Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-06-09
JUDGE EMORY SPEER WRITES OF HIS
EXPERIENCES IN W1EELER'S CAVALRY

ii DEEEAnCt III AaGOA ~ NAANSA tENAA ~
duties of United States district judge.
Twenty-one years had elapsed since
/ my last visit to the beautiful central CITY
This was about the 18th or November
1Ss4 and 1 came riding bareback on a very
diminutive mule, not larger than Sancho
Panza's "Dapple" / came as a member
81 that command famous i'm its way as
/ C,rouureu's Ironsides-I mean Wheeler s
| cavalry. My father was that year pastor
OF Mulberry Street Methodist ehurch IN
Macon. but our home had been broken up
about the time OF the Stoneman raid, ana
at the somewhat unmanageable age OF 10 l
had been directed by parental authority 70
repafr TO the plantation in Monroe county
of my uncle. the late Judge Alex. M
Speer. and to remain there until further
orders.
But the detonations of artillery from the
direction of Atlanta. which reached our
ears even at that distance, and the spec
tacle Of the roads alive with the marching
columns. the baggage trains and all the
impedimenta Of the Confederate army
overcame I'm a yet uniformed nature the
duty Of obedience. and one day. unconsei-
ously adopting the maxim OF Napoleon
marched towards the sound OF the nring'
bud, Do You Want to Ride"
7, was no, many miles before an athletic
looking soldier. riding beautiful chestnut
colored mare and leading the small mule
above mentioned. caught up with me- ana
and noting. I :am sure. my forlorn condi-
ton. hailed me with the salutation:
bud, do you want TO rider
I have no recollection Of time when
did not want TO ride. and accepting his
invitation. twisted the rope halter
through the mules mouth for bride,
and throwing my worn little overcoat
across his back for a saddle, l was soon
trotting along by my well mounted friend
who at once proceeded to regale me with
moving incidents by field and flood" His
name was Jerry Spaulding, and short
time ago had IL from Senator Lindsay
Of Kentucky. that he was still alive. Long
NAV he wave, for never was there soul
more gallant, and no deadlier aim than
his ever glanced through the sights OF an
Enfield rife He is a teamster now In the
heart of the Blue Grass.
In the Orphans Brigade.
I soon told Jerry that my purpose was to
assume the profession of arms, and that
was solicitous 10 join a crack command,
some corps whose reputation was like that
OF the Imperial Guard in the armies OF
France. Jerry had this corps elite ready
made He promptly assured me that the
flower Of the Confederate army was COM
pany X. Fifth Kentucky regiment, Lewis
brigade OF mounted infantry, and when
Jerry and 1 reached camp that night am
sure that hope elevated and Joy brighten
ed my countenance as 1 was mustered In
as a member Of the famous orphan
Brigade"
My transports were a little moderated
when I learned that Jerry made applica-
ton for a furlough on the ground that he
had secured a recruit.
II was not long before the detachment
of the brigade which had thus been re-
inforced was detailed as guard to a wag-
on train and in a short time we marched
down the Forsyth road towards Macon. l
remember just after we passed what is
now the beautiful stock farm Of Mr.. r. III.
Plant and rode up Singers hill, we saw
the red breastworks which crowned IT,
filled with the Georgia militia. noticeable
for their white haversacks and clean
brown jeans suits. AS we rode through
the line Jerry. with all the pride of a vet
cram who came out Of the dark and
bloody ground" with Breckenridge and
Helm four years before. evoked much pro-
family from the state troops by shouting
contumeliously. Lie down. Melish. I'm
going to pop a cap" and by subsequently
assuring a grave-looking militlaman, who
was. I am satisfied, an ordinary. or at least
justice OF the peace in his home county,
that we would soon burn him up to keep
him from falling into the hands of the en-
envy" In those days we were destroying
many munitions Of war with that purpose.
Enters Macon as a Soldier.
Pursued by the objurgations Of the mill
tia We rode on towards Macon, passing
the Yineville school, where in the spring
had been pupil Of the now Hon. A. S.
Florence. ordinary of Jasper county. who
had lost his arm while CALAMITY
fighting two years before at the Second
Manassas. and by my present home. We
crossed the Vineville branch and entered
the city. marched down Cotton avenue.
turning into Mulberry street where the
Confederate monument now stands.
At this point / was deeply Inundated by
the lrreverent conduct of a number of
Macon boys who knew me well and who
ran along by my side shouting, Hey, will
you look at this soldierI' and other irrev-
erent and depreciatory remarks calculat-
ed, as / thought, to lower me in the es-
teen of my newly acquired comrades.
Ny friend Jerry and the other Kentuck-
ians came to my relief, however. and con-
sOled me and told me not to mind the boys,
assuring me that as soon as l coud get
suit Of Confederate gray would be fine
soldier.
Our wagons were parked exactly where
the pOwer-hOuse of the Consolidated Street
railway now stands, and we went INFO
camp in that beautiful. grove on the river
bank, now the Central City park. My
father happened to be out of the city, but
his brother-in-law, the late Dr. Dudley w
presence with the troops. and aware that
my father had secured my discharge from
military service. came TO the camp and
endeavored to induce me to leave. 1 de-
clined. my officers would not interfere and
the good man went away much disap-
pointed.
was now equipped with a new rife and
my mule with new saddle and a bride
That afternoon the other regiments of
the brigade came in. A strong force of
Union cavalry was then threatening East
Macon. We were mounted and crossed
the lOcmulgee on a pontoon bridge, passed
Through the culvert under the Central
railroad and went into line very near the
present locality OF Anderson's brickyard.
Screaming Artillery Shells.
A few random shells from federal bat
teries fell among us. and while the sound
was terrifying. as IL did not seem to dis
turb the older soldiers around me, I soon
assumed an air OF indifference myself. II
is. however. true that while the fire of in
fantry is much more deadly, in my judg-
ment IL is not so demoralizing as the iend-
isl scream Of the shell and the ferocious
and murderous sound of its explosion.
The night came on. One could hear the
cracking rifle fire of the skirmishers out
toward Walnut creek. Presently the
hoarse command of Fall I'M" rang
through our bivouac We formed a coll
umn OF fours dismOunted, and marched
UP the hill and out toward Cross Keys.
When we reached the summit of the hill
havond Guitars Eraau I rar1ar,bar Inolfpv