Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-09-25

years. when relying upon our memories
TO locate ourselves. or i'm other words. to
remember where we were during the
months and years spent i'm the army with
Mars Robert in Virginia. In late years /
have met but few old soldiers who could
not recount 10 you some narrowing scene,
or close call. Witnessed by them during
the civil war. Histories are interesting
reading 70 most OF us, but personal rem
iniscences are enjoyed much more keenly
by our comrades, as well as the reading
public generally. The former deals In
facts. the location and movements of the
army, battles, casualties and so on. But
each soldier tells OF his tolls, sorrows,
joys. narrow escapes. prison life, and
many other matters OF importance 70 the
historian. For many days after a fight or
a raid we would gather together In small
groups and relate I'm detail our expert
ences; producing roars OF laughter at
times. and again sadness and sorrow.
Nearly every company had its wag, and
sometimes under the most serious and
trying circumstances he was wont to
crack jokes and cheer those around him
OF a nervous temperament. While we
were on the firing line, near Spottsylvania
Court House. on the 9Th Of May. 1864, and
under terrific fire from Warren's corps
our ammunition gave out: just then one
OF my company came running I'm from the
rear with a new supply of cartridges Eve
were fighting on fooD. and jumping be-
hind a tree on the, line he yelled out:
Come on. boys, and draw your blue
mass pills"
Private Smith was always late. When
the company bugie sounded mount"
Smith was always the last man to fall in.
On one occasion one of the company ask
ed Smith where he was during the charge.
He promptly replied: MY saddle girth
came unfastened."
One afternoon our brigade was down on
the York river: I think II was in July.
1864. We were near the white house and
could plainly see the gunboats on the
river. The intense heaat from the sun,
together with the muddy water we had to
drink. made many OF US sick. As we
fell back that afternoon towards Rich
mond the Yankees followed us, keeping
up a brisk carbine fire. My company was
one among those guarding the rear, and
consequently threw us In close proximity
TO the enemy. I became so sick that l
could scarcely ride. and would occasional
" dismount. lie down on the grass and
rest until would be admonished by Lieu
tenant Carpenter TO mount, that the
Yankees were upon US. Had II not been
for the lidness and protection from the
lieutenant, my capture would have been
certain.
Did you ever have cholera morbus? Out
cine; you may know I suffered. So much
so. indeed. that thought very little and
cared less about a northern prison. We
finally came TO a stream OF water where
the lieutenant filled my canteen and we
again rested for a short while. After
dark we overlook the regiment where 1t
bIvouacked for the night. Most of the
drinking water procured by us on this
march was from wells along the roadside
We would tie on the chain from a long
pole or sweep twenty-five or thirty can
teens and the water being drawn from
the well so rapidly and I'm such quantity
that IL became too muddy and impure for
health, and still IL was the best and
only water we could get.
Our horses often suffered for water. The
following day 1 got permission to go TO
a hospital in Richmond. I rode into the
city some time during ,.ae day. having no
idea OF going to a hospital In short
time was with by brother, Catlett Con-
way, who had been severely wounded in
Pickett's charge at Gettysburg. and was
then doing light duty with General KEN
per. who was also wounded at the same
time and place. walked about the city
with him, got a good dinner and felt bet
ter. At about o'clock in the afternoon
informed my brother that had a long
ing desire TO go home and that intended
TO do so. notwithstanding my Weakness.
that Il would be impossible for me without
a pass 20 get out OF the city. / told him
that the resources Of a cavalryman were
many and that l would risk II for the sake
Of being with my home folks again. IT
was 80 miles TO my home at the foothills
Of the beautiful Blue Ridge mountain,
and where I knew that the cool breezes
and pure water would hasten my recovery.
I babe him goodbye and mounting my
hovza roTa osff On fha ufcCvflla turn
pike. Passing the river line of pickets
who did not question my right Of way, 1
continued northwar0. A few hundred
yards further on up the pike I discovered
the outer picket post. 1 had nearly reach
ed them with no pass and no good reason
why should be allowed TO pass out. Just
then I heard a noise behind me. and
glancing backward toward the city 1
SOW eight or ten wagons coming. / let
these wagons and teamsters pass me ex-
cept the last one. halted him and asked
where they were going and IL they had
a sergeant in charge Of She teams. He
replied that they were going up into Han
over county for corn. and that the SER
geant was on behind somewhere and
would be along later. A ten dollar bill
brought him TO a standstill and / was, for
the time. seargeantt of the wagon train.
I tied my horse TO the hind gate OF the
wagon. jumped in and lalu down on the
hay. We soon arrived at the picket post
and the question was asked, ''Is that the
sergeant In charger" The teamster re-
piled in the Affirmative, when we drove
rapidly ahead. oYertaking the other
wagons at large spring up the road a
few miles. where we went into camp and
spent the night. We sent out into the
neighborhood that night and bought milk
butter. eggs and ham and all hands en-
ioyed a sumptuous supper and breakfast
I left the next morning. fianked the pick
cts at GordOnsville and about midnight
reached home safely. but. tired and worn
out. After I recovered I FASTENED back
10 the command just in time for several
small skirmishes and also a severe cav
airy engagement at Nance's shop in
Charles City county. Va, on June "a
1854. where several Of the company were
wounded. From there we went over on
the south side OF James river, in the neigh
borhood OF Petersburg
After a fight near Ream's Station while
my regiment was returning through a
dense clump Of pines / noticed a dead
horse lying a short distance from the
narrow road on which we were passing
Leaving the command rode 10 the horse
dismOunted. rapidly unbuckled the girth
on brand new number eleven Mcclellan
saddle discarded my old one, which had
served we well for nearly two years and
replaced IL with the new one. Our bag
gage with the exception Of an oil cloth,
was very scarce IN those DAYS, so I had
but little TO transfer.
When We bivouacked that night I took
an inventory Of my Yankee outfit