Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-02-06
First Georgia Regulars at Le1DLSbile, Va.
Other "reminiscences of the Campaign

To The Journal: on the 1st OF May. 1851,
while at Fort Pulaski. Georgia, the first
regiment OF Georgia regulars was muster
ed into the service OF the Confederate
States OF America. and on the Slst OF May
boarded the steamer Ida" for Tyoee IS
land. We left the fort with no regrets. IL
was on Cockspur Island about one mile in
Siameter and almost destitute OF vegeta-
ZION. Il was one OF the most desOlate
places 1 ever visited. We never saw any
one unless il was some visitor to the fort.
How grim the old fort looked as we
steamed past with its dark port holes
and black muzzied cOlumbiads peeping
over the ramp1-ts-
In 1SSs the Federais landed on Tybee.
threw up a sand battery and captured the
fort.
we landed opposite the Spanish tower.
and pitched our tents some so yards IN
rear OF IL. The Spanish tower, TO the best
OF nv recollection. was about 40 feet in
diameter and 20 feet high. Built perfectly
round. out OF oyster shells and cement
At the top there were several openings,
looking Ike euSbrasures for cannon /
have never read any account OF II ano
can only conjecture that IL was built dur
ing the time the Spaniards owned Florida
win some OF the historians OF Georgia
give Us Hght on the subject2 BY whom
built. when and for what purpose?
Water was scarce on one portion OF the
island. so each company had TO dig It's
own wellF. which were ABOUT SIX Ieee oe -
The water was braclzfsh and almost IN
tpaIatable. but the best we could get we
built bush arbOrs for our mess halls. our
meat rations were changed from picked
'rork 10 smoked bacon. Imagine side OF
macon chunxed into a washpot and boiled
with about two inches OF grease on the
tor and YOU viii have a rich one, II not
-
well pleased with their change OF quar-
.fers. The island being about seven miles
long and three I'm width. we had more ell
how room and nd not feel so cramped.
Tvbee has one OF the prettiest beaches
along the coast There were several large
seins in the regiment and the boys hao a
.5oIly time seining for crabs. / never hAed
crabs: they were about as mueh nAe ne
or nsh as a maypop Is Ike vegetable
put ANYTHING so II was q change rom
'hardtack and bacon The boys had gooo
tine going in bathing and trying 10 rlde
the waves as they came rolling in Ike
ihogsheads. -.
There was only one kind OF soap that
could be used IN salt water, Wnicn We
land lubbers did not know about unul We
had rubbed ourselves all over and nao 10
.-,ict- m oErr clothes and hunt water on
the island 70 wash Il of. But one time
vas suficIent TO teach US the lesson.
We had picket posts along the beach
lzo,,th channel Three PalmettOes. span
ssh tower and Tybee light house. The
Fe5erals had blOckaded the port OF sa-
vaunah with large man or war Just De
vond the bar. OF all the scary places l
struck during the war stanolns sus.u ~. -,
~ beach AZ night was the worst. AS the
waves come rolling in and breaking al
-rour feet YOU could in your Imagination
- boat loads Of the enemy roiling IN
-, every wave. How glad you would De
- SEE again the light OF day. II was
nothing unnatural for the pickets 10 cap
4ure al0-pound turtles at night Wnen thsy
came out on the sand Tney Noul1 -
surued on their backs and remain there
until morning. when the boys would go
hack after them with wagon
The 5-vbee nzf1house was severa4 nun
7rad Yards above the tower. IL was QUILT
Of brick and was Octagon shaped graou-
ally taperIng from base 70 Bop. Lo ieet
high. with an iron stairway winding UP on
the inside. One morning Just before Gay n1
/ had N relieve the sentinel on top. Any
lrreas got pret1y weak before got up
there. The sentinel instructed me 70 Keep
: sharD lookout toward the South Carroll
NJ cosst for a steamer that had been
ulvine up and down the coast during tne
night. II I saw anything unusual 70 eail
the corporal OF the guard. he then ieIt
% sfDcs svrav1ng, as I thought, IN the
breeze. though Il might have been my
head: but you can rest assured neid on
pretty tight while remained there
II was not long before the gray
streaks Of dawn showed themselves on the
eastern horizon There was tour-ioo1
telescope on the lighthouse. and II was
a beautiful morning. so I saw old King
Sol IN all his glory as he emerged from
his morning bath In my imagination !
could see the wafer dripping from the
Hover rim as the sun slowly rose above
The water i was 50 much interested In
viewing the beautiful sunrise that I was
lost 10 everything else. had forgotten
that was on the most important post on
the island and all about the movements
of the enemy. Turning the telescope In the
direction OF the bar. / quickly came 70 my
senses. for just beyond a large manor
war was lying al anchor, while running