Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1901-12-23
= The Battle of Gettysburg, =

When the battle Of Charlottesville was
fourht Picketts division was near Suffolk,
virginia. The northern troops advanced
from Norfolk to that town and overran
the counties OF southeastern Virginia and
threatened the railroad between Peters
burg. Virginia. and Weldon. n. O.. which
road mainly supplied our armies In VIZ
ginia-
Pickett was ordered there to protect
mis- road. He drove the enemy from thar
uart OF the state back 20 Suffolk and was
rreparinx 20 attack the town when ne
100000 orders from General Lee 70
hasten TO him at ChancellOrsville. with
old clothes and broken muskets we rig
- nm dummy soldiers and set them IN
fhe rfae trenches and placed logs FOR can
non at intervals on the line. Piekett
withdrew his troops and marched 20 re-
tersburg He left behind a rev cavalry
uen who fred an occasional shot rom
80 tha dummy soldiers. and changed
thelr position rapidly from place 10 place.
thus keeping the enemy in Ignorance OF
osr- aenarture After while the enemy
euenarfaa the ruse and sent forward skir-
rnIshers who reached the rife pits TO nnd
them empty. Pickett had several hours
start and wes miles away.
our men were IN good spirits ana fuii OF
fsn- singing songs and making funny
remar<s on persons and places as they
pasEed. As we marched through Jerusa-
isra. the county seat OF Sou hampton,
We SANG the old hymn. "JerU aiem. My
Happy Home" The country here vas
low and fat the roads deep IN sano. On
coming 20 pools OF water through NnlS sl
the road ran, we were ordered 70 Waoe
rirht through: the sand stuck TO our wet
shoes. got inside and ground the SKIN
rom our feet so that we were FORCED 70
take on cur shoes and socks ana march
barefoot al day. AS we neared Peters
burg the road became hard and ROCKY
which made q necessary for us TO put our
shoes on again Ny feet were 50 sNoI-
Ian that Il was painful TO wear my SHOES.
On arriving ct Petersburg we marched
through the city with bands playing
Dixie and other popular southern airs.
From there we continued our rapid march
utoupinw only a few hours az night Tor
rest and sleep. The morning OF our tourtn
DAYS march we reached Richmond Our
onicers received strict orders 20 see tnat
no man left the ranks while passing
through the city. Many OF our men were
from Petersburg and Richmond and thou
sands OF the people lined the streets and
cheered US as we marched through.
We continued our march through the
counties OF Henrfco. Hanover. Louisa,
Orange and Culpepper. Finding General
lee EAu QELGALGQ anu g. ~A N-A~
move. We followed Our long line wound
about the eastern foot OF the Blue Ridge
mountains and reached Orleans and
snickersviIle where we found General J.
e. B. Stuart and his gallant troopers hight
fng furiously the enemy who were push
ing forward cavalry, infantry and arth-
lery against him.
The northern general was puzzled as TO
Lees movements. Stuart was protecting
~ Heb HawE and IL hnc2Tue
necessary for the enemy to drive him
away or break through his lines, 20 dis
cover the whereabouts Of the southern
army. Though contestfng holly every foot
OF the ground. Stuart was compelled TO
faA back slowly against such odds. The
head OF Pickett's division reached him
about noon during the day and as they
came on the field. formed line Of battle
ard advanced rapidly 20 the attack and,
aided BY Stuart, broke their lines and
drove them back; they retreated, hotly
pursued BY Stuart, over the same ground
they had driven him. Our division then
turned TO the left. passed over the Blue
Ridge mountains. through Smokers Gap.
down into the beautiful valley Of Vir-
Rfnia. on toward Winchester, thence TO
WIilIansport where we forded the Poto-
mac river; the water was deep and as the
long lire OF infantry extended from the
southern 70 the northern bank OF the river
Il damned the water several inches high
er on the upper side. The small men
took advantage OF this and kept on the
lower side. Many amusing incidents &C.
cured Men would slip on the rocks aid
90 down under the water TO be dragged
cut BY their more fortunate comrades;
some wanted 10 hire others to tote them
over: the attempt would be made and all
parties would fall in and get a ducking.
On getting across into Maryland the
boys began singing. Maryland, My Mary
land" Again we set out on our long
tramp to Hagerstown. Nd, thence 10
Greencastle. Pa. and finally reached
Chambersburg. Pa. where we remained
ssyerai days. General Lees orders
against depredations on private property
were strictly enforced. We sometimes
went to a farmers house and asked per