Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-05-29
THE FIRST GEORGIA REGULARS FROM
NINE MILE ROAD TO TURKEY BEND

position was out of the question. NAL
Nern Hill was another Gettysburg affair
and Will go down in history as one of the
bloodiest battles of the war, the loss on
both sides being something terrible.
Early on the morning of the second
General Lee discovered that his friends,
the enemy, had taken French leave and
retired down the river to Turkey Bend,
80 miles below Richmond. Lees army re-
manned on the field on the second and
third OF July, burying the dead. On the
4th we were again In pursuit of the en-
envy, finding them at Turkey Bend or Har-
rison's Landing in an impregnable posi-
ton, the river being In the shape Of a
horse shoe with the army in the circle
and the gun boats in the river around it.
While at the bend the regulars were on
picket where we heard the most cheering
heard during the war. Report said 1t
was President Lincoln reviewing the ar
my.
The six days fighting around Richmond
was fought by raw troops and we might
say raw officers, as there had been but
very little fighting up to that time and
nothing to compare with any one of the
six days. General Lee gained not only
fame but the love and confidence of his
troops, which he not only retained but
increased up to the surrender at Appomat-
tox. General G. B. Mcclellan proved to
DC one VI the DGSL BGHGIdAS NNdl IhQ the
honor to commend the army OF the Po-
tomac. His retreat under the fire of the
Confederates was a fact few generals
could have performed, moving his army
through White Oak swamp on a single
road without the loss of wagon. Had
he been allowed to carry out his own
convictions in regard to the war things
might have terminated very differently
from what they did. His program was to
advance on Richmond from the south side
OF the James like General Grant did at
the ending of the war; He was a humans
man and conducted the war on humane
principles and the boys in gray who
faced his guns will respect his memory
until the last one has passed beyond the
river On the eth of July the army under
General Lee left the Bend and returned
to Richmond. Anderson's brigade went
into camp on the Darbytown road, where
the brigade with Jones division was as
signed to Longstreet's corps. July 24th
Anderson's brigade went to New Marbut
Heights where the regiments took turns
doing picket duty at Malvern Hill. On the
5th of August Malvern Hill was retaken
by the Federals as there was-but small
force of Confederates to defend it, Long
streets corps was marching rapidly for
the Hill when we halted by the side of the
road to rest. While resting a troop OF
horsemen passed, going TO the front.
Riding at the mead OF the IropS was FTeSl-
dent Davis and General Lee; then the sec
rotary of war and General Longstreet with
several other generals and their scouts.
Now you might suppose the boys cheered
themselves hoarse. Not so. There was not
so much as whisper, every one SEEM
ingly intent on hearing what they were
talking about. AS for myself would
as soon cheer a minister in a house OF
worship as General Lee. While he was the
grandest, noblest and most commanding
looking men ever saw, cheering seemed
out of place. Had Stonewall Jackson been
passing he would have passed I'm gallop,
or he would have been as deaf as a bed
post from that ear-splitting rebel yell.
We ragged boys often discussed
the merits and dement's Of our
commanding officers and the general opin-
ion was that Mars Robert and Mars Tom
could not fill each others boots. Before
we reached the hill the federals retired
and the corps returned to Richmond. The
Journal of April 18th announces the death
of General Wade Hampton. I saw him at
Fayetteville, N. c.. March 10, 1865, after
his early morning call on General Kilpat-
rick, who report said made his escape
In his night clothes mounted on a bumped
back mule. Nv. II. ANDREWS.
Sugar Valley. Ca