made to supply six men, and
the camps are full of sick and starved
soldiers. Our horses are also dying for
food, and when we lose horse We
practically lose his rider, for we can
make no other disposition of him. OF
course l was more or less familiar with
the situation in my own command, but
did not know it was so bad in all the
rest. So said to General Lee that of
course the situation was very desperate,
and that | supposed we would have to-
do something very soon. 'Wel,' said
he, fixing his eyes very intently on me,
what do you think we ought TO do?' |
replied, '.One of three things, general,
right away, either to make the best
terms we can get from Grant, or to re-
treat and try to unite with General
Johnston, or to fight And which
would you adviser said he. would
first try fight l replied. He medi-
tatively remarked, as if to try my ear
nestnees in the matter, which was a
habit he had, So you would advise
fghting?' Yes said |, as a choice
of three evils He had / cen to Rich
mond and had laid the situation before
Mr.. Davis. l asked him what the
president thought. Oh he remarked,
he is pertinacious as TO the idea of
holding out longer and fighting further.
And, as for the members of congress,
they do not appreciate the situation at
at all. So l suppose the only thing
left for US is TO fight, and l will let you,
arrange for an attack on Fort Stedman
at once So | returned to my quarters
and at once issued orders to that effect.
We were to get ready TO move inside
the Federal fortified area the next
night, and as soon as we could see in
the mornir we were to attempt to sur
mi oil w n