Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-03-06
First Georgia Regulars At the
Siege of Norkto1Un, Va.

General Joseph E. Johnston. command
s-s- fra ARMY OF Northern Virginia on the
1sth OF October, 1851. fell back TO Centre
Vile. a small village with about I'VE or SIX
houses. and three or four miles from
Manassas junction. General Toombs'
rrirada VAS All night going three miles.
SLEEPY. I wbuid have given the world 10
droD down by the roadside and go 70
eleep About sunrise We passed through
CsnntrevfIie and crossed Rocky Run, pitcn-
ing our camps TO the right OF the ROAD
we drew new tents known as the whey
or Ben crown tent. They were round ana
about Is feet in diameter. at the base, and
1s inches al the TOP. Supported by a cen
Ter pole placed on an iron tripod Fly
teen men could occupy one tent BY lying
in q circle with their feet to the center.
They were warm and comfortable wren
We built fires In the center, the smoke
going out az the opening above Whiie on
post one day I saw every tent IN camp
blown down except Colonel Magils- Inc
xrind was on a rampage and cold enough
10 chill 10 the bone. Skirmish, company
ana battalion drill was the order OF the
dav. We had some splendid drill onlcers
and the regulars were as proficient IN the
rnaueuvers and manuel OF arms as sold
les get 20 be. Dress parade when cor
rectly- performed is one OF the most inter
estlnE maneuvers in military tactics.
When on parade we would be In full uni
form with white gloves, bright buttons,
polished shoes and Announcements. IL was
nothing unusual for 200o or 3oo0 soldiers
10 turn out 10 witness one OF our paraoes
az sunset Discipline was rigidly enforced
and q great many OF the boys caught IL
hot and heavy. On the coast OF Seorsla
The BOYS had no opportunity 10 be bad,
hut after going 20 Virginia where they
had room and temptations combined. they
tried 10 see how mean they could BE-
There was various modes OF punishment
IN the army. The highest being extra or
double duty. Bucking and gagging was
often resorted TO. To buck a soldier ne
would have 20 sit down with MS khees
drawn I'D 10 his breast. his wrist would
be crossed. tied and pulled down over his
knees with a stick placed between his
les and arms. II he mad too much 10
sav a bayonet was placed between his
teeth with strings on either side TO tie
behind his head. Digging stumps was
a very popular mode Of punishment, and
sometimes the soldier would oe cnalneo
10 the stump while digging. Sometimes
"a soldier would have 10 play ball. Not
nine on a side. but all by himself. he
would be given five balls. four OF them
placed about ten feet apart forming
su-rare. He then had one 10 spare which
he would put down and pick up another
carving IL TO the next one and so on,
MEU1M4 ALE AAAAAGA1 A@A wv a~N---
halls were 3 pound cannon balls, ana
you can imagine how his back felt when
released. The barrel shirt. or the Jen
Davis Uniform. as the boys called Il, was
another mode OF punishment one enc
Of the barrel would be knocked out ana
a hole made in the other. so man's head
would pass through. which would be
-riared over his shoulders. and then a two
hours tramp in front Of the officers quar-
ters. I have seen placed on the barrel
a niece OF pastboard with "thlef' IN
large letters. I saw an IrishEzan In Com
pany G one day refuse 70 wear one and
he vas bucked down and Tire barrel placed
over him Tying up By the thumbs l
thought was the worst punishment infic-
tea on the soldiers
At Camp Walker one Sunday morning
rrivate soldier after coming on guard
duty was ordered on inspection He re-
fused and was tied up by the thumbs. BY
some means he released his right hand.
secured his gun and shot his left arm on
az the wrist While at Rocky ru1 the
regulars did picket duty at Broad and
Crab runs. We were not looking for our
friends. the enemy. but apple brandy.
which could be found al almost any house
BY the barrel. and sold for 81 per gallon.
as pure as the snow on the top OF the Blue
Ridge mountains. Every road and pig
trail was picketed and every soldier and
wagon was carefully examined before they
could pass. All efforts amounted 10 moth
ing. as brandy stin flowed in camps. in
Jugs. kegs and barrels. I was told one
soldier had a barrel in his tent selling to
the boys. while another soldier was doing
q lively trade in rear OF the tent out OF
the same barrel Soldiers viii have whis-
Ky II it can be procured in any way. and
/ don't know that blame them much for
wanting 70 feel free and easy for a little
while at least. In Centreville one day a