The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-11-10
INTRODUCTION.

nv diary for the year 1864 was pub1iShe
in The National Tribune / supposed tina
was all that would ever be seen in print
Since then have received so many letter
from the old veterans, expressing sucl
kindly feelings, accompanied by requests
or the preceding part of it that i hav
been induced TO complete my experience
as private inside of rebeldom by begin
ming at the first of my service and bring
ling it up to the part which has been pub
lished. Since the war j have devoted m,
time wholly to business, having no time
or inclination to engage in literary pur
suits, and this will necessarily be very
tplain narrative of a private who never
distinguished himself in any way, bu
remained in his humble position to the
end.
Unfortunately, my diary prior to De-
cember, 1852, has been lost, and to make
lit complete | will have TO supply from
fmemory a synopsis of such incidents as
were imprinted upon my mind, prefac-
ing il with a short account of the stirring
events Just preceding the actual clash OF
arms, when prejudice swayed the minds
of the people, and passions were aroused
TO degree which seems almost incredible
in these times of domestic peace and
ffraternal relations which exist between
the two sections.
As everyone who is old enough to re-
member it knows, the Presidential cam
tpaign of 1860 was one of the most exclt-
ing and the most memorable in the his
tory of our country. With four candidates
in the field and two of them from one of
the great parties, il resulted, as antici-
pated by almost everyone, in the election
of hT. Lincoln. Secession, which had been
limited at before, was then openly advo-
Gated. MaSs-meetings were held, and
prominent speakers all over the South
harangued the people and urged them TO
prepare for the Inevitable. But large
portion OF them were opposed to a sepa-
ration; the conservative element-the
Douglas and Bell men-clung to the
Union, advising moderation, many be-
lieVing that if war had TO cone it was best
to fight il out under the old flag.
THE DIE Is CAST.
As the States enc by one passed the
drawn closer and claser, until there was
no neutral ground. The die was cast,
and the original Union men were forced
Ito take sides, and naturally a large ma
iority yielded TO the popular clamor, and
espoused the cause of their native States.
A few yet hoped that cooler judgment
would prevail, and war might be averted;
but when the Administration at Wash
ington fully decided on coercion" and
called for men, even these lost all hope of
peaceful solution, and every mind
seemed imbued with the certainty of
what Ii ultimately proved to be. True,
some of the older and more prudent look
ed On the grave side, and predicted long
and bloody struggle, but the young, car
ried away by excitement, entered into it
with all the ardor of youth, and without
forethought of the consequences.
Meetings increased in frequency and
interest. Eloquent speakers stirred the
audiences, and the populace went wild
with enthusiasm The assertions SO often
4ta<4 G<.txt
and that zone Southerner could whip five
Yankees" were greeted with tremen
dous applause; some even went SO far as
to place the odds at 1 to 10.
1t was during these exciting times that
about 125 students, ranging in age from 16
to 70 years,-the writer one of the young
est OF the number,-were assembled at
Florence Wesleyan University, all of US
hailing from the Southern States, princi-
pally Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi,
Louisiana, Arkansas, and Texas.
The majority of us were too young TO
have any well-defined ideas as to poll
tics, but as a rule followed the footsteps
OF our fathers, divided as they were in |
politics and on the other great questions
which were agitating the country; but as
the war fever rose higher and higher we
drifted with the tide, regardless OF any
Union sentiments which had previously |
prevailed.
Companies were being organized all over |
the county; Confederate gray was every /
where to be seen, and it got surprising
that the centagion extendeS to US; even |
the dignified Professors being almost as |
much enthused as the pupils. and en-
couraged us in the formation of a com !
pany more than 100 strong.
We elected officers, and began drilling
every day after school hours, entering into
the study Of Hardee's Tactics with as
much zest as we had formerly done with
Greek and Latin. The tailors and seam
stresses of the town were engaged for
days in making our uniforms, which were
OF gray cloth with black cuffs and collars,
and black stripes down the pants legs,
which, with our gray caps, made US look
as if We had been transformed into a sure
enough military school.
ENTHUSIASTIC YOUNG REBELS.
Ii was with the intention to offer our
services TO the Confederacy as soon as
our term at school expired, which would
have been in June; some even insisted
on Offering at once, but this was opposed
by the majority, especially the seniors,
who were anxious TO finish the term and
get their diplomas, for which they had
iabored so zealousIy the past four years
Quite number, though, were so bellig-
erentiy inclined that they could not wait
for so short time, and began to drop out
one by one and go to Join home com
panies.
So, by the middle of May our company
was reduced 70 about so members, and a
meeting was called, TO which the teachers
were invited, and, as a result, ii was
agreed that diplomas be issued to those
who would be entitled TO them in June,
dlsband the company, and all go home, |
where each would be free TO Join any
branch Of the service he desired n
When / arrived at home a company was |
being organized in the neighborhood, in |
which my older brother was taking an |
active part ] proposed to enlist at once, |
but my parents objected, and my brother |
advised against IL, giving as some OF the |
reasons that was TOO young, had never |
been Injured 20 hardships, and physically |
unteers were rushing TO the front faster |
than they could be provided with arms
i had always been obedient to my par |
ents' wishes, and reluctantly yielded I'M
der an assurance that objections would
me 10 go.
The company to which my brother be-
longed soon had a full complement of
men, went into camps, and spent the
time drilling and making other prepara-
lions while their uniforms were being
made; and on June 3 left for Virginia,
where they met other companies, and Or
gained the 9th Ala.
The Confederate soldiers who went out
early generally had very good uniforms.
which, OF course, were furnished by them
selves; but later 1t was impossible to pro-
cure gray cloth, and we considered our
selves IN luck when we had anything at
f<.kfe IL L