Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-11-27

In the fall of 1894 and month OF Septem-
Der a small fragment Of Lees army, con-
sisting Of Bennings' and Robertson Skei-.
eton brigades. and some others not now
remembered, held and defended a strong
and outer line OF breastworlxs beginning
at James river and running out northeast
for several miles. This line included one
OF our strongest forts, viz: Fort Harrison
located near the said river. General Lee
PLAYED a splendid blur game on Grant
during the whole month Of September.
Our force OF infantry was not suftieient TO
place a man for every 20 feet along this
line Of works. But by keeping up strong
picket line all the time we kept our true
situation concealed from the enemy.
For weeks we held this line peaceably
and enjoyed a precious relief from war
harassing cares and dangers, as We had
been experiencing through the hot sum-
mer months around Petersburg. 1t was an.
oasis in wars desert Of hardship and con-
slant dread of the Yankees fatal bullets.
For weeks we held a truce with the enc
my on the picket line, swapping papers
coffee and tobacco. But after enjoying our
long rest, one night about two days before
the battle OF Fort Harrison, Captain =.
II Weeks of the Seventeenth Georgia
regiment, in command Of the picket line,
deserted and went over to the enemy The
next morning at daylight Yankee picket
nOIleTeO over 10 OAG "a jul AANA ~ -%--~f'
where was Captain Weeks. Our man re-
plied. I'VE don't know" The Yankee said,
well we have him. He came over last
night and has told US all about your stu
alton"
OF course. such a fact as this created
some excitement In our brigade, that
captain from a Georgia regiment should
desert Many and various were the COM
ments passing through the camps. One ex-
PLANTATION was that he was Vermonter
that came, south a young man, and set
tied in Georgia as a mechanic.
Rut now comes the interesting fruits
OF Weeks desertion. In just about two
days after that deed, at daylight on the
18th Of September. Grant attacked our line
with two corps most vigorously ana the
attack was made simultaneously at points
one and a half miles apart. Benning's
and Robertson's brigades met and re-
pulsed one corps before sunrise, easily
driving them back after three successive
assaults on our line. and 1t is truly exhil-
arating now to remember, after the lapse
Of IS years, how gloriously my command
fought and whipped them before break
fast But after whipping one corps we
were ordered to double-quick to the relief
Of Fort Harrison. mile or so away.
When we got within sight Of the fort to
our utter horror the enemy had already
captured IL and were pouring over its
sides like bees in a swarm. We formed
a line OF battle the best we could but af-
ter a sharp and bloody contest we were
soon danked out to cur position and had to
take TO our heels to escape capture in
toto.
Many Of our best men were killed right
there and left on the field. Many more
were captured. Among that number was
your humble writer who spent the rest OF
war in prison. learned after the war
that these two corps of Yankees had
rough time during the rest Of the day.
The next day General Lee sent up more
troops from the south side. among them
being Anderson's and Colquitts brigades,
and a fierce and bloody EFFORT TO retake
this line was made. but failed to do so,
after losing many gallant lives. All Of
this terrible loss, In the opinion OF the
writer, was the result Of the desertion
l and information carried TO the enemy by
this renegade Captain Weeks. I learned
later, through Captain Martin, OF the
| nth Georgia, that he CWeels) never re-
turned during the war. and it is to be
hoped that he has never polluted the soil
/ OF Georgia since by his unholy and pois-
onous presence. We don't want any Of his
| sort to breathe Georgia air.