Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1901-12-26


ed him IN rather a tender place Right
here would like TO pay q well deserved
tribute to the gallant Guards Early IN
the summer OF 1851 the company went TO
Virginia, Joined the Ninth Georgia regi-
ment OF General ''Tige" Anderson's brig
ade and did valiant service in the army
OF Northern Virginia UP TO the surrender
at Appomattox In 1865. Lieutenants Tur-
nipseed and Webb had the honor Of being
colonel Of the Ninth regiment. while LAeu-
tenant Tennelle was an aide on General
Anderscn's stan, and John eutiive. quar-
war the muster roll Of the company con-
tanned the names OF 125 man. and only Is
returned home after the war.
We had supper at Fort Valley and left
Macon At 9 p. m. with the understanding
that we would eat breakfast next morn
ing IN Savannah at the PULASKI house,
take IN the city Crowded the police did
not take us in). and some time late in the
evening call at the Oglethorpe barracks
and maybe stay all night. don't recollect
that we had any program for the second
day. We arrived on the sth at a. m and
found Recruiting Sergeant John Art look
ing out for lot OF boys OF our descrip-
ton He formed US In single file and
marched us 10 the barracks. where we
were lined up IN front OF DR.. Charlton's
Office to await HIS pleasure. as we had TO
be examined again before we would be
received as a soldier. We found about 300
recruits who had been sent In from the
different stations.
The boys IN blue flannel shirts guyed us
for ell We were worth. Hello. tender
foot. Where did you come from? Joined
the army, did your Well, you have missed
Il; this is the penitentiary, and you will
wish you were IN Hades before the week
Is out" And lot more OF such talk that
was not liable to make q very good I'm
an, ran~frft AFfaw standing
in line for about three hours we were
ordered into the Doctors ONCE one at
time. Finally my turn came and after
climbing lie greasy pole, riding the goat,
turning a few summersaults and having
the breath knocked out OF me three or
four times. I was pronounced a 1T sub
feet for the army. and retired to parade
ground. feeling Ike had run up against
a buzz saw.
All passed but Peter Lee. He was OBJ
jected 10 on account OF having fits. I
wished had been in Peters place, for 1
would have been willing to have fits or
or anything else II could only get to go
back home TO my mamma. At / o'clock
the dinner call was sounded, and we were
marched into the mess hall pretty hungry.
In the middle of the room was a long
table with a tin plate. knife and fork.
with tin cup and spoon for each man.
on each plate was a slice OF fat picked
pork, one third Of a pound OF light-bread.
and a cupful Of Yankee bean soup.
Quite a healthy and appetizing looking
meal for q man with weak stomach.
ate little Of the bread but the pork and
beans I could not relish. Our bill OF
fare while we remained at the barracks
was as follows: One-third Of a pound Of
Iight-bread, with & cup Of coffee for
| breakfast; one-third OF a loaf with one
slice Of picked pork and a cup OF Yankee
bean soup for dinner. For supper, one
.hird OF a loaf OF bread and a cup Of
coffee.
After dinner, IL It could be called such,
orders were, ''Johnnies. get your hair
cut" At that time, and ever since I could
| recollect men wore their hair
| long with faces clean shaven. The close
Singing OF mine gave me pneumonia
few days later.
During the evening we were assigned
| to different companies. Griffin, Rowland
| and myself to company D., Captain Gill;
| company, who was afterwards colonel and
chief OF ordinance on General Bragg's
stan. Captain Cullens had appointed o.
H. Cone and H. A. Morgan first and sec
ond Ieutenants Of his company, which
was X.
we had three drills a day in green
squads The officers were men who had
either attended military schools or West
| Point Captain W ID. Smith was in COM
/ mand Of the barracks. There was but
/ few officers there when we first went,
nearly all of at recruiting stations
| Among those I recollect was Lieutenants
/ Willis, Kirkland. Milledge, Brench, Har-
| rison and Berrian, all well drilled and
| knew what TO do with a raw recruit to
make soldier out of him.
/ smith Willis. Kirkland and Harrison
were promoted to brigadier generals dur
/ ing the war. Company D., with Lieuten-
ant Brench in command and Harrison
/ and Berrian second lieutenants was furn-
| ished tents and went into camp near the
| commons All three were clever officers.
/ Lieutenant John Brench was killed at the
/ first battle OF Bull Run. adjutant Of the
( Eighth Georgia regiment. Berrian re-
| signed. George p. Harrison went with
| the regulars to Virginia as adjutant. Dur
i ing the summer he was promoted TO be
| colonel OF the Thirty-second Georgia, and
later TO brigadier general.
Lieutenant George p. Harrison was a
/ handsome man and as good as he was
| handsome He had one Of the most pleas
| ant faces I ever saw. Always in a good
/ humor, and always spoke kindly to his
i men. At the same time he was every
/ inch a soldier. There was something
| magnetic about him that seemed to draw
/ his men 10 him. and I will make the asser-
Il ton without fear of contradiction, that
/ there was not a man who served under
/ him during the war but what loved him.
May he live a long and happy life, and
/ when summoned TO the last roll call may
1 he pass quickly over the river and sweetly
| sleep beneath the shade OF the trees, is
/ the prayer Of one who served under his
/ command at the beginning and ending
/ OF the war. The boys from Fort Gaines
/ decided TO try and all get into Captain
/ Cullen's company, so we could be togeth-
/ err / was to carry my recommendation
! from Captain Cullen for 2 corporais po-
| sition in his company to Captain Smith,
/ and ask for transfer. Captain Smith was
/ one OF the best disciplinarians saw
| during the war. He had served 10 years
/ in the federal army and was a soldier
/ from the crown of his head to the soles
/ OF his feet. I sauntered into his Office with
my cap on. He was busy writing for sew
I eral minutes and then looked at me with
/ the curt command, Take of your cap,
\ sir, and place Il under your left arm; now
/ take the position of a soldier and right
I hand salute. All Of which I did to the
I best OF my ability. Scared was no name
i for It, with practice, sir, you will
make a good soldier. Now you can state
/ your business"
/ He had me so badly ratified 1 had for
/ gotten what 1 called for, but finally /
/ thought OF my mission and handed him
| the paper. He told me he would see my
/ commanding officer and II he would rec
/ ommend me / could make the exchange.
| left his Office with the determination
/ that would not tackle him again for a
! major generals commission. l had often
/ heard OF black Friday. but the first Sun
I day spent in the army was black Sunday,