Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-10-02
FIRST GEORGIA REGULARS
AT THE PEE DEE BRIDGE

ing from the rest OF our command. Dur
ing the day we boarded a train and went
Is miles towards Charleston. then marched
TO the Edlsto river where we were placed
on guard at Racers bridge. remaining
there until the night of the 18th, when we
marched for Four Hole swamp. and on
the 18th relieved the Tenth North Carolina
ON picket at the bridge on the Charleston
and Augusta railroad. On the nth we re-
Joined Fishers brigade three miles up the
swamp. The 18th we marched I'm the direc-
ton Of the Santee river. and on the 2Oth
formed a junction at Monks corner with
the troops from Charleston under the
command of General Taliaferro, Charles
ton having been evacuated on the 18TH
We crossed the Santee on the cars. there
being three miles Of trestle-work and the
swamp covered in water. On the 2lst we
marched TO Kings Tree. On the 22d we
got on the cars and proceeded 10 Cherew
on the sd which was a beautiful little
town ON the banks of the Pee Dee river.
There we went into bivouac until the ar
tillery and wagon trains could eaten up.
On 18th Fishers brigade was ordered TO
Chesterfield, small town on Clinch creek,
hating at the bridge near town, which
was in the bend Of the creek. On the 18th
the regulars entered the town, turned
TO the right and went to another bridge
where we were posted on guard. On the
lst Of March the regulars captured three
corps of Sherman's command. On the "a
Colonel Wayne must have felt little
shaky about our position, as he ordered
his baggage wagon to return to the brig
ade and to make sure, he went with IL up
town When he reached the center or the
town he found IL occupied by the enemy.
He ordered the teamster TO turn about and
run for HIS life. II was about three-fourths
OF a mile from the bridge up town on
straight road. IL was quite laughable TO
watch the skillet wagon In the lead, then
Colonel Wayne. al. last but not least,
federal officer on a white --orse bringing
up the rear. II was nip and tuck VINO
would and who should, whether Colonel
Wayne would make his escape or the fed
eral officer would capture him. When
within 800 yards Of the bridge several OF
the boys fired at the officer, who wheeled
his horse and dashed back into town.
Colonel Wayne remarked as ne checked
his horse, You think id Yankee didn't
have the impudence to order me TO sur
render? 1 told him to go to hell, and made
my escape" Colonel Wayne was what
his regulars called dead game, and II
tickled the boys TO see old Sandy have TO
show his horses heels I'm a race for his
| life. r. A. Wayne was one among the
first captains appointed in the First regi-
ment OF Georgia regulars by Joseph K
! Brown, governor Of Georgia
After the companies were formed he
/ was placed in command Of company T.,
which he made one among the best COM
panies in the regiment. He was brave,
ever-ready and reliable soldier. and al
ways at the post Of duty. Wherever you
/ found company z you would find Captain
Wayne. He led his company I'm every en-
gagement the regulars were I'm in Viz
GINA Company z with Captain Wayne,
Lieutenant Frank NJ. Myers and First
Sergeant William d. Kellett, was fight
ing machine. In the fall OF 1863 he was
promoted to major and commanded the
regiment until the fall Of 1854, when he
was promoted TO cOlon0l and was in COM
mand until the surrender at Greensboro,
missing but one engagement the regulars
were ever in and that was c'ustee, Floi-
da He was absent then at Tallahassee,
president of a courtmartial. AS a --.9tain
don't think he was admired by n n
Of the regiment as he was a gruff, srUrt
spoken officer a man Of but few words,
but meant just what he said. After he
assumed command OF the regiment and
we learned TO know him, he was the idol
OF las men, and there was not a man
In the regulars who would not have died
for old Sandy. You could always tell
when he was absent, the men seemed rest
less and weary, but when at the head Of
the regiment the boys seemed to care for
nothing, believing him capable OF getting
out OF any trouble we might get in. The
voice we so often heard in command has
long since been silent. the heart that
knew no fear has ceased to beat. the
strong right arm that flashed his bright
sword I'm the thickest Of the fight has re-
turned to dust while his excellent spirit
has winged its flight to the God who gave
II. Sweet be the sleep of the gallant
Wayne beneath the shade OF the beauti-
full trees. free from wars cruel strife,
the roll OF the drums. the sharp report
OF the rife and the angry boom Of the
cannon. A Drawer man or better SOL
der never wore the gray or drew HIS
sword in defense OF the lost cause. Peace
TO his ashes.
But to return to the regiment. We were
IN a predicament, cut of from the brig
ade. but with one consolation, we still
had old Sandy, and we would have fol-
lowed him blindfolded in a fight or the
run. which was our only means of es-
cape. Crossing the bridge we made
around the bend Of the creek and after
tramping several miles reached the brig
ade, which we found holly engaged with
the enemy across the bridge, the fighting
continuing until after night, when the
brigade retreated towards Cheraw After
going several miles we halted to rest and
some rifle whisky was issued to the boys,
which must have been some of the DEVILS
own decOction. as II made every one fight
ing mad who drank II. Before day we
moved on again and after sunrise we met
I'm the road funeral procession, different
from anything we had ever seen.
Two women were tramping along the
road. one OF them carrying the corpse of
a child in her arms, which looked like
II might have been two or three years of
age. The only time 1 ever saw the boys
pass any one In the road with perfect ST.
lence. Not a word was spoken as they
passed on their sad errand to bury the
dead. When we were within three miles
OF Cheraw we halted again for about
three hours. and during the time cooked
and ate our breakfast. Corporal T. J.
MusgrOve and myself had secured some
-four at the mill the day before and he
carried Z TO a nearby nome and had IL
4 cooked. A few hours later he was cap
tured. and lost my portion Of the bread.
] When we were ordered forward again ii
, was on the dOuble-quick. which we kept
/ up until we reached the edge Of town,
then we filed square TO the left down the
street When about half way TO the river
/ the regulars were ordered back, while the
remainder Of the brigade crossed the
/ bridge and joined Hardee's forces three
/ miles out from the river. The regulars
FASTENED back TO the edge of town, where
/ Colonel Wayne held the right of the regi-
/ ment I'm reserve while the left was placed
/ IN position beyond the turn in the road to
hold the enemy IN check until General
/ NJ. c Buffers cavalry could enter the
town. as there was no other way Of get
/ ting 10 the bridge only through that
/ street Canfafn T1Roea ordered Tfquten-