Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-01-23
BY w. A. JOHNSON,
Co. D, I'd S. c. v.

, Irwin Chipley returned with my horse to-
day. He found his.
May 6.-Orossed the Yadkin river yes
terday morning at an hour by sun. Upon
reaching this place( Saulsbury) our brigade
! was disbanded. The men of my old COM
pany go home under the command of
Captain W. C.Vance. The balance of COM
pany d and some other men are put I'M
der my command to return home.
1 got one of our regimental wagons with
four mules to carry rations for my men.
The Yankees furnished me with the grub.
1t consisted of hard bread, sugar. coffee
and picked pork. -.. ...
l put in the wagon barrel GOO pOunds)
of picked pork, l barrel of sugar, l bar
rel of coffee and then all the hard tack
that could get on the wagon. The wa
gon was covered. also got some boxes
of tobacco / had the men to draw lots
for the four mules and the wagon. This
would, at least, keep five men with me,
and then, in order TO have the mules fed
and looked after. it was necessary to have
a man interested in each mule.
I made IL obligatory upon the four men
who drew the mules to carry the wagon
to the home of the man wko drew the
wagon. This worked out all right in the
end When 1 reached the suburbs of
Salisbury found two boxes of new rifles
and six boxes of ammunition. Here l
made every man had arm himself and I
put two boxes of ammunition in the wa
gon. This turned out all right for If
had not done so IL is doubtful If l could
ever have gone through with that wagon
load of grub. AS ii was, l had to post
guards and pickets at night, and in some
places had to march by day with scouts
and skirmishers ahead. 1t looked more
like 1 was at war than going home.
The rations which we got at Salisbury
were in exchange for some Confederate
Tn11 for
over to Sherman in order to get food for
us.
We had no minglipg with the Yankees
at the surrender-no marching between
their lines and laying down our arms. To
all intents and purposes it was conducted
as though there was not a Yankee Witn'n
1000 miles of us. 1 only saw those VINO
relieved us at Greensboro and had very
little to say to any of them. The Yankees
evidently respected our feelings, as that
was all we had left to say grace over.
This Is the virtual ending of the war in
my case.
RECAPITULATION.
In the war over four years. Saw the
first shell as a. went into Fort Sumter
April IL, 1861, and the surrender OF Johh-
sons army. April 20, 1865.
Received as chief drill instructor at the
training camp at Lightwood Knot Springs
$50; at Fredericksburg, $SS. and at Green's
boro, S115 in silver. Had good clothes
at the start, and about none at the end:
Learned how to live without eating, and
II forced to eat could do 1t without grumb-
ing; had learned that clothing and houses
were luxuries and not necessaries; that
cold and heat were imaginary quantities;
that soap and such things were only for
women and children and not for men. In
fact, 1 had learned how to be a man.
My old company reduced to handful;
hardly enough left to tell each other good
bye We had three captains over my old
company. The first one was w. w. Perry
man. he resigned; then George McDow-
ell, who was killed at Gettysburg; then
w. c. Vance, who was with it at the sur
render.
Glorious old company, and at the close
was full Of honor. We were all qualified
pie eaters. but for the want of pie we
qualified ourselves to eat anything.
We were all qualified gentlemen, but for
the lack Of a wardrobe we qualified to
wear much or not to wear much, as the
exigencies Of the case required or ne
cessitated.
We started out in seal skins and got
back in raw hide and sole leather.
Nothing like war when you get used
to it, brother.
Atlanta. Ca, January. 1902.