Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-05-01

81 IN the branch that divides Garnett's
from Golden's farm in front OF the brick
house. The regiment was in line OF battle
while our pickets were at the edge OF the
field. Company NJ was near the left OF the
regiment and some time in the after
noon we noticed quite stir among the
companies to our right.
orders were issued to call in the pickets
and fall into line. General Toombs had
ordered Colonel McGill to take his ID
regiment away from the picket line; ne
was not worthy of facing the enemy; ne
would send him TO the rear and make
wagon guard of his regiment One hun
dred exploding shells would not have
caused more confusion. Sergeant Garrett
remarked that II he was not worthy OF
facing the enemy he was not worthy OF
carrying a gun and threw his down. l
followed suit, but seeing that none of the
rest followed our example we picked them
up again. We marched back to our camp
the most cowed set of men the world ever
saw: we felt disgraced beyond the posi-
bility OF ever out living 1t. To be with
drawn from the front line and told that
We were not worthy of facing the enemy
was the worst stigma that could be
placed on the reputation OF a soldier.
Some writer has said there was but on
Napoleon. the same would apply to Rob
ert Toombs. He acted on the impulse OF
the moment without one thought of the
consequences afterwards. He always took
sides with the under-dog in the fight
whether ii was my ladies' poodle or a
suck-egg hound. The regulars had served
under his command for eleven months,
and admired their brainy general, who on
many occasions had assured the regiment
that the First Georgia should always hold
the post of honor, which means. in mill
tary parlsnce, the post of danger. He was
kind to his men, in fact, too kind TO
them-that was what brought on the
trouble.
The boys found out he would protect
them, and they would report to him after
being punished for their shortcomings.
He would ride over and curse the officers
out $50 report said; 1 did not know him.
They did not like his interfering with the
discipline OF the regiment, and petitioned
the secretary of war to be transferred to
some other brigade.
When he received orders TO turn the
regulars over to General g. T. Anderson
instead Of waiting until we were relieved,
or brought relief with him, he went thun-
dering down on horse back, ordering the
regiment out leaving our position within
shooting distance of the enemy vacant.
Something never saw done on any other
line The general might have admitted
he had a few equals. but a superior never.
Since the general has crossed the river
to that bourne from whence no traveller re-
turns. no doubt the regulars that are LETT
behind him will forgive him for his rash
act, one that cost the lives of many gall
/ liant Georgia boys, believing their good
names had been smirched. fought like
devils for something they had never lost.
Some might infer from General Toombs
actions that the officers in the regulars
were not kind to their men. which was
not so. There was not regiment in the
service who had better or drawer officers
/ than the first Georgia regulars. AS a rule
/ they represented the best families In the
/ state, and conducted themselves like gen
tlemen and brave officers. / don't think
saw a soldier punished wrongfully du-
/ ring the war / served four years and
/ two months I'm the regulars without so
/ much as a reprimand and others could
have done the same. Now don't claim
to have been perfect by any means, for
/ Captain Frank Hill saved my bacon on
several occasions. l received one repri-
mand that hurts my pride until the pres
| ent day. An honest confession Is said to
| be good for the soul. On the morning
after the bloody 18th OF September Gener-
| al T1ge Anderson's brigade was in posi-
/ ton opposite the corner of -Sharpsburg.
| Everything was quiet except some sharp
shooters at the front Being thirsty
went to pump after some water which
1 secured and started back TO the line.
/ On reaching the corner / discovered an
/ apple orchard with the trees and ground
under them covered with delicious fruit.
General Lee had issued orders to shoot
/ every man caught in an orchard or COM
/ hitting depredations of any kind. Hun
CRY was no name for It. That was Thurs
day morning and I had been without any
thing to eat since Sunday except few
apples the evening before. Tempting, they
never looked half so tempting to Adam
with Eve to OFFER them to him, as they did
| to me- I would look towards the line and
1 fv,e =. I'D w rraf nFn
I was so hungry. It did not take me long
to decide between starving and being
shot, so OF the two evils chose the lesser,
and scaled the fence. 1t did not take me
long to hll my haversack. They
were the best ever ate. Had 1 left the
| orchard at first l would not have got
/ into trouble, but seeing a new oil cloth
lxnapsack I decided that I did not need
but one more thing In the world and that
was a new haversack. not that had any
rations to put in 1t. but just to have 1t.
! Seating myself under an apple tree in full
view OF my regiment so could see them,
should they change their positions, l went
to work making my haversack. few
minutes later heard the sound Of horses
feet approaching in my rear. on looking
around saw to my horror General r. E.
/ Lee mounted on Traveller" with guard
/ of six men from the regulars. jumped
up, assumed the position of a soldier with
| my rine at the carry ana Saluleo MIN
with my left forearm in front of my
breast Right there I passed through the
| most humiliating ordeal OF my life. I
| never knew before there was so many
| cutting words in the English language.
/ He called me everything but a good sol
der and a gentleman.
I was scared so bad I could only recol-
lect few of the bad names he called
me. Three OF them 1 will never forget
straggler, thief and coward. Straggler /
certainly was. being out of ranks. Thief,
my haversack and pockets bullying with
apples proved that. Coward; I was
scared within an inch Of my life. Correct
he was on all three counts. With his
piercing black eyes which seemed to PEN
citrate my flesh. he looked at me with the
utmost contempt
What command do you belong to, asked
General Lee.
General Anderson's Georgia brigade, I
replied. He then told the guard to arrest
me and carry me to General Anderson
and tell him to put me out in front. He
then turned his horse to the left where
| a sick, barefooted soldier was lying on the
ground, and commenced on him. l never
heard human being beg like he did. II
he had been fiaying him alive he could
not have begged more pitifully.
The guard was so much interested in his
antics they forgot all about me and col
lected around him. 1t struck me that
had a pressing engagement somewhere
else about that time and Il did not take