Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-03-13

turn paler, shrivel up and seem TO get
smaller OF the many thousands 1 have
seen. can call to mind no exception 10
this universal rule. Why was It? On the
night OF June 4th my company was sum-
suoned for duty on the picket line; as we
had come into the works after night with
no previous knowledge of that part OF
the line. we had to grope for 1t, in one OF
the blacklist nights 1t has ever been mine
TO see.
Going over the works in single file
tumbling into the ditch and scrambling
out again, without a leader TO direct or
knowing where we would bring up, makes
one a little nervous, and guess each IN
dividual of Company c would rather have
been somewhere else that night. Orders
were given in whispers because he knew
the enemy was not far off. and a sound
OF voices would invite volley. Feeling
our way along, without seeing, the ser
geant in front tumbled into a pit. In the
Dit were a pair Of pickets and the suppo-
sition Is they were both asleep, for when
the sergeant landed broadside on them,
his normal weight was 275 pounds, as soon
as they could recover breath both sung
out Mister, we surrender; we surren-
der" what regiment do you belong tor
asked the sergeant. North Carolina,
chimed I'm both. Then get up and hull
out of here back TO your regiment, as we
are sent out TO relieve you" The hi
you say. We thought youns were Yam
keys" and with this both lit out for
the rear. In this manner the picket line,
as far as our little command would go,
were relieved and sent TO the rear. Those
whom we relieved could give US no intelli-
gent idea of where the Federal pickets
were, but in anticipation Of warm time
the next day each picket went to work
to strengthen himself for the work which
we thought the day would bring. sat up
the balance OF the night. with a wooden
peg and a piece Of twine for a needle and
thread, and succeeded in making my OIL
cloth into a passable bag, which was duly
filed with soil and hoisted up for use as
'head-log'' when day should come and
open up the daily fire. Day finally came,
and peering out Of my pit for a shot saw
quite a number OF "Blue Coats" standing
around a fire not over 100 feet from me-
Looking further I saw my pit was not
over 80 feet from the Federal works. as
Il was in the apex OF the salient project
ing farthest out against the Federal line,
which, until daylight revealed to us, we
did not think was nearer than 100 yards.
AS from my position IL was impossible to
do any effective work, as was exposed
at short range from both right and left, I
concluded, in view of the situation, TO
keep the peace and say nothing, unless
they should run into US. AS the truce by
its terms did not expire until the after
MOOn advantage was NdhCn Ol II Dl LlduN
men from either side to get together and
swap tobacco. coffee, etc, between the
lines. OF my own company very few en-
gagged IN II, but numbers came out from
the lines in our rear, and for awhile "Bil-
lies" and "Johnnies'' were as thick as
flies around a syrup barrel. Not being a
trader myself nor caring to trade under
the circumstances. I took no part in it,
but II was a matter OF establishment TO me
70 see the men from the two hostile ar
mics fraternize as they did. General Lee.
from his headquarters. saw It, and sent
orders by aid and courier for the men to
return TO their commands, warning the
enemy he would open fire II they did not
return 70 their lines. Even then IL seemed
neither party was willing to quit, necessi-
tating the firing Of a blank cartridge as
warning that the truce was ended and
hostilities were to begin. In a few min
utes the guns were cracking as lively as
usual My command was in a manner
shut of from taking hand TO any great
extent from the circumstances I have
mentioned. Guns were firing I'm a circle
around US, TO which we could not reply.
Never did day hang so heavily. Night
came at last, when we were looking for
the enemy to rush our works, but they did
not. Toward midnight a relieving force
came out and we gained our works man at
a time. The enemy fired a few shots as
the last men were leaving.
We were put back in the fifth or re-
serve line. and continued to strengthen
our works day and night. While occupy
| ing this position a circumstance occurred
which, promptly turned to account, might
have had great weight in determining fu-
ture events. Grant had assailed the army
/ OF Lee at the Wilderness, Spottsylvania,
North and South Anna, Cold Harbor and
/ Turkey Ridge, in which a loss had been
entailed upon him equal to the entire force
Lee commanded. In order to force Lee to
/ split up his army and thus be beat in de-
/ tail, two other federal armies were or
ganized, one under General Butler called
the Beast" to assail Richmond from the
Appomattox or Petersburg side, the other
under General Hunter, to move up the
valley and assail StauntOn and Lynch
burg. To meet the first column under
Butler General G. T. Beauregard, who had
distinguished himself wherever he had
commanded. was called up from Charles
/ ton, which he had defended with such Sig
nal ability. and placed in charge of the
little force gathered from Charleston, Will
Il mington and other North Carolina and
eastern Virginia points for this particular
| service. The entire force did not amount
to more than 1900 men of all arms. Some
had seen service in the i-eld, others had
not. In the early days of June Butler
i landed at Bermuda Hundred, point on
i James river 80 miles below Richmond,
i tented upon Petersburg, while his main
i efforts were directed upon the Richmond
/ and Petersburg railroad. Though reaching
that road and infiicting some damage,
| through failure, II is said, OF General
/ Whiting 10 cooperate by turning move
ment from Petersburg, he was met at
Swift creek and defeated by the small
/ force under Beauregard. This check placed
Butler IN a cut-throat position, from
/ which he could not have extricated him
| self had the Richmond authorizes acted
| promptly. AS It was, General Beauregard
/ addressed a note TO Mr.. Davis indicating
i the position Of affairs, asking TO be re-
inforced by at least two divisions from
Lees army, which was then standing with
/ hands down on the defensive at Turkey
Ridge. With this reinforcement it was
i possible 10 cut OF Butler and force his
| surrender, then recombine the detachment
sent him with his own force, join Lee and
| make a combined assault upon the army
| under Grant. The conception was worthy
that great soldier, and gave the only ray
| OF hope left TO the brave old army of Lee
| TO extricate themselves from the net
| which was surely entangling them. Mr..
| Davis read and reread the note. made no
| reply for IS hours. giving II ample time
10 seep through to the regular .
| Van Lew wrote to Grants headquarters.
| then replied, asking General Beauregard
for further details of his plan. AS Grant
| had seen the snarl in which Butler was
/ tangled. he was directed to rectify his
| position. Therefore. upon the receipt of