The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-12-11
WAR STORIES.
Christmas in the Petersburg Trenches.
Z. S. Sanders, az atlanta journal.

Inc neld works erected in defense
OF Petersburg, Va, beginning at the
Appomattox Rivers southern banl
and thence running southerly ant
westerly, were held during the winter
of 1864-G5 by General Bushrod John
sons division. -Four brigades consti
tuted this division. Ex-Governor
Henry A. Wise, of Virginia, com.
manded ono, Ex-senator Matt W
Ransom, of North Carolina led sec.
ond, third was from South Carolina
and Gracie's brigade from Alabama
was the fourth. Georgia was repre-
eented in shis brigade by enc company
in the Twenty-fifth North Carolina
regiment. Bob Phinizy was captain
OF this company, and instead Of feel
ing ali alien he was probably better
known and certainly as we'll liked as
any officer in the brigade. His high
spirits never quailcd before the miscr.
les of the times. During the winter
he was appointed or elected u justice
Of the peace. lie bid us goodbye
with tears in his eyes. lie informed
us that he was judge, and though it
was hard to credit, it was believed
that he would preside over one of the
courts Of record-a court Of law and
equity.
Strange to say, Wise's brigade had
seen but little warfare until the scige
Of Petersburg began. The others were
seasoned veterans. During the au-
tumn of 1864 two brigadcs were in the
in.renchments and two were withdrawn
for rest and rccuperation every two
weeks. More or less fighting was
Ao..g GU daily and the stress and
strain on the men in the trenches were
terrible. On one occasion the enemy
made heavy demonstration in Wise
front and it was SO formidable that
part Of tho brigade were driven from
the works. Ran SONS brigade soon
appeared aud drove the Federals back
and the former situation was re- estab-
lishcd.
When the brigades alterna,cd in the
trenches their engcnuity was taxed to
mako their condition less severe.
Planks and boards were highly priced
to make hunks, aud when one brigade
left the trenches and did not carry
with them all their belongings tho in
coming brigade, especially the Twen-
ty-hfth North Carolina, appropriated
to it's use thenceforth and forever
whatever was left behind. Wise
brigade, being nearer home, had more
OF these conveuiences than any other.
On one occasion, when relieved by
Ransom brigade Virginian said as
the soldiers passed each other: Don't
you fellows take the planks we are
leaving here. You can use them, but
leave them when you go out. Don't
take them away, like you did BEFORE"
1--WE never took you-uns plank nor
nothiu you-uns ever left" indignantly
answered tarheel mountainer." eyes
you have; you take all wo leave" re-
piled half dozen Virginians. eyes
we-uns did take one thing you uns
left bout six weeks ago. retorscd one
Of the Carolinians. lone thing! You
own up to one do you? We'd like to
know what it was We left that you say
you took" ''These lines was the
silencing answer.
II is difficult to realize the life the
soldier led in the intrenchments east
Of Petersburg. The lines Of the con-
tending armies were less than quar-
ter of = mile apart, and about milo
from the river at the point the Con.
federate line presented salienl angle
they were opposed by re- entrant IF
the Federals on Hare's Hill, crowned
by fort of twentyfour guns and NOR
tars, some of the latter throwing two
hundred pound she'll. Not day or
night passed but what moro or less
firing was going on and the Southern
soldiers gave the place on Hare's Hill
the appropriate name Of Fort He'll.
More than year before Ransom
brigade had been encamred on Major
Hare's place and then an incident oc-
Cured which will here relate, as it
will explain something further on.
Colorod women visited the brigade
Often bringing cooked food of various
kinds, which they disposed Of to the
soldiers. A member of the 10th
North Carolina bought a meat pie one
day and when eating it his suspicious
were aroused. He carried it to the
regimental surgeon, who examined it
and pronounced it dog meat. Each