Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-05-01

Editor Journal: During April, 1862. the
Army Of Northern Virginia, under COM
mand OF General Joseph Z. Johnston, was
concentrated on the Warwick creek, be-
tween the James and York rivers.
General Johnston soon found out that his
position was untenable, being fianked by
the James and York rivers. The Federals,
by sflencing his batteries on either, could
have passed up the stream in transports
and cut him or from Richmond. Before
day on the morning Of May the 4th the
Confederates withdrew their lines, and
were on the march TO Richmond.
The Yorktown campaign was hard one,
eighteen days in the trenches and Dam
No i was a holy terror. The regulars lost
enough men TO start a good sized grave
yard, and among the number Lieutenant
]. T. Armstrong. from Augusta, Ga.
would have liked very much TO have VS.
tied historic old Yorktown where the Col
onists, after a seven-years' struggle gain
ed their independence from the English
crown, and walked over the ground where
the British army under Lord Cornwalhs
surrendered TO General George Washing
ton and his French allies. but pressing en-
gagements detained me near Dam No. l.
, two miles distant. Some time in the after
noon. Toombs' brigade, with Magruder's
command. passed through Williamsburg
and we had not marched more than one or
two miles before we heard the booming OF
cannon and roar of musketry in our rear.
I,ongstreet's forces were engaged with
the vanguard of the enemy. and the battle
ragged until night ended the conflict. Ma
gruder's command continued on the march.
The regulars were detailed TO assist bat
terry along the road which was an ordin-
airy country road, and cut to pieces by the
army trains I'm advance. We remained
with Il all night Sometimes the axles
would be scraping the top OF the road and
the mud knee deep. Such a night as we
had OF Il. but worst IL anything on the
poor horses than the soldiers. About sun
rise we arrived at the camping place Of
our brigade. but they were filing out into
the road to take up again the line OF
march. The regulars tired. sleepy and
hungry. had 10 continue marching
throughout the day. AT night when we
camped our skillet wagons were some
where in the rear stuck in the mud, so we
had nothing TO cook in. I had some -four
in my haversack. and securing some water
and a rag to make my dough on, rolled II
out thin and wrapped IL around my ram
rod and baked IL over some Goals. Ny
wife would like 70 know where 1 got the
rag. and whether / washed my hands be
fore making out the dough. but tell her
they are leading questions and ] am NOT
obliged to answer any question that viii
crimfnate myself
At West Point on the York river the en-
envy landed I'm force. and quite a battle en-
sued the rebels driving a large number
into the river. While the battle was being
fought. Toombs' brigade was with the re-
serve in an old field.
While listening 70 the roar OF battle
saw a soldier come galloping along the
road. and on reaching the regulars en-
Quired for our surgeon, DR.. Cherry. He
was pointed out to him. and he dismOunt.
Il Il - orsI told
him he was shot through the left arm
and between the elbow and wrist. DR.
i Cherry called TO him four men, placed
the man on his bed with the men holding
him and cut on his arm just below the Ell
bow. dressed the wound and the soldier
mounted his horse and galloped away al
though nothing had happened. / thought
he displayed the best nerve | ever saw.
The retreat was continued on to Rich
mond, where we arrived on the nth, and
/ General Johnston established his lint
about FIVE miles north Of the city. Gen
eral Mcclellan, in command OF the Fed
erai forces arrived and formed his line
/ from White Oak Swamp TO Mechanics
VILE, crossing the Chickahominy river a.
Meadows bridge. and commenced TO worn
his way into Richmond witt the pick and
spade.
on the 18th the regulars went to Mead
ow's bridge on picket. where we eaugh
a terrible Smelling. We remained in tina
vicinity until the first day OF June, whef
/ Toomb's brigade was ordered to Sever
Pines. or Fair Oaks. where a heavy battle
was fought on the S1st Of May, and contin
ued on the first Of June. but had termi
mated before We arrived. General j.
Johnston was seriously wounded and Gen
eral Robert E. Lee assumed command
We remained two days on picket on TIT
/ York river railroad, then returned 4
i Garnett's Farm, between Meadows bridge
and the Nine Mile road. One day WINE
in command of a picket post. 1 heard
quite a commotion in the direction OF thu
\ enemy's line. In front OF the post was
short, steep hill that extended TO the
river bottom. 1 made my way down TIT
Il hill In q glliley until could see the enc
my's line on Golden's farm. which was
| drawn up in front OF the works witt
mounted officers addressing them. Sever
i al times they gave that blood-curdling
hip. hurrah, all together which made thu
cold chills crawl up my back. They wer'
Il not more than three hundred yards dis
tant, too close 20 be agreeable. So made
my way back to my post. While we Wer'
camped on Garnett's farm. Company y
i mutinied. Eight companies OF the regi
ment had been paid off. leaving Company
II and another without their pay. TIT
bows were very anxious TO receive thei
Il
mhch needed pay, as It had been severa
months past due.
After dress parade one evening Sergean
w. T. Burns proposed to the company K
let the guns remain stacked until we wer'
/ paid of. ! told him to count me out
While 1 wanted my pay I would not mu
/ tiny 70 get Il. Private James Croft tol'
| him the same. but the rest OF the com
| pany remained silent as though asserting
TO his proposition. The company was thei
| dismissed. II was not three minutes be
Il fore Captain Hill had the company form
| ed, and told them what he had heard
i He then ordered any one who had com'
| 10 that conclusion TO step two PAGES Il
| the front Sergeant Garrett stepped on
/ but the rest of the company remaine'
motionless. Captain Hill ordered Sergean
Burns TO detail two men. arrest Sergean
Garrett and carry him to Colonel Magtlll
quarters. The colonel spoke kindly 4
him about the enormity OF his offense
the penalty OF which was death and toll
him II he would admit he had done wroni
and was sorry for IL he would return hin
TO his company. Sergeant replied TO tn
| colonel by saying. he done what he di'
| with his eyes open and he had no acknowl
| ments 10 make. He was then ordered un
der guard TO Richmond and placed IN
cell at Castle Thunder. Garrett had
friend IN Richmond who was member o
congress, who helped him out by threat
ening to cashier the paymaster for falling
TO pay on the troops according to orders