The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1898-04-19


"Conscript," I do not know.
The change from the dreary fiat
watery country about Pocotallgo tc
the hilly and mountainous region
around and above Dalton was per.
fectly delightful to mo. There was
snow on the mountains when
reached camp and for some weeks
afterwards. The last snow fight ]
ever had was in March, 1854, while
still IN winter quarters at this place.
In the morning some time after
breakfast the fight began. The
weather was not very cold nor the
snow very deep-just cold enough
and deep enough to make snow
balling a perfect sport. No doubt
maly of you, or all of you old sol
diers, have engaged in tho same sort
of battle. When tho fight began 1
looked on awhile without any wish
to join in tho fun, but after little
picked up ball and threw at some
one and then l was in for il. I did
not stop until | was completely worn
out and taken prisoner by the oppo
site party.
At q grand review ono bleak,
windy day in March saw General
Joseph E. Johnston as we passed in
review before him, tho only time l
ever saw him, though some CT the
others | saw otter, aa Hood and
Handman, with his long hair T do
not know what others may think of
Gen. Joo Johnston, but l think he
was tho greatest man in all respects
that the war produced on either side,
Federal or Confederate.
We broke up winter quarters the
latter part Of March, moved above
Dalton and fortified the place SO
strongly that Sherman, with ten
times the men he had, could not
have forced our position, by any di-
rect attack, and he did not try it..
He felt our position and our strength
and mado no cirect attack, but he
outnumbered us SO greatly that he
could easily turn our position, which
he did. We had about fifty thousand
mon. He had throe times that num-
ber under his Immediate command.
And yet with this great disparity in
numbers, Johuston had positive Or
ders-so, at least, it was said amongst
the men-to make forward move
ment. How it was possible for John
ston to 60 forward otherwise than by
opening the way for Sherman to
move down through Georgia, as
Hood did afterwards when he left
Atlanta, move equivalent to play
ing into the enemy's hand, it is diff,
cult to understand. Johnston did
not 60 forward nor try to; he knew
better. Early in May Sherman was
moving on Rcsaca and Johnston was
compelled to abandon his position
above Dalton and fall back, which he
did in good order. Indeed ali his
movements were in good order. He
fought almost every day, and in
every fight he punished the enemy
severely and never threw away the
life Of single man and never lost a
barrel of crackers which were worth
carrying. Some wero spoiled. John
ston's retreat from Dalton to Atlanta
is one Of tho most glorious achieve
ments Of the war. His men had the
utmost confidence in him, which they
did not have in all, and knew that
what he said was right.
When our position above Dalton
was abandoned l was detailed to &c
with tho wagons and superintend the
cooking, detail against which
protested, as I felt that it was bolit,
tling to receive any such detail
The captain sent for mo and told me
that he had given mo that detail be
cause he wanted one who WAS no
very ablebodied, and in whom he
could have confidence. Very we'll,
told him would 60 of course, as i
was q soldiers duty to 60 whereve
ordered, but If / do not like it 1 an
coming back here "All right" h'
says, and I took my detail and left
General Howard, of tho Fedora
army, says in his report of this cam
paign that it rained almost incessant