Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1901-10-21
Battle of Salem Church.

Before I proceed to my subject wish
70 thank you and the other papers and
. the people OF Georgia for their generous
efforts TO rebuild the Soldiers Home, and
10 express the hope that your lot and
theirs IN time and eternity viii be as for
tunate as that Of the old soldiers who have
received this generous help.
Salem church Is. or was, Hardsheu
BAPTIST meeting house situated on the
road between Fredericksburg and Chan
calIorsvflie- As-well as ] can recall IL stood
aoout half way between these two places.
A road crosses the main road at the
church and on the north side OF IL. The
church was situated IN the southeast an
rle OF the intersection and was a small
building, hut big and old enough 10 have
q name. and in the beautiful month OF
Nav. 1Sss, IL was immortalized by the
= .(Srav Jackets or Confederate soldiers.
When Joe Hooker crossed the Kappa
hammock river Lees army was posted
along the south side OF the river as fol-
lows: Anderson's division above FRED
ericksburg; NcLaw's division at the town,
and Jackson's corps below the town The
Confederate cavalry patrolled and picket
"a the various fords and. crossings.
Hooker. az the head OF the main army,
crossed at the for5s above Fredericksburg
and left Sedgewick with about 26oo0 men
posted on the Stafford heights on the
II nv memory serves me correctly Banks
dale's brigade OF Mississippians, OF NC
Laws division. were on picket duty IN the
town at the time. just as they were when
Burnside made his move December u
1854
Anderson's division was the first Con-
federate infantry which Hooker encoun-
tered after crossing the river, which be-
ing very largely outnumbered, fell back
before the Federal force McLaw's oivis-
ion. leaving Barksdale's brigade In the
town. hurried 20 Join Anderson.
General McLaws took with him the
briEades OF Semmes and Wonord, both
Georgia brigades. and Kershaws south
Caroliufans II started early In the morn
ing and was followed by Jaclson's corps,
excepting the division OF Early, which was
LEFT behind 70 Join with Barksdale In de-
finding our position at Fredericksburg and
Its immediate vicinity.
when the three brigades under McLaws
got to Anderson's position a forward
movement was made. which brought
Hooker TO a stop and finally compelled
him or frightened him with visions OF
Jackson 20 such an extent that he fell
back az retreated 20 Charlottesville Inn
ard prepared 20 run, IL the opportunity
presented itself
ChanceIlorsviIle was simply an inn or
lodging house on the west side OF the
road. II was q frame building around
which there was clearing, think OF
about thirty or forty acres. All around
this clearing for some distance was a
dense wood or rather thicket, very ap-
propriately named the wilderness.
As Hooker fen hack TO this place We
followed him until We got within about
one mile Of the inn, when we halted. My
regiment, the Second South Carolina, was
east OF the road. with its right, my COM
many. resting near the road Near here q
read brznched OF from the main road
and looked Ike Il led 70 the country south
east OF the wilderness. This was the road
Jackson took when he caught up with us.
soon after arriving here ope OF our bat
teries went into action IN ana across the
main road and opened fire. They directed
their FIRE on the Tanks by the road. Think
A. was done 20 develop the Yankee posi-
ton. II this was the intention II succeeded
for the Yanlxs promptly returned the FIRE
and that with deadly aim and precision
IN a few moments timber chest IN our
battery was blown up and IN few mo-
ments more the position was seen to be
untenable and our battery withdrew. The
artillery IN the Yankee army was the
gamest and best branch OF the service.
Their infantry could outrun Wild turkeys
but the artillery pretty generally stood
their ground, and often IN the condition OF
the boy who stood on the burning deck.
non. and no mistake.
However, I am not writing about the
battle OF Chancellorsvflle. but wanted 20
show where was "at'' and how I got
there.
IN the grand charge made on Mr.. Hook
eds army By the Confederates, our bri-
gade went over the Yankee breastworks
IN clearing about the TIM and just where
they touched the main road. As soon as
we got In the road. we were halted and
moved down the road towards Fredericks-
burg as fast as we could so.
We came upon Wncox's brigade In line
Of battle az Salem church. and our bril-
gade formed on the right OF Wilcox, and
east OF the church. We got posted part
IL in an old field and partly in a swamp,
and along the cross-r0ad Differentiation
ed. On me opposite side OF the road from
Us was q road.
When Sedgwick succeeded In getting
possession OF Mayre's heights the road
70 Charlottesville was open TO him, with
the exception OF such opposition as VII
coxss and the remnant Of Barksdales
brigades could offer him. he promptly
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