Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-06-05

sweet morning slumber, said I shouldn't
allow my beau to wake me up so early
in the morning with a love letter. By
this time the candle had been lighted,
which enabled Miss Coczrell to read the
auGress. Turning, she said to me, with
the sweetest and most amused tone Of
voice. Miss Goode, 1t is your love letter.
not mine! My feelings can be better
imagined than expressed. The instigator
of all this agitation was Major Morgan,
then on duty at Gainesville. He had
learned through DIR. Charles Pinckney,
surgeon on his staff, that a young, lady
he was greatly interestes. n had gone up
to --.e snam fight. Naturally it was much
easier for him to transact his official
business at that time, so he decided to
go up on the early morning train, re-
connoiter, and see If what he had been
told was true, and upon finding his in
formation was correct, sent me this early
message, apprising me of his presence.
1t was too good a joke on me for Miss
Cockrell TO keep, and, as they say on
the stage, "the laugh was on me-" The
teasing and embarrassment at the break
fast table that followed my facetious
remark was so great that never knew
what our meal consisted of that morning.
The day began bright ana beautiful. The
reveille calls from all the camps could
be heard far and near. The Home Guards
and ladies who had never seen a battle
were eager for the fray.
The picture is the army in gray The
bugles begin to sound the assembly,
drums to beat, and each regiment passes
In review to rs allotted position. Aides
and couriers could be seen dashing here
and there, carrying orders to ,-se different
generals. The line of battle forms, Skin
mishers are deployed, and then driven
back. Regiments and battalions advance,
the cannon to the right and to the left
voIley and thunder" Column after column
advances firing and retreating. In all
this wild confusion, the eye glances to
the right of the line of battle, where
can be seen the intrepid General Wheeler.
directing his columns of cavalry, on the
flank of the enemy. Now he charges and
captures a battery. Every now and then
above the din can be heard the bands
playing the soul-stirring Dixie, and a
mighty shout goes -uo. The southern war
cry or, rebel yen, Is. heard, and the battle
is fully on Our hearts beat with pride
and enthusiasm over these gallant heroes,
whose uniforms showed the wear and
tear of many hard fought battles, and
the winters exposure. We realize that
a sham battle is unlike a real one, for
before they marcn on the field, their
place and what they must do has been
decided, and which side will be victorious.
If a scene like this is so awe-inspiring,
how terrible il must be to be an eye
witness to the awful carnage Of a real
battle.
-hese veteran soldiers who were so &C
custC med to the terrors of war seemed
to enter into the spiri- of the occasion,
and thoroughly enjoy the sham fight. and
we, the visitors, surrounded by friends
and gallant officers, who paid, us that
delicate attention and courtesy for which
the southern gentleman has always been
noted, had a perfect day and one long
to be remembered. In the midst of our
enjoyment and congratulatory greetings
to our soldier friends, a cavalry officer,
superbly mounted, who had been in the
fight, came .dashing up and he was at
once recognized as our gallant General
Wheeler. We young ladies were more
than DESTROYS of meeting this famous Of
hcer. General Brown brought him at
once and presented him to US. The sub
ordinate officers stepped back and left the
field to General Wheeler. They knew he
was not a carpet knight and he would
not say the gallant and complimentary
speeches we had been hearing from them
all day. There was perceptible smile of
amusement at the monosyllable replies of