Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-03-20

mond. north Of James river, .he right Of
Benning's brigade being near Fort Harri-
son. which was the most important strong
hold for defense on that part of our lines.
At this point our picket line was about a
mile in front OF our main line, and the
space between thickly wooded. II could
not be seen from the main line. The en-
emies' pickets were about $50 yards from
ours and In plain view OF each other. Each
picket line had rifle pits. though at this
point they were not using them as they
were friendly and by mutual understand
ing refrained from firing on each other.
They would occasionally meet between the
lines and exchange newspapers, giving us
the New York papers for the Richmond
papers. They would frequently do other
trading I'm a small way. generally giving
our men ground coffee mixed win sugar
IN exchange for tobacco. While we al
ways had plenty of tobacco and scarce of
coffee. they always had plenty OF conee
and were scarce OF tobacco; though
could not understand the cause Of their
scarcity OF tobacco when all the markets
OF the world were open 20 them.
II was the custom when picket de-
sired TO meet an opposite picket for the
purpose OF exchange. he would wave
newspaper which would be in like manner
answered by an opposite picket. and each
would Immediately start TO meet the 9TH
er. leaving their arms behind. These con-
ferences were always very brief.
But those who have had no experience,
in war must not suppose that such was
the case on all parts OF the line all the
time. At the same time the opposing pick
cts were friendly at some points on the
line at other places IL would be their
constant study 20 gain an advantage and
contrive ways openly or by stealthy craft
to kill each other But at points, where
they were friendly and either side for
some cause desired TO resume hostiitles'
they would first put the other side on fair
notice.
while we were occupying this line the
enemy would at intervals each day send
shell from a gunboat In James river
over their line and ours. for as those on
the gunboat could not see or locate our
line TO get the range. the shells, Mhlch
were very large, round ones would al
ways fan or explode somewhere between
our picket and main line. where there was
no one for them TO hurt. But II happened
different on one occasion. An old man
who was a conscript that had recently
been sent TO one of the companies OF
Benning's brigade, was out one DAY on
picket for the first time. He was not
cowardly. but seemed TO be careful, me-
thodical old man. Not being used 70 them,
II was natural that he should not enjoy
the strange unearthly screeching OF the
huge shells as they would occasionally
pass over. Desiring TO take some sleep
while OF duty, he spread his blanket on
the bottom of one of the rife pits as
place least likely 10 be disturbed by the
shells. and. lying down. was soon fast
asleep, and perchance, was dreaming OF
his beloved family and little farm in far
away Georgia. and II seemed that no hu-
man forethought could have made a bet
ter selection for place Of safety. IL seem
ed next to impossible for one of the shells
from the gunboat to have injured him.
But he was scarcely more than asleep
when one of the shells, for the first and
only time. fell short, striking the ground
in front of US, but nearer to their own
pickets. and ricocheting, passed directly
over and high above the rifle pit. striking
a tall springy tree high up near It's top,
it's force being nearly spent. rebounded
back and exploded with terrific force as 1t
| fell on the old man lying asleep In the
rife pit scattering his body in all oirec-
tons I'm minute fragments.
One night we could hear the enemy
crossing James river on a pontoOn bridge.
They seemed to be travelling rapidly; foot
men. horsemen and artillery; and the
/ length of time they were crossing indicat-
ed a large force, and we felt sure a sud-
den attack would be made on us at some
point. But we could not know by the
noise made crossing the bridge which di.
| rectfon they were marching, whether they
were going from the north side, which
vas our side, 10 attack some point on the
south side. or whether they were coming
| from the south side to attack us on the
north side of the James river / do not
i know what time 1t was when General Lee
1 received correct information as to which
i direction they were moving. However,
they attacked US on the north side at day.
light. and it was late in the day before re-
Inducements from the south side reached
US a few minutes too late to assist us.
We supposed that If they were coming
to attack US on the north side they woull
strike US on our extreme left, and in this
way turn us out of our works before the
achievements could arrive from the
south side TO assist us. Fort Harrison was
almost the last point we expected they
would attack. as IT would be folly for
| them to attack IL unless they could sur
prise it. and II was situated at such
distance in rear of the picket line II was
not thought they, could come on IT by
surprise. But at daylight we who were
on the picket line were astonished TO hear
sudden and rapid firing at Fort Harrison,
/ a mile I'm our rear.
They had formed their attacking coli
umn IN perfect quietness near their picket
line before daylight. and a little to the
/ right OF where we of Benning's brigade
were on picket. They formed their line
i in the shape Of the letter " with the point
| directed TO Fort Harrison. and before it
was quite daylight they moved rapidly on
the fort and took it. and as they could
enhlade our lines from the fort, our troops
were compelled to abandon them at once.
and then the two wings OF the enemy's
line Strengthened out and passed over
/ them; we who were out on the picket line
barely escaping out before being cut off,
/ We retired to another line OF works we
had already prepared about two miles I'm
/ rear OF those we were forced out OF. On
this line was a fort called Fort Gilmer.
Il We only had men enough TO occupy these
works from Fort Gilmer to the right, and
for about two hundred yards TO the left
OF the fort. The balance OF our works were
empty when the enemy attacked Fort
/ Gilmer later In the day. That part Of
i our works unoccupied and defenseless,
| was quite hidden by dense woods from the
view OF the enemy, but directly in front
OF Fort Gilmer was open level ground for
a mile from the fort. II the enemy had
known our works were defenseless and
i made their second attack there they
/ would have turned us out OF that line also,
| unless our reinfOrcements who were al
ready near US and fast approaching, would
be strong enough TO drive them back
again. They did not suppose we had time
| 10 fully man Fort Gilmer. and their idea
| was 10 hasten and capture 1t before our
| reinforcements could arrive. and which
| they well knew were on the way from the
south side: and though they failed i'm their
| attack on the fort they succeeded in maxi
/ attack few minutes before our