Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-02-20

me iife OF a soldier Is not made up en-
tirely OF lighting. for many OF them man
age to interject a little fun into it as they
80 along.
The winter OF e and IS viii be remem-
bered By every soldiers in Lees army
as one OF the most severe they had ever
experienced. To the men OF Wrights
Brigade it was one OF peculiar hardship.
Tor the following reasons. A few days az
ter the defeat OF Burnside at Fredericks-
burg. Wright's Brigade. while on dress
parade. we're ordered for duty 10 United
States Ford. and marched on. leaving
clothing. blankets. cooking utensils, ra-
tons and everything in camp. though
the ground was covered with sleet. and a
promise OF snow at any time. Bivouack-
ing al Tabernacle church that night. We
reached a point half way between Chan
z cellorsvflle and United States Ford. when
cold and hungry We went into bivouac
upon the frozen ground. The next morn
ing on waking we found twelve inches OF
snow had fallen. furnishing warmth and
covering TO many who had nothing 10
cover with. From this point. details OF
ABOUT one-third OF each command were
made 10 throw up a line OF works from
SCOTS Dam below. TO the junction OF the
.Rapidan and RappahannOck above United
States Ford. Generals Lee and Stuart
came ND a DAY or two after our arrival
and finding the depiorable condition OF the
commend. General Lee ordered General
Wright 90 empty every wagon and have
the belongings OF the men brought up to
cur winter camp. The errand was fruit
less however. for when the wagons re-
turned. covered with mud and the stock
worn-down. the wagOnmaster reported
that everything had been stolen BY the
troops OF other commands. so that his trip
amounted 70 nothing IL would be an i'm
possibility 70 paint vfvidly the sufferings
and privations which we had 10 endure
for the nearly two and half months We
were on duty there. Each individual had
10 do duty sof some kind for sixteen out
OF twenty-four hours, and upon the slim
allowance OF ratiOns given out. IT, was
very trying. The country round about us
was POOR and barren, the few people who
Inhabited the jungles raised very little.
therefore had nothing 10 sell Apple-but-
ter even. considered necessity In every
TfrEfnia home and usually as common
there as .'co-n-Iicker'' used 10 be In some
Georgia counties. could not be had. so
they must have been poor indeed; there
fore fOraging was not tried more than
once by the same individual. as there was
nothing 10 forage for. In the early days
Of March. the brigade was called out and
marched 70 the river and strung out
along the banks. We waited till Captain
CIrardeau with an escort OF cavalry forded
the river. secuted the north side. and re-
turned REPORTING the enemy 20 have with
drawn 10 Falmouth. AS the snow was
about nine inches deep. and cold nOrther
blowing in our faces. the wait was not
uleasant one al all. On his return. how
ever. with HIS report. the column entered
the .'mine" OF mountain road and march
ed OF sloshed along in the direction OF
Fredericksburg. DETECTING 10 the right
ne finally reached the Telegraph road,
near Mattaporn church. and after getting
n the wrong road an. having 70 retrace
our steps about dark reached the quar-
tiers assigned US the abandoned winter
quarters OF Toomb's brigade. on Hungry
Hill" three miles north OF Guinmas sta
ton. Longstreet. with the divisions OF
Hood and Pickett. having gone on an ex-
petition TO eastern Virginia. left only the
divisions OF Anderson and McLaws. with
those OF Jackson. 70 attend TO business in
upper Virginia This was the occasion OF
our finding quarters prepared for US.
That Vas one march when every mas
n the commartd was thoroughly tired out
and ready 20 fan down anywhere. 'Old
Suge.~ or "Oid JoWls.~ as our corpulent
emily called. could even ride down the line
without provoking a guy. While many OF
the huts and dug-outs were In an uncom-
Portable condition by reason OF the snow
and rain which had beat in them. stiIl
they were 50 much superior TO anything
We had so far enjoyed that winter as 70
make each and all Of US feel nice.
Soldiers. ike other children. soon for