The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1901-01-30

ion. little knowing or recking what
was trsuspiring in our front and for
more exercised and interested about
the ARRIVAL of the commisso
wagons than the heavy skirmishiug
heard sloDg the outposts We
"ehewed the cud Of bitter reflections
for dinner," supped on more parched
corn and slept aud dreamed OF feather
beds and fessts
At 4 q m, of the 18th the dreams
OF come 200,0 sleepers were sud
denly dissipsted by the qusking
boom Of big gun that resouuded
through tho still blackness. followed
by second signal. then the uninter
mittent rattle Of the "lopg roll" aud
the quick, sharp notes sounding the
assembly CALI from the bugles to
the right and left along the line.
In Q few moments sll was stir and
hustle, but no tumult or confusion !;
for the dispositions of both armies
bad been made the day before and
the champion generals but awaited
the signsl to commence the shock
and clash of battle.
Very soon the sharp rattle of
musketry, the thunderous roar of
artillery. the crashing shot and hurt.
ling shell, with the mezzo accom-.
psnimest Of the hissiug. humming,
whistling. singing, death dealing
minnies convinced oil hands the. once
again Lees ragged hosts were pitted
sgainst the Northern hosts of invaders
in another death struggle for the
mastery OF the road to Richmond /;
convinced. too, that the blue coated
army would never have ventured
scross the river to Try issues with the
"Rebel Johnuies" again had they not
outnumbered them two to one.
The battle Of fredericksburg was q
moet sigual test of the relative fight.
ing qualities of the men, a. we'll ss
the strategic skill of the generate of
the two sections The battle ground
consisted Of an expansive opening of
rolling plateau extending from the
river to the hills. historically known
as "Msrye's Heights A railroad
and cut ran through this plain. about
bali way from river to bills, and
formed the dead line" between the
armies. IL was, therefore. an open
field. "fair fight and no favors" con.
fict
''Les formed bis battle .iue,
SAID, boys you need not fear.
For Lougstreet's in the centre
And Jackson 10 the rear"
This stsuzs Of q camp song de-.
scribes Loogstreet's position 10 this
fight, with Jackson on tho right, and
the boys did "uot fear" for our army
was at this time 10 high spirits, sue
cessful and recruited, with On abid.
ing faith In the wisdom, judgment
prudence and ooursge of Gen Lee,
. confident reliance upon the skill,
quickuess snd pertinacity of Jackson
and each individual man feeling q
personal and patriotic interest in
beating back the horde of hirelinQ
invaders, properly called the Uuion
army, q union of "the four cornero of
the earth," spsrsely intermingied
with native born Americans. Our
battery remained ensconced in our
wooded camp when day dswned and
the sun rose
The deep roll Of battle could be
heard to the right. near Hsmilton's
Crossing. and TO the left, near Fred
ericksburg, while in the immediate
font there was yet only smar.
skirmishiug. We'd had no time to
psrch breakfast and had, therefore,
snscked on huge gulps of fresh, crisp
Note.-This diet 10 not conduciv
to fsrveut piety or Q spirit of high
appreciation of the beoeficenoe of
continued existence, bot il 10 very
prnmotive Of that rebellious aod
oel'icose spirit proper and sppro.
2ris'c on the eve Of battle ; therefore
. good regimen on which to ration
and raise belIigerents.
This was our undeleotable condi
tion when orders O. .sed and va
moved out Of cover and into the
broad expsnse. end quickly came into
position and unlimbered nearly
opposite the Bernard House The
battle colomns on this part of tho
line had not yet clssbed. and inter.
mistent firing Of skirmishers was all
that had occurred. the Unioners
observing q very wholesome prudence
in the matter of advancing their battle
li0es
The railroad cut divided the oppos.
ing array and our brrss pieces frowp.