Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-01-09

/. camps He found the Confederates ready
\ TO dispute his crossing the Rappahan-
mock at every point that he reached. and
/ making fun OF his attempts by erecting
| signboards within their lines. visible to
/ the Federal army. inscribed: This way
to Richmondw This movement is known
/ in history as Burnsides' Mud Campaign.
| Burnsides was then superseded by Cen
eral Hooker, who contrasted the merits
/ OF his army with those of General Lee in
| the following language: In equipment, in
teiligence and valor the enemy is our
| Inferior
The Federal army under Hooker had
$4,000 men, while Lee had only $1,000.
Harsh criticisms had been made by Joe
Hooker against Burnside, which brought
forth a letter 10 Hooker from President
Lincoln I'm which he made this statement
10 Hooker: Il have heard in such way
as TO believe IL, of your recently saying
| that both the army and the government
needed a dictator. OF course, IL was not
for this. that have given you the com
mand. Only those generals who gain sue
cess can set up as dictatOrs. What now
ask OF you is military success, and VIII
risk the dictatorship"
We all know something of Joe Hooker's
unhappy experiences at the battle OF
Charlottesville in finding the enemy
and testing his inferior equipment, in
telIigence and valor." AS ] have stated
before. we were on picket. Picket duty is
not the most pleasant duty performed by
soldier. The larger number Of the post
was composed Of my messmates. joel
Eddins, John II. Sims. Thomas Chapman,
James Chapman. Wood Tinsley, Wood
willie Gordon. Polk Hill. Hamp Berry and
others. whose names I do not now re-
member.
We left camp for the post about noon
while the thermometer was somewhat in
the neighborhood Of zero; the snow was
six or eight inches deep. We selected a
camp on the river bank under the side of
bluff, which protected us from the cold
winds. We worked hard all the afternoon
in clearing away the snow and building
US a shelter of pine brush, under which
we threw our oVercoats. blankets and
saddles. The shelter reminded me very
much Of those made by my father on his
farm for protecting his stock from in
clement weather.
Our horses were tied in a semi-circle
about the shelter. A large log fire was
built lust in front OF the tent in order
TO keep US warm during the night. A sup
per of coffee, fried meat and bareback
was enjoyed by US all, and with the ex-
ceptfon Of one who was out on the picket
post alone. we all turned in for a COM
Portable nights rest. During the night IL
commenced TO snow again and our horses,
poor brutes, were shivering from the in
tense cold. could not go to sleep. my
thoughts wandered back TO my home and
its loved ones.
then remembered that my mother had
knitted for me and placed in my pocket a
visor / took it from my pocket and
/ pulled il on down we'll over my ears, and
| in doing so knocked my hat to one side,
and by the light of the log fire noticed
a small piece OF paper drop from the lin
ing Of the hat.
Astonished, / quickly. raised up on my
81, ID
/ light / read. All! what boy soldier who
did not have sweetheart? unfolded the
little note. scented with the perfume of
violets. and read the following, with her
name signed:
MAY the God of battles be with you
/ It'll we meet again"
This was a little thing In a soldiers life.
but IL helped to sweeten and brighten his
i days and nights while he tented on the
/ old camp ground" I finally fell asleep
and dreamed OF my childhood, but only
/ 10 be awakened about an hour before day
/ by a lieutenant from the company riding
up in front OF the tent all covered with
snow and In a commanding voice cried
out. Mount your horses" Cold! my,
Il MY In few minutes we had rolled up
| our blankets. saddled our horses and were
| on the road to the United States ford,
i mile above us on the river. had on
] good warm suit. heavy cavalry boots
1 reaching above my knees anu Ltsn
/ wrapped in V. NJ. I. overcoat. While
] our horses were trugging along through
the snow 1 noticed one Of my company
/ riding by my side. mere youth. without
/ a sign OF an overcoat; not even a comfort
er about his neck. Still he seemed cheer
full and bright and never complained. Poor
/ fellow! I saw him in the Shenandoah
valley campaign the next summer. while
| again by my side. reel and fall to the
| ground. pierced through the body by
mimic ball.
We found on our arrival at the United
States ford the balance of my company
/ and the Goochland troup. had no idea
that we would be compelled TO ford the
river on such a cold night u learned bet
/ ter afterward). but after sitting on our
horses shivering with the cold for an
/ hour an order was given: Fall in 10y
fours; march," and into the water we
i plunged up to over our saddle skirts.
About a mile beyond we charged a Yam
kee picket post and ran them back 10 the
old Berea church on the Alexandria and
+ fredericksburg main road.
| We remained on that side of the river all
/ day and night. and many Of US were or
picket duty at night II was impossible
/ for us 10 understand what our little dem
/ onstration meant but from the sound of
cannon a few miles above us. we knew
| that a cavalry fight had taken place. II
turned out that Fitz Lee had crossed the
river above US at another ford and with
/ 400 Of his brigade had advanced as far as
/ HARDWOOD church, attacked the Yankees,
and the result of the fight is given in the
! following letter Of General Robert Z. Lee
TO his wife:
We are up to our eyes in mud now.
/ and have but little comfort. Mr.. Hooker
/ looms up very large over the river. He
/ has two balloons up in the day and one
/ in the night. hope he is gratified at what
/ lac sees. Your cousin. Fitz Lee, beat up
his quarters the other day with about 400
/ Of his cavalry. and advanced within four
miles of Falmouth. carrying off about $50
| prisoners, with their horses, arms. etc.
/ The day after he recrossed the Kappa
/ hammock they sent all their cavalry after
/ him. but the bird had flown. hope these
young Lees will always be too smart for
/ the enemy"
Mrs. DIR. Buchanan, my grandmother,
/ lived a short distance on the opposite side
/ of the old Alexandria and Fredericks-
| burg road. and had not seen the family
4 for several years. / knew the roads well.
| and had permission from my captain to
/ allow Sergeant Jackson TO accompany me
fon visit TO them. though we did not
/ know where the Yankees were. After
| very cautious ride we found the house and
/ enjoyed their company for about an hour.
| Our canteens and haversacks were filled
with nice things to eat. we bid them good
/ by. rode back between the Yankee pickets
| and recrOssed the RappahannOck river