Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-03-06

1NAAN u AAN AAHNA1 -
out OF the gullies.
The Tigers were a desperate set of men,
in camp or on the battlefield, and to tell
the truth was afraid of them. Sergeant
s. T. Childers, Of Company NJ. cut ones
nose on with a bowie knife in a row. They
wore Zouave or bloomer uniform-red
pants extending TO the knee. with leggins,
sky blue jackets and sugar-loaf caps
hanging down on their shoulders. Sup
ported on a belt around the waist was a
large knife. They were the only ZouaVes
in the Confederate army and were from
New Orleans, La. The battalion went TO
Virginia 400 or 500 strong, and the last
time I saw them during the seven days
fight around Richmond, in 1862 there was
only 81 men and one commissioned ON
Ger. Their battle cross looked like II had
been over n ten-acre briar patch and then
through the chimney. How proud they
bore IL aloft, battle-smoked and bullet
ridden. Two Of them were shot IN the
fan OF 1861 near Centreville. had per-
nit to witness the execution, but had no
desire to see IL. My brother in the North
Georgia regiment witnessed the execution
ard secured a piece of the rope they were
tied with.
A stake was driven IN the ground. the
doomed men then knelt with their backs
to it. while their arms were pinioned pc
hind them and bandages placed over their
Z
TO be allowed TO die like men, standing
erect without being tied or bandaged.
That Of course was denied them. Then
they had but one more request to make,
and that was, shoot to kill. The COM
mand was given, ready. aim, hre, and
their heads dropped on their breasts; the
bullets had done their work and life was
extinct They were executed for striking
an officer The guns for the firing detail
was loaded for them, one-half blank ana
the other half ball cartridge, neither one
of them knowing what was in his gun.
on the sOth Of December, Generals john
ston and Beauregard reviewed the army
In an old field The line was formed, the
generals rode from right 10 left on front
Of the line then back in the rear. after
wards taking their positions near the CEN
ter OF the line for the troops to march
mast in review. The brigade Of Toombs,
Jones and Wilcox formed Gen. g. w.
Smiths division. The command was TO
form columns OF companies by company
right wheel. and the next was TO close
column to half distance, double quick,
march. The first company on the right
OF the line wheeled and marched OF IN
quick time, while all of the rest had to
close I'D to half distance. Toombs' brig
ada was near the left OF the line and 1t
seemed to me like ran across the state.
but then It might have been only
TWO OF three COuNLtEE. NUuAUGAH Va AAS
boys fell exhausted and we ran over them.
After making two wheels to the left the
column marched past the generals stand
II review. W. L. Andrews and myself
spent Christmas day with our brothers IN
the Ninth Georgia, Z. 81. and ]. d. An
drews. We had a social time over bot
tie OF brandy from home, but IL we could
have looked into the future It would have
proven a sad one. IL was the last time
the four of us was ever together. Before
another Christmas two had passed over
the river TO rest under the shade Of the
trees. December 26th the different regi-
ments were assigned TO camps for build
ing winter quarters.
The regulars were between Manassas
Junction and the Bull Run battlehelds.
We had a rough time securing material
TO build with, through the rain,
snow and biting cold winds. On the 10th
day Of January, 1852, we had them COM
pleted and moved In, makint US feel quite
comfortable In our own new quarters.
Wood soon became scarce, and we had to
carry fence rails on our shoulders for
three-fourths of a mile. I often laugh
now about the races we boys ran across
the old field. The wind would be blow
ing a gale and the rails acted as sail.
The only way we could stop after running
away with ourselves. was to throw the
rail down, rest and try IL again. On the
tNAA VI 4AGAIn JDAAAoNon 4aoAN0 VI
ders 10 the troops to cook up three days
rations and be ready to march at a mo-
ment's notice. Before daylight on the
Sth the army was on the tramp to Rich
mond, passing through WarrentOn and
arriving at Culpeper Court House on the
18th. On the 10th the march was contin-
ued In the direction Of Orange, crossing
the Rapidan on a string OF wagons COW
cred with plank. Arrived there on the
18th and went into. camps. The first of
| April we marched ten miles on the plank
road towards Fredicksburg. the enemy
! having made demonstrations IN that III
rection. The next morning orders were
countermanded and we returned to camps.
April the uth, General Toombs' brigade
boarded the cars for Richmond, and on
our arrival. went into quarters at Camp
/ Windsor, a small village of framed build
| ings. / was met at the depot by SOL
| der of the North Georgia, and informed
that my brother z. NJ. Andrews, Of the
/ Ninth, had been sent to Richmond from
| Culpeper and was at the point OF death
/ The next morning / secured a pass for
two hours and started to see him, but
the distance to the Chimborazo hospital
was too far for me to make before my
time would be out, so I returned to camps
| and the next morning secured a paper
Tor eight hours, and made my way to the
hospital, which was like a small town Of
homes placed in rows, called wards. /
/ found him after long search in ward Z,
/ lying with four others on the cooling
table, having died the day before Press
/ ing in mine his cold right hand I bid
him last farewell hoping that we might
meet again on a brighter shore Being
soldier had a soldiers duty TO perform,
and that meant for me TO return 70 my
/ command and leave him to fill an un-
known grave, far away from home and
loved ones.
At night after I returned to the com
mand, Toombs' brigade boarded the West
Point and steamed down the James river.
At daylight the next morning we landed
IN the vicinity OF Yorktown, marched out
several miles and struck camp. Late in
the evening Of the 18th heavy firing was
heard in our front and the brigade FORM
ed In line of battle and went charging
/ through the woods. After going about
two miles We arrive at dam No / on
| Warwick creek. under a heavy fire of
shells and minnie balls from the guns of
/ the enemy
It was then about dark and the firing
ceased. The regulars were ordered into
the trenches. companies F anu NJ being
opposite the end Of the dam. where a r.
| pound trap cannon was in position double
( charged with canister. After dark we
| could hear the enemy working like beav-
| eTs. throwing up batteries just beyond the
| dam. About 9 o'clock Sergeant James
| Copeland. Of company F. vas ordered Il
take a Oetail of four men myself among
/ the number) and cross to the farther end
| OF the dam and remain there until morn