Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-08-25

tho South mountain ana crossed the IA
tomac into Piedmont. Va, watching the
several passes Of the Blue Ridge with
his cavalry against attacks from Lee.
On the oath Of July. 1863 guarding careful
~ the advance line OF Meade's army, Lee
anticipated his every movement and
placed his army I'm front ofCulpepper court
house. and for a time put a stop to mill
tary operations in Virginia. The north
was very much disquieted from political
and other reasons at this time, and pOr-
tons OF Meade's army were called to New
York city to suppress riots and to en-
force the drafts to recruit the federal
armies. General Lee was compelled by
the steady depletion of troops in other
parts Of the south, 10 send some OF his
commands away to other fields, and in
doing so, weakened the army of Northern
Virginia. With the Gettysburg disaster
and the loss of some OF his best troops,
Lee writes to President Davis as follows:
We must expect reverses. even defeats.
They are sent 10 teach us wisdom and
prudence. to call forth greater energies,
and prevent our falling into greater dis
asters." After. detaching Longstreet, Lee
was left with only 5000 men. on the 18th
OF September Meade advanced from be-
yond the Rappahannock river in order 10
feel Lee, who waited his attack along
the Rapidan-a distant look from Meade
at the preparations made by Lee caused
him to withdraw to his camps in Gull
pepper. On the 9th Of October Lee again
advanced across the Rapidan and drove
Meade back beyond the Rappahannock
along the line OF the Orange and Alex
andria railroad-now the Southern. A
severe fight was engaged in between A. z.
Hill and Warren's corps, checking Lees
advance somewhat and enabling Meade to
make good his retreat 10 the north side
OF Bull Run. Lee again retired behind
and on the south side of the Rapi-
dan. On the 25th of November Meade
again endeavored TO bring on another en-
gagemen: with Lee. He crossed the
Rapidan with the first and fifth corps at
Mineford near the mouth OF \. tlderness
run. The second corps crossed at Ger
mana ford. The third and sixth corps
were to have crossed higher up the river.
but Meade found IL harder task to dis
lodge Lees men from the south bank
than he had eXpected-and on the 9th
JOhnston's division Of Ewel's corps re-
pulsed the federals. Meade withdrew his
forces in disgust on the night Of End and
again went into camp near Bandy Station.
Lees army then went into winter quarters
in Orange county among the cedars. our
pickets guarding the fords along the
Rapidan from Mine Run lower down
to Liberty Mills higher up on the river.
Some of the Georgia troops were camped
near Liberty Mills, between the Madison
turnpike and the Rapidan river. Lees
base OF supplies was at Gordonsville.
During the fall while our infantry had
been lighting back Meade's army along
the Orange and Alexandria railroad, our
cavalry had most Of their engagements
along the left flank Of Lees army from
Madison Courthouse along the base Of
tho Blue Ridge in Rappahannock and
Loudon counties as low down as War
renton in Farquier county. went to
Mrs. Stribbling's in Warrenton looking for
a cousin OF mine who I heard was there
and dangerously wounded. The Yankees
burned the beautiful White Sulphur
springs building. I remember a cavalry
engagement we had near this place at
the river. The season for active cam
paigning was at an end and our cavalry
was permitted to remain in it's canton
ments in Orange county. My brigade
(Weckham's) was encamped for the winter
on tho right OF the plank road leading
from Liberty Mills TO Orange Courthouse,
just in front of President Madison's home,
Montpelier" We constructed log cab
ins from. trees felled in the woods where
we camped. All Of my messmates were in
days ride Of their homes and therefore
we lived during the winter very much
on home suppl.es. Each one taking IL
turn about in procuring leave of absence
and bringing back such things as butter
we could not get from our commissary.
Everything in the edible line was scarce
and very high in the army where the
pay OF even officers Of the highest grade
was not sufficient to meet EXPENSES. Corn
meal was 5000 a bushel; beans 5000;
bacon $500 and sugar 5000 a pound. One
redeeming feature of these gloomy days
was the heroic devotion Of the children
and women Of the confederacy. Our
grandest Of soldiers. Robert E. Lee. said:
I am content TO share the rations of
my men," Notwithstanding the many
schemes resorted 10 in the army by way
OF amusements to while away the long
winter nights-a spirit of devotion char
acterized our men. Often from the tents
and cabins could be heard the voice of
prayer and the singing of hymns Of de-
votion. Some Of my messmates were fine
cooks and / was told by one Of them who
seemed TO delight in getting up some
thing nice for us to eat. that he would
get from the nearby fields a weed called
life everlasting" as a substitute for yeast
in making light bread. have never seen
nicer rolls made by any one. Our love
for amusements was very much intensi-
fed no doubt by the excitements incident
10 army life. Horse racing was very pop
ular and became quite a sport for many
OF us; and exciting were the races we
had My weight was a little over a 100
pounds and I was hence often selected as
a rider. My bay mare was considered for
some time the fastest in the regiment, but
Lieutenant Hobson came in from home
with a gray filly that became the final
winner of the winter races. Our race
track was the main road in front Of
Montpelier"
II was here that I was elected corporal
OF my company. There were four candi-
dates for the Office. We were ordered to
step out four PAGES to the front OF the
company and the voting commenced Two
were dropped on the first ballot, leaving
Uncle Billy Story and myself. Uncle Bill
~ (as he was Familiarity called by all of
the company was a good soldier and
weighed about 225 pounds, while my
weight, as already stated. was only about
one hundred. When the election was de-
cided in my favor the companies were or
dered to break ranks, and have never
heard such laughter among the men over
Uncle Billy's defeat One big fellow, Mr.
Vowel. who was over six feet tall took me
upon his shoulders and trotted back to
camp, yelling here is our little corporal. -
while the boys cheered. On the 9Th Of
February Meade again made some demon.
STATIONS against Lee by sending a divis-
lon OF Federals to Morton's ford near Ew-
ellis right. II was met as usual by our
boys with a determination to drive them
back, which was done with a considerabl
loss TO them. II was here, I think, in an
artillery duel that my classmate. George
@. T. Greer, secretary for General Early,
lost his ana do not remember who was
living at the ofd Madison mansion at the
time, but I distinctly call TO mind the