Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-06-27

upon her taking my fathers arm. whilst
we children helped 10 push her up the
hills, we got another mile, and stopped TO
rest In some deserted negro quarters.
Whist we were resting there, some com
panies OF soldiers went by. going on TO
support Ba-ksdale's Mississippians. who.
on the banks Of the river, were preventing
the Fedcrals from throwing across their
pontoons. The poor fellows had had no
breakfast. and many were going to their
death SO my father said: Children,
have you anything to give the soldiers.
that are going 10 fight our battles" and
we each handed out our rolls and piece
Of beef, which we had been too scared
20 cat and ne divided il as far as 1t
would 60 TO those that looked the hun
griest. After my mother had rested
little VIC proceeded more slowly another
mile, until we arrived at a very nice place
owned by Or. Reynolds. His wife very
kindly received us. and there, at 7. M
we ate the first meal we had that day,
although the noise Of the continuing firing
shook the windows glass in the house so
you could scarcely hear any one talk,
and the smoke from the burning town
could be seen ascending In column after
column, as different portions Of the town
caught fire.
SHORT-LIVED.
Yet. we felt comparatively safe, but
this feeling was short-lived, About
o'clock j. VI. knock came on the front
door and there was an aide with a mes
sage from General Hood. Of the Texas
BRIGADE. "for the family TO leave before
morning as the hottest part OF the fight
would be around the house next day. and
lie was then digging his trenches and
forming his line of battle" (and there was
n 0eht there and my cousin, one of the
bravest and most intelligent young men
| ever knew. was killed in those trenches).
So at midnight We arose and etc slight
lunch. and once more started In the cold
and frost Of q December morning Tor
safer quarters, and reached little after
DAYLIGHT a house some friends and ac-
duaintances Of ours had rented and re-
fugeed TO- but the lower part Of the house
had been seized by the Confederates as
a hospital and although we were very
kindly received. all were much crowded,
and already the wounded and dying niled
the ward. In ore of the lower rooms
the surgeons were busy. and the agonizing
screams Of the wounded under the sur
eeon's knife ceased not, night or Day
one OF the outhouses was filled win
those who had died under the surgeon
knife. or soon after they got there. An
other room was filled more than half way
~, Win amputated limbs. Look where
Won would. there was nothing but SUI
ferinr and death. 1t was terrible, put
we were out Of danger, and my father
nueied himself amongst the wounded car
rvinc them water putting them IN easier
nosltions. and helping all he could
begged him to let me help but ne saii,
ct was no place for htue Blrl, n1t
hotter stay with my sick mother bu'
would look down from a little balcony
"a 7 cav nartv bring I'm General Cobb
80 the Georgia Brigade, on litter. IheS
,,oeeod directly under the balcony mo
a., srrqeon's room. he was very pare
"a his mouth was twi;ching. In my
t,,~orance I thought he was chewing To-
hacco and could not be very pauly
,,.o,,rdod but i'm ten minutes a soluler
mo nm stairs and said General CODp was
dcod and asked the ladies II their husbands
Tod any clean linen they could spare
-, nut mon General Cobb for his bury
f-, A little later I saw them tearing
doun the plank fence around the yard
10 make a rough coffin for nm. Inc
SIGHTS and sounds were so gruesoihe tlaI
the third day / could stand 1t no longer
and / begged my father 10 get tent
from the soldiers and camp out IN inc
woods. Ny mother was too dehcate lor
nv father 10 agree to this. but he pro-
missed 10 try 81 he could not find us an
other boarding-place nearer home, as the
Gcrt was about over and the enemy
had crossed, or were recrossing the
river. And he succeeded in getting
Mace n mile nearer home, and the next
morning q having begged hard TO ac-
company my father went with him
home We crossed the battlefield with
the thousands Of dead upon 1t, altho'
The burying parties were busy. and had
been for several hours I walked close
behind my father. and had TO go in a
zigzag way 10 keep from treading on
the dead. They were in every position
some on their backs. with eyes staring
as If to ask Heaven. "Why all this
cruelty?" others with face downward
with both hands convulsiyely grasping
the ground; others peaceful and smiling;
some horribly contorted. and the dead
horses were almost as horrible 10 look
at. In one OF the fields nearby. owned