The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-10-16
WAR STORIES.
Interesting Letter Written From the Battle
field in 1862 From Geo. TIillver to
His Father.
4 dHuni0 J0u,uuI.
NEAR FREDERIcksBuRG Va.
Dec. IS, 1862.

" -hiSHI NtHC ulSI HOuTS Cl resi- anu
lciusrc have bad) to write you n de
tailed account Of MY adventures, aud
OF events here for the past Ten days,
but the task is a pretty heavy one,
anG though | write with but little la
Dor and habtually sit up late you may
conclude when you have read to the
end that the tenth par. has not been
told.
On Wednesday yesterday week
ago, having been detailed by General
Lee Judge advocate Of courtmartial
for our division, ! was ordered by
General Hood to move my quarters to
and take possession Of the house pro-
vidcd for the sittings Of the court
near his headquarters, and four miles
from our camp. Captain Malone Of
the Eighth Georgia (from Mcriwcthcr
County, was also a member of the
court, and | invited him to move up
and mess with ne. Accordingly we
packed our blankets and few cooking
utensils, and taking him and his man
one OF my men and clerk with US in
one OF our Ecgiment wagons, moved
up the afternoon Of that day and by
night we had established ourselves in
way to live like gentlemen, bidding
defiance to wind and snow, and the di-
vision commissary department. ncar by
giving promise Of we'll filed lardcr,
and as General Hood had Informed me
that my duties would probably last for
month or six weeks, considered my
fortune made for that length of time.
But, alas! ore good supper, and one
good nights smoking and talking in
comfort and few hours quiet sleep,
was all that was in store for US. We
we're awakened ! at 20 clock next morn
ing by the ominous booming of cannon
at Fredericksburg, and at intervals the
spluttering Of muskcts at several dis
tant points on the river. We at once
knew that the enemy was building
their bridges and that though our
sharpshootcrs would settle the account
OF many a one of them in the mean
time, yet under cover Of their heavy
artillery on the Stafford Heights they
would succeed and that II general bat
tie must ensue. We hurried the pre-
Qaration of breakfast and rations to
last us during the probable duration
of the struggle, for we knew our camps
would be broken up when we returned
to them, but before day, and from that
time until after sunrise, men, women
and children, some Of them scarcely
half clothed, and with not mouthful
to eat, fleeing from that scene of de-
struotion and death, the cbombardment
of their native city, came pouring up
to the farm house where we wore.
Thank God it was in my power to take
many Of them in, and we gave them
one substantial meal, if they never got
another. We gave away all VIC had
and hurried to our commands and en-
tered the ranks with Empty haver-
sacks. Fortunately, however, our
messmates in camp had provided for
us and we did not suffer.
The general battle did not occur
that day, though we layin line Of bat
tile until night, and the enomy brought
over several brigades Of infantry and
planted heavy batteries on the further
bank Of the river. l was at nightfaH
again sent out with picket, consist
ing of my OWE company and ten men
from Company +, to hold "Fort
Hood" q fortification on the banks of
the river four miles below the city.
About 10 o'clock Major Jones visited
the post and informed mo that tho gen.
erals desired me to know that the one
my was at that moment crossing hea-
Wy columns Of infantry at the mouth
of Deep Run, two miles above me, and
were fling down the river. 1 had my
pickets posted so as to watch both
banks Of the river for half mile
above the fort. and carefully arrang-
ing the order Of my retreat, and keep
ing my pickets we'll in hand, I.waitod
the result, taking my station at the
uppermost point, where my men were
posted. About IL o'clock I went down
to the right for the. nurnose of giving